Jordan Overview
Country Profile
Jordan is located northwest of the Arabian Peninsula. “Jordan” in Hebrew means “currents under the.” The country’s full name is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Covering an area of 83,940 square kilometers, it has a population of 5.48 million, mostly Arabs. Residents are Muslim. The language is English. JD is the currency, and the capital is Amman (Amman).
Jordan National Flag
The side of the flag has a red triangle, with a symbol of the “Koran,” a white seven-pointed star. The right side is, from top to bottom, black, white, and green. These are the four pan-Arab colors.
History Summary
Jordan was originally part of Palestine. Year 7 was the beginning of the Arab world empire. In the year 1517, Jordan was part of the Ottoman Empire. After the First World War, it became a British mandated territory. In 1921, the United Kingdom split the Palestinians into two territories. The western part was still called Palestine, while the east was called the Emirate of Transjordan. On March 22, 1946, the British recognized Transjordan independence, and, in May, the country changed its name to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In May 1948, in the first Arab-Israeli war, Jordanoccupied the West Bank, 4,800 sq km of land. In April 1950, Jordan merged with the West Bankand was renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In 1967, in the third Arab-Israeli war, Israel occupied the West Bank. On February 9, 1995, Jordan was to recover about 340 square kilometers of lost ground.
Economy and Culture Overview
The main pillars of Jordan’s national economy are remittances, foreign aid, and tourism. Industries include mining, food, oil refining, cement, production of phosphate, rock testing, cement, and light industry products. Jordan is the world’s fourth largest producer of phosphate. Agriculture is concentrated in the northern Jordan Valley and the small piece of high ground, producing fruits, vegetables, olives, and wheat.
The Jordan River is a full 360 km long. From its source of Mount Lebanon to the river mouth is a drop to 1,200 meters, as if the water pours down from the sky. The Jordan River flows through the lowest parts of the world’s land, with parts of the river below sea level. Its water is very important for agricultural irrigation.
Aqaba is Jordan’s only port and is a major import and export distribution center. Located in Jordan, it is near the borders with Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt. Because of its many palm trees, it is named a “palm-tree shaded paradise.”
Rose City – Petra
In a remote desert canyon in southwestern Jordan, there is an ancient city called Petra, which, 2,500 years ago, the Nabataeans nation carved out of sandstone cliffs. Grand temples, tombs, theaters, ladders, and corridors are carved from rock, and most also maintain their original appearance. Many buildings shine a Rose Red in the sunlight and it is therefore said to be the “Rose Red City.”
Getting to the town requires traveling through a mountain valley 1,000 meters long. Desert Caravans loaded with valuable spices, pearls, silk and other commodities went through this gorge into the trade center, Petra.
Jordan Map
