Jabal an-Nabi Shu'aib | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 3,666 m (12,028 ft) |
Prominence |
3,326 m (10,912 ft) Ranked 62nd |
Isolation | 554 kilometres (344 mi) |
Listing |
Country high point Ultra |
Coordinates | 15°16′45″N 43°58′33″E / 15.27917°N 43.97583°ECoordinates: 15°16′45″N 43°58′33″E / 15.27917°N 43.97583°E |
Geography | |
Location | Sana'a Governorate, Yemen |
Jabal an-Nabi Shu'aib (Arabic: جبل النبي شعيب mountain of the prophet Shu'aib) is a mountain located in Sana'a Governorate, Yemen. It is the highest mountain of the country and the highest mountain in the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the most prominent peaks in the world and the third most prominent peak in the Middle East (including Turkey & Iran).
Its elevation is often reported to be 3,760 metres, but this is not supported by SRTM data or more recent cartographic sources. The height of the mountain is 3,666 metres (12,028 ft) and is located near the Yemeni capital of Sana'a. Yemen's second highest peak, Jabal Tiyal, is nearly equidistant from the capital as Jabal an-Nabi Shu'aib is.
Jabal an-Nabi Shu'aib may seem like just a rocky knoll from observation center like the Sana'a-Al Hudayda highway, but from its western face it is a massive mountain rising from about 1500–1600 meters. This side of the mountain halts clouds burdened with precipitation, causing that side to be relatively fertile. Atop the mountain is a military post with a radar and the shrine of the prophet Shu'ayb. It is relatively difficult to be allowed to its summit, but restrictions have eased as of late.
Although the summit is not snow-capped like its counterparts in northern Lebanon and Syria, there have been reports of snow on the peak and frost in the winter. Wind speeds are very high at the summit.