The Dana Reserve
Tourist campground, Dana Reserve
In recent years the RSCN has placed its greatest emphasis on two reserves. One of these is the Dana Reserve. Extending from the Wadi Araba up to the crest of the escarpment, the rugged terrain shelters ibex, mountain gazelles, red foxes, badgers, rock hyrax, hare and porcupine. The RSCN has initiated research projects, improved its trails and provided a campground. But the crux of RSCN activity has been restoration of Dana village. Because of its springs, the village has probably been occupied for thousands of years, but the current village was built and occupied during the Ottoman Period by settlers from Bethlehem.
Dana village seen from T.E. Lawrence’s perspective
Floundering in snow at the crest of the escarpment, T. E. Lawrence described “looking down across the chessboard houses of Dana village, into sunny Arabah, fresh and green thousands of feet below.” Unfortunately, this most charming hill village with its spectacular panorama had become derelict, a situation the RSCN set out to correct. The mosque was rebuilt, a guest house built, the irrigation works restored, village women taught new handcrafts from jewelry to soap-making, and their products marketed in Amman as well as Dana.
Dana Village
The rejuvenated Dana village is a lesson in the interdependence of people with their natural environment.