The 'Manhattan of the Desert': Shibam, Yemen's Ancient Skyscraper City

Connective bridges and doors between buildings also provided a means of quick escape—another one of the city’s impressive defensive features. The structures are constantly threatened by wind, rain, and heat erosion, and require constant upkeep. In 2008, a tropical cyclone flooded Shibam, damaging several structures and threatening to topple its earthen towers.