Jordan is a Middle Eastern country located between Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Israel, Iraq and the Red Sea. It has a combination of Mediterranean and desert climates. The official currency is the Jordanian dinar. Hospitality and generosity are highly valued in Jordanian culture. Popular tourist attractions include historical sites like Jerash and Um Qais, as well as natural areas like Wadi Mujib nature reserve.

2. Jordan’s the official name is The Hashemite kingdom of Jordan Where is Jordan? Jordan is located in the Middle East and borders Syria, Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea, Palestine, Israel, and Iraq. Covering some 89,342 sq.km, it is located at 31° 00 N, 36° 00 E Climate and Geography Jordan has a combination of Mediterranean and arid desert climates, with Mediterranean prevailing in the North and West of the country, while the majority of the country is desert. Lowest Point: Dead Sea, -408 meters (-1338.6 feet) Highest Point: Jebel Rum, 1734 meters (5689 feet)

3. All part of the national flag of Jordan have a special meaning: The three horizontal colures, black, white and green, symbolize the three caliphates named Abbasid, Umayyad and Fatimid. The red triangle is a symbol of the Hashemite dynasty and Arab Revolt (1961-1918). The seven pointed star represents both the seven verses of the first surah (chapter) in the Quran, and the unity of the Arab peoples. Some believe it also refers to the seven hills on which Amman, the capital, was built. Jordan Flag

4. The Royal Family His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein assumed his constitutional powers as King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on February 7th, 1999, the day his father, the late King Hussein, passed away. Jordan’s type Government is a Monarchy.

5. The Currency The "diinar" is the official currency in Jordan. It is also called "laira". One "diinar" equals 100 gersh and in dollars it almost equals 1.5 US$. Bargaining Bargaining is common in Jordan. You can always ask "Is this the last price?" Usually, you can bargain at small boutiques for clothes or shoes and handcrafts/gifts but you never bargain at pharmacies, supermarkets and big stores.

6. Public Transportation • Buses, taxis and services (a shared taxi) are the public transportation available in Jordan. • Buses are the most used public transportation. Usually, men and women do not sit next to each other unless there is not any other place available. Old people are given seats immediately as a way of showing respect. • In taxis, women should not sit in the front seat. They should also avoid any eye contact or any talking with the driver. • The "service" is a shared taxi. You can share this taxi with about 4 people and the direction of it is already identified.

7. Names It is common in Jordan to call parents with: father / mother of (the name of the eldest son in the family) e.g. "Abu Husam", Husam's father, to a man whose eldest son is called Husam. His wife would be called "Umm Husam", Husam's mother. Common names There are some very common names that Jordanians name their children by, like for boys: Mohammed, Ahmed, Ali, Omar and Abdullah. And for girls: Fatima, Nawal, Samira, Huda and Amina. The Jordanian family • Most Jordanian families are extended and large. Jordanians generally identify themselves according to family kinship, as well as tribal affiliation. • The bonds in the Jordanian family are very strong. Parents watch over and are involved in every aspect of their children's lives. Children show large amount of respect for parents especially the father. Children are also considered to be a sign of wealth and prosperity. CULTURE

8. • Hospitality and generosity are highly valued in Jordan. It reflects on the individual's and family's honor and respect. So, Jordanians like to socialize a lot, especially in villages, they visit each other frequently at any time without an appointment and the host has a big responsibility to show generosity to guests.

9. Capital: Amman Population Total Population (million): 5.72 Annual growth rate: 3.17% Density: 63 inhab./km² Urban population: 82.62% Population of principal cities: Amman (1036330); Zarqa (395227); Irbid (250645); Al Rusayfah (227735); Al Quwaysimah (135500); Wadi as Sir (122032) Ethnic Origins: 98% Arabs (half of them Palestinians), 1% Circassians, 1% Armenians. Official Language: Arabic. Other languages spoken: The Adhyge language, the Domari language, Armenian. Business language: English Religion: Muslims 90%, Christians 6%. Literacy rate: 91.13% Al Hussein Mosque Roman Theatre

10. Jordan Architecture

11. Jordan like other Arabian countries the women wears the traditional clothes called abb’aya . Hand made jewelry

12. The traditional dish in Jordan is "Mansaf" which consists of rice, cooked yoghourt and either chicken or meat. It is usually served at big celebrations like weddings as a way of showing great respect for guests. Jordan has many others food like hummus, kebabs, farooj and many other Arabian dishes. Arabic Mezzah sweets (Baqalwah) Mansaf

13. Zarqa camp is the oldest Palestine refugee camp in Jordan, and was one of the four camps established after l948 to accommodate the refugees who left Palestine as a result of the 1948 Arab - Israeli war . The camp was set up by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1949 for 8,000 refugees in an area of 180,000 square metres near the town of Zarqa . UNRWA later replaced the original tents with concrete shelters and over the years the refugees have made improvements and added more rooms . The camp now resembles other urban quarters in Zarqa . Palestine Refugee Camp in Jordan

14. Facts and Figures Population 18,509 Registered Refugees UNRWA Education Programme 6 Elementary / Preparatory school for 2,938 enrolled pupils in 2008/2009 . UNRWA Relief & Social Services Programme 166 Families receive assistance under the Social Safety Net Programme One Food Distribution centre UNRWA Health Programme Two Health centres NGOs There are seven active NGOs in the camp, which organize cultural activities and run an educational enhancement programme for children . One Women’s Programme Centre which provides training courses for women in sewing & beauty, awareness activities, kindergarten and programme for caring of the disabled . One Community based Rehabilitation Centre UNRWA school Zarqa camp

15. Environment in Jordan Jordan has many native animals such as the Arabian Oryx , Arabian gazelle, Nubian Ibex, and the other endangered species. Jordan has many plants such as Sawsan Oran (national flower), Colocynth, Chamomile, Desert plants (shrubs), tamarix, and etc. Arabian Oryx Sawsan Oran

16. Economy of Jordan In Jordan only 10% of their water shortage which limits crops Jordan depends mainly on phosphates, poash, fertilizers and tourism Jordan depends largely on their oil reservers for tier energy needs Jordan GDP per capita is $ 4,700 Jordan has suffured from rising amounts of unemployment and from 1990-1991 Gulf war and Iraqi war. phosphate poash

17. Tourism in Jordan In Jordan there are many tourist attractions such as: The desert castles called Qasr al-Hallabat, Qasr Azraq , Qasr al-Harraneh, Qasr Amrah and many others. Qasr al-Harraneh Qasr Amrah

18. Um Qais Um Qais is one of Jordan's most unique Greco Roman Decapolis sites . Tucked away in the hillside, at a height of 378 meters above sea level, Um Qais offers an incomparable panoramic view . An exciting walk through the ages is in store for the visitor . Theatre

19. The castle of Ajloun was built in 1184 to defend the land held by the Arabs from the Crusaders. Originally it was a square castle with a tower at each corner; it was enlarged some forty years later, when another tower was built. part of Jordan is one of the most fertile regions, it is seldom that no rain falls here in winter. From the castle one has an impressive view over the cultivated terraces nearby. Ajloun Castle

20. Salt is the most historic town in Jordan . The area enjoys a moderate climate, a plentiful supply of water and fertile soil . Its mixed Muslim - Christian population and its trading tradition helped create an atmosphere of tolerance and coexistence Salt

21. This ancient town a 20-minutes drive northwest from Amman transports you back in time to a town of picturesque streets and dazzling houses from the late Ottoman period, with their characteristic long - arched windows . It's the ideal place for admiring the architecture, stopping off at the small archaeological museum, and finishing up at Salt Zaman, a lovely restored old building in the heart of the town, charmingly furnished with antiques and handicrafts . Salt also houses a Handicrafts School where you can admire traditional skills of ceramics, weaving, silk screen printing, and dyeing . . Salt

22. Madaba, " the City of Mosaics” Madaba's chief attraction - in the contemporary Greek Orthodox church of St . George - is a wonderfully vivid, 6th century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites . With two million pieces of coloured stone, and a full 25 x 5 metres in its original state - most of which can still be seen today - the map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns, as far away as the Nile Delta . This masterpiece is unrivalled in Jordan, but there are literally dozens of other mosaics from the 5th through the 7th centuries, scattered throughout Madaba's churches and homes .

23. Dibeen Forest Dibeen forest is situated just south of the famous Roman city of Jerash, where it cloaks the steep hillsides over an area of some eight square kilometres . Most of the trees are Aleppo pines, mixed with evergreen oak ( Quercus calliprinos ) and a scattering of red - barked arbutus . It also has a few wild olive, pistachio and pear trees . The Aleppo pines are some of the oldest and largest in the kingdom and Dibeen is the driest part of the world in which they are known to grow naturally Dibeen is particularly attractive in March and April, when it is full of lavishing spring flower

24. The Mujib Reserve of Wadi Mujib is the lowest nature reserve in the world, located in the mountainous landscape to the east of the Dead Sea, approximately 90 km south of Amman . The 220 square kilometers reserve was created in 1987 by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and is regionally and internationally important, particularly for the bird life that the reserve supports. This 1,300 meter variation in elevation, combined with the valley's year round water flow from seven tributaries, means that Wadi Mujib enjoys a magnificent biodiversity that is still being explored and documented today. Wadi Mujib

25. Over 300 species of plants, 10 species of carnivores and numerous species of permanent and migratory birds have been recorded until this date. Some of the Remote Mountain and valley areas are difficult to reach, and thus offer safe havens for rare species of cats, goats and other mountain animals. Wadi Mujib

26. Dana Nature Reserve contains a remarkable diversity of landscapes that range from wooded highlands to rocky slopes and from gravel plains to dunes of sand . Moreover, Dana supports diverse wildlife which includes a variety of rare species of plants and animals; Dana is home to about 600 species of plants, 37 species of mammals, and 190 species of birds. Dana Nature Reserve ( 308 square km ) is a world of natural treasures . It is composed of a chain of valleys and mountains which extend from the top of the Jordan Rift Valley down to the desert lowlands of Wadi Araba . The visitor to this area will be awed by the beauty of the Rummana mountain, the mystery of the ancient archaeological ruins of Feinan, the timeless serenity of Dana Village, and the grandeur of the red and white sandstone cliffs of Wadi Dana . Dana Nature Reserve

27. Dead sea is a special place in the world because it’s the earths lowest point below sea level, it’s the deepest hyper saline place in the Jordan and its 8.6 times greater than average ocean salinity. Dead Sea

28. The Royal Automobile Museum The royal automobile museum depicts the history of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, from the early 1920s until the present. The museum affords the visitors an insight into the history of the kingdom through the exhibited cars from the era of king Abdullah 1, the founder of the kingdom, into the era of his majesty king abdullah2. The attraction doesn’t lie so much in the car itself. rather , in the man who chose it and drove it, in the events it witnessed and the places it was steered towards.

29. The place that offers a range of therapeutic treatments including hot baths, mud packs, and massage for ailments like rheumatism, asthma, skin complaints and sports injuries . Hammam theraphy Hammamat Ma’in

30. Wadi Rum you can go there to do a lot of activities to discover the wild animals of jordan, it’s a great family experience. Wadi Rum

31. ACTIVITIES :: TREKKING / HIKING / SCRAMBLING Millennia of erosion resulted in wonderful mountains on Wadi Rum's desert sands, a place of dramatic beauty and an ideal environment for trekking. BEDOUIN ROADS Most of Wadi Rum's summits had been first climbed by bedouins, hunting or looking for water, then as a game. These ascents are done by walking and scrambling and a few rock climbing passages. CLIMBING Wadi Rum is now a worldwide famous climbing and mountaineering paradise. The sandstone fortresses numerous adventurous experiences, from classic "alpine" ascents to extremely impressive harder climbs. Wadi Rum

32. JEEP TOUR They are the easiest way to discover Wadi Rum desert especially if you have a short stay with us. CAMEL SAFARI Enjoy riding camels as bedouin did for several years in a traditionnal way of moving. This will be a very quiet way for you to discover our desert. Wadi Rum

33. Petra (one of the worlds seven wonders) Petra old roman city was a huge land mark for trading. Now Jordan had enhanced the tourism there making tourist able to ride horses and see how people used to act. PETRA

34. Monastery Top Undoubtedly the most famous attraction in Jordan is the Nabatean city of Petra, nestled away in the mountains south of the Dead Sea. Petra, which means "stone" in Greek, is perhaps the most spectacular ancient city remaining in the modern world, and certainly a must-see for visitors to Jordan and the Middle East. The city was the capital of the Nabateans -Arabs who dominated the lands of Jordan during pre-Roman times- and they carved this wonderland of temples, tombs and elaborate buildings out of solid rock. The Victorian traveler and poet Dean Burgon gave Petra a description which holds to this day -"Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time." Yet words can hardly do justice to the magnificence that is Petra. In order to best savor the atmosphere of this ancient wonder, visit in the quiet of the early morning or late afternoon when the sandstone rock glows red with quiet grandeur. PETRA

35. Aqaba shows you the real Jordanian traditions. It has old souqs and restraints. Aqaba is a year-round resort that has something for everyone, and it is popular amongst all age groups. This seaside city is blessed with great weather throughout the year; hot and breezy in the summer, warm and pleasant in the winter. Just about every activity a vacationer could hope to find is available. From exciting water sports in Aqaba from sailing to diving. AQABA

36. having fun safe diving in Aqaba AQABA