RIYADH: The Fish rock in Wadi Al-Fann, AlUla governorate, is one of the region’s most striking natural sights, resembling a giant sea creature resting in the desert. 

When images of the geological wonder, which stretches nearly 200 meters, were first circulated online a few years ago, many social media users speculated that the rock was a fossilized giant fish.

But according to the Royal Commission for AlUla, archeologists believe the rock’s unique shape is the result of erosion from ancient river systems that swept sand to the edges of the supercontinent Gondwana, about 500 million years ago.

Wadi Al-Fann, a 65 sq. km centerpiece of the “Journey Through Time Masterplan” initiative, is part of the RCU’s efforts to transform AlUla into a leading global destination for arts, heritage, culture, and nature, while preserving its unique geological and cultural treasures.

AlUla’s giant fish is just one of the unique rock formations that can be found in the ancient city and its surroundings.

Among those discovered in the past years were the Elephant rock, Face rock, Arch rock, Mushroom rocks, and the Dancing rock.

The Face rock is found among the monumental tombs of Hegra, an ancient city of the Nabataeans in northwestern AlUla Valley.

In the Raggasat Valley, Dancing rocks have been named because they appear to be swaying together.

A number of mushroom-shaped rocks can be found in in the deserts of AlUla, the most famous of which is located in Sharaan Nature Reserve.

Not far from AlUla city center can be found the Rainbow rock, which resembles a rainbow flanked by two clouds.