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Sana'a

Capital of YemenHigh in the mountains of Yemen, at about 2,300 m, Sana'a lies between Jabal Nuqum to the east and the foothills of Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb, the country's tallest mountain, to the west.

Why it's the capital

Islamic tradition says Sana'a was founded by Shem, the son of Noah. Imam Ahmad moved the capital to Taiz, but Sana'a became the capital again after the 1962 revolution, and when Yemen was unified it was chosen as capital of the new Republic of Yemen.

Fun facts

  1. The name probably comes from an old Sabaic word meaning "well-fortified".
  2. The Old City, a World Heritage Site since 1986, is known for tower houses of stone and fired brick that can reach eight storeys and are decorated with geometric patterns.
  3. The Great Mosque of Sana'a dates from the 7th century and is one of the oldest mosques in the world.

Finding it on the globe

Go to the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula and aim inland from the Red Sea coast, into the mountains of western Yemen.

Easy to mix up

In 2015, after the Houthis took control of Sana'a, Yemen's then-president Hadi declared Aden a temporary capital, so you may see Aden named as well.

Sources: Wikipedia: Sanaa