SAUDI ARABIA: A 2,000 square-metre reservoir is at the heart of a conservation project outside Riyadh providing an alternative for locals to go on family outings and enjoy the area's blossoming wildlife

Record ID: 188962

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: A 2,000 square-metre reservoir is at the heart of a conservation project outside Riyadh providing an alternative for locals to go on family outings and enjoy the area's blossoming wildlife
  • Date: 17th April 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF SAUDI FAMILY SITTING BY WATER SIDE HAVING PICNIC (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VISITOR TO WADI NAMMAR, ABDULLAH AL-THENAYAN, SAYING: "I am very happy with this very beautiful scenery and I congratulate myself and congratulate the residents of Riyadh as well as its visitors because now -- for example if the camera moves to the view behind me, one would not believe this is in Riyadh, a desert area with mountains and sand, but now we have a river. This can now be considered Riyadh's river." WOMAN WITH CHILDREN HAVING PICNIC (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI VISITOR TO WADI NAMMAR, TURKI AL-MARSHOD, SAYING: "Before it was all dust and desert, but thank God, now we have a river and we can come here with our families and get some entertainment." CHILDREN PLAYING WITH THEIR MOTHER TAKING A PHOTOGRAPH IN THE BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) YOUNG VISITOR TO WADI NAMMAR, RAYAN AL-ATEEQ, SAYING: "People come here and siblings play with each other. They play on their bicycles, roller-skates and little children watch the ducks and take photographs. People sit there where the boats are, some have barbecues and others have their lunch in the afternoon. Everything." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) YOUNG VISITOR TO WADI NAMMAR, LULU AL-ATEEQ SAYING: "I came here to look at the boats and play, have a good time with my siblings and enjoy my time with other people." SAUDI WOMAN WALKING WITH SMALL CHILD AS CHILDREN PLAY IN BACKGROUND
  • Embargoed: 2nd May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA8OH6BVL4N0SWQO7IAUCZ8H21N
  • Story Text: Residents of the Saudi capital Riyadh have a new way to enjoy their weekends.
    In an area spanning more than half the size of the built up area of Riyadh sits Wadi Nammar, a valley on the capital's southern outskirts. The valley is the site of a large-scale conservation project. At the heart of it lies a reservoir, formed by the Nammar Dam, that locals have embraced as the city's only lake.
    A unique geographical addition to Riyadh's naturally arid landscape, the Wadi Nammar reservoir and surrounding park has become a favoured spot for locals to enjoy weekend picnics and wildlife spotting.
    The reservoir and surrounding park were officially opened on Wednesday (April 11) at an event attended by Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz, the governor of Riyadh, and an array of officials.
    Engineer Ibrahim al-Sultan, a member of the High Commission for the Development of Riyadh and President of the Riyadh Development Authority, was also present at the ceremony. He said the lake exceeds two kilometres in length and is between 170-200 metres (0.17-0.2 kilometres) wide.
    "It is now considered the largest body of water in the city of Riyadh," he said.
    Sultan also said the project has relieved the city of a large "burden".
    "We have transformed an area that constituted a burden for the city -- in terms of the accumulation of waste and animals running loose -- and now it has become a distinguished addition to the city of Riyadh," he said.
    The Wadi Nammar project is a large-scale development, which includes the Nammar Dam reservoir and park, and Laban Dam park. The development has been years in the making and spans an area of nearly 80 kilometres, running eastwards from the Nammar Dam Lake until it meets the nearby Wadi Hanifa area.
    The project includes refinement streams, roads and parking for more than 300 vehicles.
    Some 10,000 trees and tree saplings have been planted throughout the valley, including over 520 palm trees. The area now boasts a blossoming wildlife including ducks and other aquatic bird species.
    Local resident Abdullah al-Thenayan recently had a picnic with his family along the river which feeds the Wadi Nammar reservoir.
    "I am very happy with this very beautiful scenery," he said.
    "One would not believe this is in Riyadh, a desert area with mountains and sand, but now we have a river. This can now be considered Riyadh's river," al-Thenayan added.
    The area now gives locals an alternative to travelling 500 to 1,000 kilometres to reach other cities like Jeddah, Damman or Khobar for a day outdoors in pleasant surroundings.
    "Before it was all dust and desert, but thank God, now we have a river and we can come here with our families and get some entertainment," Turki al-Marshod said.
    But the new addition to Riyadh's landscape was especially welcomed by children who now accompany their families to enjoy the sights and play in the vast outdoors.
    "People come here and siblings play with each other. They play on their bicycles, roller-skates and little children watch the ducks and take photographs. People sit there where the boats are, some have barbecues and others have their lunch in the afternoon," said Rayan al-Ateeq.
    "I came here to look at the boats and play, have a good time with my siblings and enjoy my time," said Rayan's sister, Lulu.
    As part of the project, platforms have been erected to overlook the lake promenade and a two-kilometre corniche (board walk) has been erected, dotted with palm trees on either side.
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