The HASHEMITE KINGDOM of JORDAN
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Location: northwest of Saudi Arabia, west of Iraq
Capital: Amman
Area: 92,300 sq km
Coastline: 26 km
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jebal Ram 1,734 m
Official language: Arabic
Population; 5,611,202
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.2%
15-64 years: 61.1%
65 years and over: 3.7%
Currency: Jordanian Dinar
Member: Arab League
Jordan is bordered by Syria north,
Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, the West Bank
and Israel to the west. It is a constitutional monarchy. Executive
authority is vested in the king and his council of ministers.
Desert covers 80% of the area of Jordan. Most population centers are
in the western region, which is separated from the desert by the
rail lines of the Hijaz Railway.
The climate is mainly arid and dry. The average winter temperature
in the highlands is 7C; the average summer temperature is 30 C.
To make the best use of its limited water supply and to use existing
water resources more efficiently, Jordan built the al Ghawr
irrigation canal in1971.The canal extends from Lake Tiberias in the
north, to the
Dead Sea
in the south of the kingdom.
By 1991, the irrigation canal made 63000 hectares of land suitable
for agriculture.
The principal crops are:
- Vegetables: potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant
- Wheat, barley and grains
- Citrus
- Fruits: watermelons, grapes and bananas
Jordan’s natural resources are potash and phosphates, which are
exported to the international markets for use in the production of
fertilizers.
Other products for export and local needs are cigarettes, cement,
foodstuffs, fertilizers and leathers.
Jordan depends on external sources for the majority of its energy
requirements.
A large number of Jordanians work abroad, particularly in the Gulf
States. The remittances sent home are a significant source of
revenue for the country.
Jordan has many historic and natural sites such as Jerash, Petra, al
Karak citadel and the Dead Sea, that attract many visitors every
year. Tourism constitutes 10% of the GDP of the country.
Cities: Amman, Jerash, Irbid,
Karak, Aqaba, Madaba
Nature reserves:
Ajloun Nature Reserve,
Mujib Nature Reserve, Dana Biosphere Reserve
Jordan’s
Constitution,
Universities,
Tourism
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