Jurassic world comes to Gaza
Gazans are thrilled about the new theme park, Dinosaur City, as they lack educational and entertainment opportunities that allow them to forget about their harsh living conditions.
AL-ZAHARA, Gaza Strip — At Dinosaur City, the first theme park of its kind in the Gaza Strip, and in fact in all of Palestine, the sounds of its prehistoric creatures can be heard from a distance. A dinosaur head is displayed above the entrance gate to the park, in which the park's visitors are treated to an experience of what these extinct creatures may have looked and sounded like.
Dinosaur City is part of Sharm Park, which is one of the largest and most developed of the few theme parks in Gaza, and built on a small area of only 1,000 square meters (0.25 acre) south of Gaza City. According to the theme park's management, Dinosaur City is visited by between 150 and 200 people per day.
The model dinosaurs are made out of metal that is covered with a spongy material and leather; they are fitted with internal sensors that make the large creatures move and make a sound when people approach. Each dinosaur is identified by name and type, as well as the period in which it lived.
Abdallah Joudeh, the park’s manager and guide, told Al-Monitor that the main purpose of building the theme park was to establish a link between what students learn in school and an entertaining experience. He said that Dinosaur City was developed after a number of engineers saw similar projects around the world.
