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Jordan Country Profile

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Jordan

Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a young country dense with history, well-traveled bridge between sea and desert, East and West. Above the layers of antiquity lies a land of mesmerising beauty and contrast: the Jordan Valley, fertile, ever-changing, and remote desert canyons, immense and still. Here are splendid castles and hunting lodges, the haunting wilderness of Wadi Rum, Red Sea coral reefs and restful spas. Here, too, are monuments from every age of humanity, crowned by the rock-carved city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Country Statistics:

Official Name: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Population: 4.0 Million (est.) Main Cities: Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Salt, Aqaba ( the only port) Area: 34,434 sq. miles/206 sq. km (West Bank, incorporated into Jordan in 1950 but occupied by Israel since 1967, 2,269 sq. MI/5,879 sq. km) Neighbors: Syria, Iraq. Saudi Arabia, Israel, occupied Palestine Physical: Desert plateau in East; Rift Valley separates East and West banks of the river Jordan

CAPITAL: Amman

LANGUAGE: Arabic, English and some French

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: Jan. 1 New Year's Day; Jan. 15 Tree Day (Arbor Day); March 22 Arab League Day; May 1 Labor Day; May 25 Independence Day; June 10 Arab Renaissance Day; August 11King Hussein,s Accession; Nov.14 King Hussein's Birthday; December 25 Christmas Day
There are also several public holidays whose dates are not fixed. These include Easter (celebrated in the spring) and the following Islamic holidays which are based on the lunar calendar:

Eid Al-Fitr a 4 or 5-day holiday marking the end of Ramadan Eid Al-Adha a feast at the end of the Haj, or month of pilgrimage to Mecca First of Muharam Islamic New Year First Al Isra' Wal Mi'raj celebrating the visit of the prophet Mohammed to heaven.

Friday is the official weekly day of rest, though many Christian shopkeepers close on Sunday instead.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Visas may be obtained in advance from Jordan Consulates and Embassies. A visa may also be issued on arrival in Jordan to some countries (please check with the nearest consulate prior to departure).

ELECTRICITY: 220 volts AC, 50 cycle.

CLIMATE: Jordan is blessed with a Mediterranean climate for pleasurable year-round travel. Amman is sunny and cloudless from May to October, with average temperatures around 23°C (73°F). Springtime brings optimal weather, lush with greenery, and autumn is equally mild and pleasant. July and August are hot and dry but not oppressive. Because of the capital city's elevation, evenings are cool. Aqaba and the Jordan Valley are ideal winter resorts, with temperatures averaging 16-22°C (61-72°F) between November and April. There is very little rain in the Aqaba area and in the desert.

Average daily temperature Centigrade/ (Fahrenheit)

Amman	Aqaba
Jan 8.1 (46.5) Apr 16.0 (60.8) Jul 25.1 (77.2) Nov 15.3 (59.5)	Jan 15.6 (60.0) APR 24.3 (75.70) Jul 32.5 (90.0) Nov 22.1 (71.7)

1996 Al-Musaafer, L.L.C.