The very first thing to come in mind while thinking about Middle East is herd of camels onnever-ending desert. However, not many are aware of the fact that this part of the world is also home to some spectacular natural wonders that are globally acclaimed. Checkout this list of some of the famous natural attractions present here.
1.Iztuzu Beach
More than just a very pretty arc of sand against a backdrop of pine covered mountains; this beachis an important nesting sight for loggerhead turtles. The turtles are responsible for the look of the area, if it wasn't for them it would be more built up, but a lot of development has been put on hold because the turtles need to be protected, thus so does their idyllic sandbar environment. The sand bar of Iztuzu Beach runs a long way along the coast, about 5 miles, so there's plenty of space for both nesting turtles and people, most of whom come in daily by boats and have to be off the beach by 6 when it's time for the turtles to take over. Most restrictions are placed on visitors during peak turtle season between May and September. The beach is positioned in a way that means you can swim in both fresh and sea water, but it does lack shade so bring your sunscreen or be prepared to pay for a sunbed or umbrella.
Squeezed between two rocky slopes down which waterfalls tumble and opening onto a secluded cove, this pretty valley has the perfect climate for moths and butterflies, and it's here where they gather. The poster butterflies of the valley and the reason the valley has its name is the Leopard Butterfly, one of the loveliest of its kind, and between June and October hundreds of these butterflies gather here forming a huge breeding colony. If the butterflies are a bit decorative for you there are around 35 other butterfly species, including swallowtails and bead silk butterflies, and 40 species of moth who're equally drawn to this picturesque valley. It can be a bit of a scramble to get in but the quite secluded atmosphere means all the more butterflies.
This national park is quite small, about 20 km x 6 km, and hugs to the coast and beaches. It does hug the prettiest 20 x 6 km of coast though, a nice setting for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, swimming, snorkelling.
4.Flames of Yanartaş
Yanartaş means flaming rock—and this spot has this name for a good reason—that the rocks here appear to be on fire. Methane vents, in two groups, spout constant flames and have been doing so for hundreds of years, years enough to have been the spark that started the legend of the Chimera.
5.Birds of Ras Al Khor
Ras Al Khor is a wetland sanctuary just a short flutter from the World Trade Centre and the centre of Dubai. It's a lagoon, with a fringe of wetlands, right in amongst the traffic, providing a home for hundreds of birds, small mammals and marine creatures—who seems to manage to live in this oasis at the centre of a big city. You might think that a protected area in the middle of an urban one would be relatively unsuccessful, but in this case the fence has done a lot of protect the inhabitants, though people can see them via the three bird hides that have been built for twitchers, who can hope to see greater flamingos, grey herons, Indian peafowls, Asian pied mynas, blue-cheeked bee-eaters, Socotra cormorant, spotted eagles, purple sunbirds and many, many others. It's free to go birdwatching in the middle of Dubai and the hides are open between 9 am and 4 pm Saturday to Thursday.
In a spectacular landscape, entirely sculpted by erosion, the Goreme Valley and its surroundings contain rock-hewn sanctuaries that provide unique evidence of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period. Dwellings, troglodyte villages and underground towns—the remains of a traditional human habitat dating back to the 4th century—can also be seen there.
The World Heritage Committee deleted the property because of Oman's decision to reduce the size of the protected area by 90%, in contravention of the operational guidelines of the convention. This was seen by the Committee as destroying the outstanding universal value of the site, which was inscribed in 1994.
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