The Nabataean Water Engineers: How Petra Thrived in a Barren Desert
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The Nabataean Water Engineers: How Petra Thrived in a Barren Desert Located in the arid desert of southern Jordan, the ancient city of Petra supported a population of up to 30,000 to 40,000 people. This was only possible due to the sophisticated hydraulic and flood control systems developed by the Nabataeans, an ancient Semitic people. 1. The Desert Environment and the Challenge Petra is situated in a harsh, mountainous canyon that receives an average of just 6 inches (150 mm) of rainfall per ye