Several historical forts, built of stones and mud, dot the villages and rural complexes in Al-Baha region, located in the southwestern part of the Kingdom. These forts, some more than 600 years old, have earned fame for the region and draw thousands of tourists every year. Owing to the presence of the Tharwat Mountains surrounding the region, the region's inhabitants built the forts for their own protection and for storing their agricultural crops. The people of the region are distinguished by their team spirit in all the affairs of their lives and the forts are a living testimony to this characteristic. Most of the forts can be found on top of the mountains or at the edges of the villages. Masons used large rectangular stones in building the forts; thus the wide base becomes narrower as the height increases. The forts usually consist of five or six stories. The highest part of the fort which is known as Al-Doqon is built with rectangular shaped stones. One of the major building materials is wood, with trunks of large trees used on the roofs. Also, doors, windows and stairs are made of wood. Most of the forts are square shaped and their height ranges between 20 to 25 meters. The walls are 96 cm thick. The forts consist of small rooms and in the middle of the building there is a pool of water filled by the rains through small channels inside the fort. In addition to providing protection, certain forts were used for storing agricultural crops to protect the harvest from weather changes, birds and insects. Al-Baha region is one of the most beautiful provinces in the country. Its geographical location has made it an active link between Makkah and the Asir region. It consists of six towns, the most important of which are Baljurashi, Al-Mandaq, and Al-Mekhwah, in addition to Baha City, the center of the province. The province comprises 31 administrative centers and has a population of 533,000. Al-Baha is one of the fastest growing agricultural regions of the Kingdom and one of the most densely populated provinces. It is surrounded by the rugged and majestic Asir range of mountains at an elevation of 3,000 meters above sea level. The hills with green fields scattered all over Al-Baha have different kinds of plant life, so that each mountain is unique. Al-Baha is developing into a major tourist destination located at a distance of nearly 220 km from Makkah and 350 km from Abha. It is served by a modern airport and a network of excellent highways. Al-Baha features beautiful scenery and offers a salubrious climate throughout the year. Zee Ain is one of the main tourist sites and can be considered a landmark for the region.
