Jabal Qada'ah | |
Other Name: | Jabal Kidā'ah |
Photo Size: | 300px |
Elevation: | 1375m (4,511feet) |
Prominence: | 460m (1,510feet) |
Prominence Ref: | [1] | parent_peak = | isolation = 4.36km (02.71miles)| parent = Hajar Mountains| country = | region_type = Emirate| location = | region = | map = UAE#Persian Gulf#West Asia| map_caption = Location of Jabal Qada'ah| label_position = left| coordinates = 25.778°N 56.1421°W| coordinates_ref = | map_size = 300| |
Jabal Qada'ah[2] (Arabic: جبل قداعة, romanized: Jabal Kidā'ah), also known as Jabal Al Aḩqab,[3] is a mountain located in the Hajar Mountains range, northeast of the United Arab Emirates, in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
Its summit has an altitude of 1375m (4,511feet), a significant prominence of 460m (1,510feet) and a topographic isolation of 4.36km (02.71miles),[1] so the elongated and solitary silhouette of the mountain, in the form of a plateau, stands out and is perfectly visible even from a long distance.
The Jabal Qada'ah forms a ridge line that extends in three directions:
There are different routes to ascend to the top of Jabal Qada'ah starting from the west and southwest, and partially using the channels of the Wādī Ar Ra'ilah[3] or the Wādī Al Hayīlah / Wadi Hiyailah[3] (both tributaries of the Wadi Bih), and also from the Wadi Ghail (tributary of the Wadi Qada'ah). None of them are easy, nor can they be considered conventional roads or paths, since to a greater or lesser extent they require the use of climbing techniques and equipment or materials.[9] [10] [11]
The most accessible and conventional route starts from the Wadi Bih (either from the village of Atmar, initially following the Wadi Atmar), or from the mouth of the Wādī Ar Ra'ilah[3] (sometimes mistakenly called Wadi Haqab).[12] This route follows a donkey path in excellent condition, which is usually used as an access route to the aforementioned villages of Ra's and Magam (Deira Al-Hebsi), and continues south until reaching the col or mountain pass of Jabal Qada'ah East Col (1120m (3,680feet)), located 720m (2,360feet) southeast of the main summit.
At that point a short climb of moderate difficulty and without relevant exposure sections begins, until reaching the top of Jabal Qada'ah, where there are ruins of old dry stone constructions, a cairn and remains of a small weather station.
Alternative names: Jabal Kida'ah, Jabal Qida'a, Jabal Qada`a, Jabal Qada`ah, Jabal Qadda`a, Jabal Quda', Jabal Al Ahqab, Jebel Al Ahqab, 'Jabal Al Aḩqab.
The name of Jabal Qada'ah (with the spelling Jabal Qada'a) appears recorded in the documents and maps prepared between 1950 and 1960 by the British Arabist, cartographer, military officer and diplomat Julian F. Walker, on the occasion of the work carried out for the establishment of the borders between the then so-called Trucial States, later completed by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom, with maps at a scale of 1:100,000 published in 1971, and in other previous maps and documents kept in the Archives UK nationals.[13] [14]
In the National Atlas of the United Arab Emirates it is referenced with the spelling Jabal Al Aḩqab.[3]
From approximately the beginning of the 19th century, the entire area near Jabal Qada'ah was populated by the Habus tribe,[8] [15] [16] divided mainly between the tribal areas of Banī Huraymish[17] and Banī Sā‘ad.[7]