`Amran
| ʿAmrān عمران |
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| — City — | |
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 ʿAmrān
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| Coordinates: 15°40′N 43°57′E / 15.667°N 43.95°E | |
| Country |  Yemen |
| Governorate | 'Amran Governorate |
| District | Amran District |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 90,792 |
| Time zone | Yemen Standard Time (UTC+3) |
ʿAmrān (Arabic: عمران) is a small city in western central Yemen. It is the capital of the 'Amran Governorate, and was formerly in the Sana'a Governorate. It is located 52.9 kilometres by road northwest of the Yemeni capital of Sana'a.[1] According to the 2004 census it had a population of 76,863, and an estimated population of 90,792 in 2012.[2]
[edit] History and architecture
ʿAmram is completely surrounded by walls. The city wall dates to 1720. The founding of the town dates back to the era of the South Arabian Himjariten. At the time of the Sabaean kingdom, the town blossomed into a fortress. In particular, in the 7th Century it was the great city of valor during the clashes against the Sabeans, a plurality of regionally based tribes. Remains of carved stones that belonged to former temples and palaces bear witness today of past glory. A large stone inscription is found in the western city gate (Bab al-Kabir). The old souq is noted for its stone columns.[3] The surrounding landscape is dominated by terraced landscapes with stone walls to counteract erosion of fertile arable land.
[edit] Economic development
The road through the city from Sana'a was modernized following Chinese investment and is over 200 km long, and the old medical centre has been transformed into a small public hospital.[4] The city is located in a fertile area in what was the centre of the area's coffee industry.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Google Maps. Maps (Map).
- ^ "Amran". World Gazetteer. http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&lng=de&des=wg&geo=380398394&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&men=gpro&lng=en. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ Hämäläinen, Pertti (1 August 1999). Yemen. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-0-86442-603-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=RCYuAQAAIAAJ. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ McLaughlin, Daniel (12 February 2008). Yemen: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-84162-212-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=eQvhZaEVzjcC&pg=PA107. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ McCulloch, John Ramsay; Haskel, Daniel (1845). M'Culloch's Universal gazetteer: Dictionary, geographical, statistical, and historical, of the various countries, places, and principal natural objects in the world (Public domain ed.). Harper & brothers. pp. 93–. http://books.google.com/books?id=DfoRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA93. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
Coordinates: 15°40′N 43°57′E / 15.667°N 43.95°E
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