Dana

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Dana biosphere reserve is a safe haven for the largest breeding colony of the Syrian serin, lesser kestrel, Blanford's fox and Nubian ibex. Rock formations constitute a refuge for the Houbara bustard, caracal, desert wolf, porcupine and striped hyena. It is home to critically endangered evergreen cypress, Phoenician Juniper, sand dune acacia and umbrella thorn acacia, and Iris nigricans. Dana holds ecological niches for endemics and other plants named after the reserve or places in Jordan, such as Rubia danaensis, Silene daenensis, Micromeria danaensis, Iris edomensis, Romulea petraea and Pistacia khinjuk. The reserve hosts medicinal and aromatic plants, such as terebinth, mallow, knotweed, Sodom apple, yarrow species, tumble thistle and Mediterranean saltbush. The biosphere offers one hundred archaeological sites and the copper mines in Wadi Feynan. Local food workshops traditionally led by women, offer dried fruits and jewelry, candles and crafts. Ecolodges present traditional meals made from wild edible plants and aromas.