Jordan is a country in the Middle East, bordered by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Israel, and the West Bank. It is renowned for the ancient rock-carved city of Petra and the mineral-rich Dead Sea. The country has a predominantly desert landscape and serves as a historically significant crossroads between Africa, Asia, and Europe.
- Capital
- Amman
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Western Asia
- Area
- 89,342 km²
- Coordinates
- 31° N, 36° E
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- JOD د.ا
- Domain
- .jo الاردن.
- Calling code
- +962
On the world map
Bordering countries
Iraq
Israel
Saudi Arabia
SyriaCountry facts
- Arabic is the official language of Jordan, and the majority of the population is Muslim.
- Jordan is home to Wadi Rum, a vast red desert valley that has been used as a filming location for several science fiction movies.
- The Dead Sea, shared between Jordan and Israel, is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth and lies at the lowest elevation on land.
- The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan gained full independence from British administration in 1946.
- Jordan's national dish is mansaf, a traditional meal of lamb cooked in fermented dried yogurt and served over rice.
Capital facts
- Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with settlements dating back thousands of years.
- The city is built across a series of hills historically known as jabals, giving it a distinctive hilly topography.
- The ancient Roman Theatre, built in the second century AD, still stands in central Amman and can seat thousands of visitors.
- Amman serves as Jordan's political, cultural, and economic center and is home to the majority of the country's population.
- The Citadel, perched on the highest hill in Amman, contains ruins spanning multiple civilizations including Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad.