Basalt and granite layers are most common. Not far from the beautiful volcanic scenery, to the north and north east, there abound great quantities of basalt and chalky stones in forms of white and red bald stone. The long valley of Serwah takes a circular shape and appears to slope down till it meets the outskirts of Athana Valley in Mareb. Serwah valley is surrounded and intersected by high mountains which makes it hard to farm the land on a large scale. However, the small cultivated areas depend on ground water for irrigation, although the relics of man-made waterways testify to the use of artificial irrigation by the people of Sheba.
History is very much alive.
Modern ways have yet to make their ways into the Khawlan clans who till the land. About the only reminder of the modern times are the Hunt sub-stations which pump oil away to the coast. The people, sturdy and rugged as the land itself, are as hard as human beings can get any where in the world. The scenes and views become even more beautiful with the presence of many monuments. These are major attractions to thousands of foreign tourists.