Province
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Kharj District
Al-Kharj, located about 80km south of Riyadh, has always been outstanding with its verdant farms and groves of date palm trees flourishing in fertile soil. Today, this oasis has become a modern center for agriculture and related industries because of its abundant supply of fresh water |
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Agricultural practice here dates back to the late Neolithic times some 4,000 years ago. The old name for Al-Kharj is Al-Yamamah, meaning 'The Dove'.
Recognized as the 'food basket' of Arabia, the area has historically stocked Riyadh's larders with all the food products in the traditional Najdi diet, including flour, cheese, yogurt, eggs, vegetables, dates, watermelon and meat.
In Wadi Hanifah and the broad plains of Wadi Nisah and Wadi Sulayy, date palm plantations, groves of fruit trees, grain crops and vegetable gardens flourish. Travelers through the ages have described the flowing streams and underground water channels that were fed by large natural rock pools in Al-Kharj itself.
Today there are 15,000 to 17,000 wells in Al-Kharj. Although most are between 150 and 300m in depth, some probe as much as 1.5km into the earth, pumping out water that is close to boiling point, and has to be allowed to cool in ponds before use.
The city has grown ten-fold in the past 20 years, with an estimated population now of about 250,000. The historic center of Al-Kharj still holds many of the traditional mud-brick homes with wooden ceiling beams supporting roofs made of dried palm leaves and mud. Modern buildings now surround the old section, a testament to the recent boom. |
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