Yemen

Yemen is a country in the Middle East. It sits at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen has tall mountains, hot deserts, and a long coastline along the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. The capital city is Sanaa, which is one of the oldest cities in the world.

Land and People

Yemen has many kinds of land. There are high mountains, dry deserts, and sandy beaches. About 34 million people live in Yemen. Most people speak Arabic and follow the Islamic faith. Many families have lived in the same villages for hundreds of years.

History and Culture

Yemen has a very long history. Long ago, it was a rich trading land known for frankincense and myrrh. These were special tree saps used as perfume. Yemen is famous for its old mud brick buildings that look like small skyscrapers. Some of these buildings are more than 500 years old.

Fun Facts

• Yemen is home to Socotra Island, which has strange trees that look like umbrellas.
• Mocha coffee got its name from a town in Yemen.
• The old city of Sanaa has buildings over 1,000 years old.

Did You Know?

The dragon blood tree in Yemen has red sap that people once used as medicine and dye.