fortresses are a characteristic feature of the city. Shadda Palace, built in 1927, is now a museum displaying local handicrafts and household items. Other notable buildings in Abha include the Abha Great Mosque, the Al-Tahy restaurant, the Abha Palace Hotel, and the funpark next to Lake Sadd. The New Abha five-star hotel is a recent construction on the lake, southwest of the town. The head office and the main printing presses of Al Watan, a major Saudi daily, are in Abha. Culture The Saudi government has promoted Abha as a tourist destination. The city hosts events to attract visitors to the city and its surroundings, including the summer Abha Festival, sporting events, shows, exhibitions, and musical performances poets and singers. The artist Talal Maddah died on stage during one such performance in Abha. Education King Khalid University is a public university in Abha. The University was established in 1998 by merging the Imam Muhammed bin Saud University of Islamic Studies and the King Saud University of the South. The total number of enrolled students is approximately 85,000. Geography and climate Abha is located in the southern region of Asir at an elevation of about above sea level. Abha lies on the western edge of Mount Al-Hijaz, near Jabal Sawda, the highest peak in Saudi Arabia. Treating the Asir Mountains as part of the Sarawat, the landscape is otherwise dominated by the Sarawat Mountains. The climate of Abha is Subtropical Highland Climate (Köppen: CsBi) and it is influenced by city's high elevation.[inaccessible source] The city's weather is generally mild throughout the year, becoming noticeably cooler during the "low-sun" season. Abha seldom sees temperatures rise above during the course of the year. The city averages of rainfall annually, with the bulk of the precipitation occurring between February and April, with a secondary minor wet season in July and August. The highest recorded temperature was on August 25, 1983, while the lowest recorded temperature was on December 29, 1983. Gallery Ecology The Garf Raydah Protected Area is heavily colonized by cacti, olive trees, and junipers. See also Al-Bahah An-Namas Bareq Billasmar Region Habala Rijal Alma Khamis Mushayt Tanomah References External links - PhD Thesis Qahtanites Populated places in 'Asir Province Provincial capitals of Saudi Arabia