Ancient skyscrapers - the "Manhattan of the desert"

The seemingly modern skyscrapers in the clip above are actually over 500 years old. Shibam, the so-called "Manhattan of the desert," is a city in Yemen with ancient mud-brick buildings standing 5-16 floors high. Originally made to protect the inhabitants from invaders, today the structures require constant maintenance to protect them from erosion.

This clip, taken from the same documentary as the clip above, provides a more extended look at the town.


Got a tip for Monsters and Rockets? Want to contribute to the site? Send us an email.