Makkah in Brief
Makkah is the spiritual home for thousand million Muslims...
Place of revelation, Holy Mosque and Al-Ka'abah...
Destination of millions of pilgrims and visitors...
Purest place on earth...
Makkah has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an in many names such as Makkah, Bakkah, Al-Balad Al-Amen, Al-Balad Al-Ameen, Al-Haram Al-Amen and Umm Al-Qura.
Makkah embraces Al-Ka'abah and the Holy Mosque, which influenced the type of construction and inhabitants.
The first chapter of Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in Makkah and many other chapters were revealed afterwards.
Muslims fought polytheism in Makkah, they captured Makkah successfully in the 8th year of Hijra and Islam has spread.
Location:
Makkah is located across the two latitude degrees 25/21 north and longitude degrees 49/39 north. It is 300 Metres above sea level.
In Makkah, there is Ibrahim Valley, which lies between two mountain chains from east, west and north.
Makkah has three main entrances: Al-Mo'allat, Al-Masfala and Al-Shabaikah. Al-Mo'allat is higher than the Holy Mosque and Al-Masfala is lower.
Makkah has been built by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismai'l, it has many names such as Umm Al-Quar, Bakkah and Al-Balad Al-Ameen, all of which has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
Area: 84,000 Hectares.
Population: 600,000
Makkah has modern roads and tunnels connected to the Holy Mosque and Holy Places, along with pedestrian road equipped with all kinds of services.
Makkah also has advanced health services and international communication network.
Makkah Geography and Climate:
Astronomic Location: Makkah is located on latitude degrees 91,52 and 12 north, and longitude degrees 46, 49 and 39 east.
Geologic Structure: Makkah Region is formed within the Arabian Shield that consists of old rocks.
Makkah Topographic:
Makkah topographic are divided into three sections from north to south:
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Western Section: it is around 250 meters altitude; some mountains may reach 400 meters altitude.
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Central Section: it is more than 300 meters altitude; Khandama Mountain is around 420 meters altitude, Abi Qubais Mountain is around 372 meters altitude, Thour Mountain is around 759 meters high and Qu'aiqan Mountain is around 427 meters altitude.
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Eastern Section: it is more than 400 meters altitude; some mountains such as Al-Tarqi Mountain, which is the highest mountain in Makkah, reaches around 800 meters altitude.
Climate:
Makkah's temperature average is the highest in the world.
Temperature average in Makkah is 29.9 ºC, this high temperature occurs because Makkah is far from seas and oceans; and it is surrounded by Al-Sarawat Mountains. However, Makkah is very hot during summer and warm during winter.
Temperature in Makkah exceeds 48 ºC during summer and it reaches 18 ºC during winter.
Yearly average is between 29.9 ºC and 31 ºC.
Wind:
The atmospheric pressure and topography effects wind direction in Makkah, winds are directed from north, northwest and southwest.
Wind speed average in Makkah:
Lowest speed is around 5.6 Km/Hr.
Highest speed is around 66.7 Km/Hr.
However the normal average most of the time is between 7.4 Km/Hr and 8.5 Km/Hr.
Types of winds in Makkah:
Northwest: dry at summer and rainy and humid at winter.
Northeast: hot and dry at summer and warm at winter.
Southwest: seasonal rainy wind.
Rain:
Makkah rains rarely and it results from northwest or southwest seasonal winds. However, abundance raining in Makkah may cause natural disasters such as Um Nahshal flood, which caused some damage in the Holy Mosque in the 17th year of Hijra.
Makkah rain average is between 25 mm to 80 mm.
Humidity:
Humidity average is low in Makkah due to the dry desert nature.
The highest humid percentage was 57% and the lowest was 32%.