Long before air conditioning, Persian architects found an ingenious way to cool off.

This lake in northwest Iran has started turning from green to red more frequently than scientists are comfortable with.

Named after a legendary garden called Eram in southern Arabia, built by order of Shaddad, an Arab king who wanted to compete with Paradise.

A dreamy mausoleum honors Persia's most famous poet.

The fire inside this temple has burned for more than 1,500 years.

17th century mosque for Shah Abbas' harem.

A historic trade hub teeming with gorgeous architecture, colorful goods, and vibrant designs.

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

Hundreds of stones dangle from barren trees in the middle of the desert.

For centuries, Jeddah’s old town was a major trading port and a point of entry for Hajj pilgrims traveling by sea.

This fortress sits atop a centuries-old well system.

An oasis of shade and color amidst the bustle of the old city.

This flagpole ranks among the world’s tallest and can be seen from three countries.

Home to over 1,000 street signs, this museum offers visitors an opportunity to travel over 70 years back in time.

This sprawling, formerly elite sporting complex in Amman, Jordan has become a local picnic spot.

Perched above the bustling town of Kerak is a sprawling, ruinous castle that has witnessed nearly a millennia of Levantine history.

A refurbished locomotive from a bygone era in the middle of the Jordanian desert.

This exceptionally well-preserved ancient marvel also houses a small museum dedicated to Jordanian folk tradition.

The world's oldest map of the holy land gives us a fragmented glimpse of the layout of biblical nations.

Known as the "Valley of the Moon," this Jordanian wadi is one of the most amazing desertscapes on Earth.

The most gigantic, swoony, intimidating trio of fingers in all of antiquity.

A more chill but no less fascinating version of the famous ancient archeological site.

At the heart of an otherwise bustling city lies some oddly abandoned and ignored historical ruins.

The legendary fortress of a female Kurdish warrior leader.