ABOUT

Jordan otherwise known as Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the north-east, Palestine to the west, and Saudi Arabia to the east and south.

It gained independence on the 25 May 1946 from League of Nations mandate under British administration. The capital of Jordan is Amman.

Mosques, museums, cities, castles and archaeological sites are popular tourist attractions, but the more famous sites include the azraq wetland reserve, Petra one of the great wonders of the Middle Eastern world - a city that was carved straight into solid rock and of course the Dead Sea, a natural wonder.

It contains more minerals and salt than any other stretch of water in the world, and thus it really is possible to float on top of the water.

CULTURE

The culture of Jordan encompasses values, beliefs and ethnicities as it is an Arab Kingdom is in the heart of Southwest Asia.

In Amman, the capital of Jordan, there has been a movement of alternative music in the last two decades. The Bedouin musical traditions, with groups of men singing trance-like chants to accompany a lone belly-dancer are still very popular.

Architecture is the predominant visual art in the Arab world, partly because Islam forbids the depiction of living things. Throughout Jordan you will find spectacular mosques, ancient ruins from the Roman Empire and earlier and magnificent mosaics.

Art in Jordan is plentiful, there are many local artists, as well as Arab, especially Iraqis, and those Arabs who live abroad frequently have exhibitions in different art galleries in the capital. Bedouin artworks include silver jewellery, colourful textiles and a wide range of knives. Hospitality is a cornerstone of Arab life.

It is commonplace for Jordanian families, particularly desert dwellers, to welcome strangers into their home. The tradition developed from the harshness of desert life - without food, water and shelter from strangers, most desert travellers would die.

CLIMATE

RELIGION

96% are Sunni Muslim

SPORTS

Football is the most popular sport in most countries and Jordan is no exception. In every area almost every street people play football from Khalda all the way to Al Hashimi Al-Janoobi.

Football is becoming increasingly popular in Jordan, especially because of the large recent improvements in Jordan's National Football Team.

Other popular sports include basketball, swimming and diving.