Shibam: The City of Ancient High-Rises   

• In the desert valleys of Yemen stands a city that looks like something out of a storybook. Shibam, often nicknamed the “Manhattan of the Desert,” is packed with tall mud-brick towers, some of which were built more than 500 years ago. These ancient “skyscrapers” rise five to 11 stories high – nearly the height of Chicago’s first skyscrapers. Visitors marvel at the sight of the pale buildings made of local soil, clay, and straw. The sun-dried mud bricks keep the inside cool during blazing hot days, and the tall walls once helped protect people from floods and attacks. To this day, residents still repair the walls with fresh layers of mud to keep the towers standing strong. Shibam sits in Yemen’s Hadramaut region, along old trade routes where merchants once traveled with spices, cloth, and other goods. Its maze of narrow streets and tall houses made it a safe place to live in the middle of the desert. Today, Shibam is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its unique architecture and history. But the city faces challenges from heavy rain and erosion, neglect, and regional conflict. Preserving Shibam matters because it offers a rare glimpse into how people long ago built amazing cities with simple materials and thrived in extreme environments. Yesel Kang Copy Editor junior/1760056312/1613368124