Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (better known simply as Jordan) is an angel-shaped Middle Eastern country sharing borders with Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank. Presenting itself as an oasis of peace in the midst of Middle Eastern conflicts, Jordan is known for its extraordinarily hospitable people, Western-educated rulers, otherworldly desert scenery, and magnificent archaeological ruins.

The land encompassed by modern Jordan is steeped in religious history. Ruth, the Moabite ancestor of King David, came from what is now a central region of Jordan; Herod the Great, an Ideumean, came from what is now the southern part of the country. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in Jordan, the Crusaders built the most formidable of their mountaintop castles at Kerak, and ancient mosques can be seen throughout the country.

Jordan Country Guide

English Name: Jordan Local Name: Al Urdun Time Zone: UTC+2; summer: UTC+3 Calling Code: 962 Area: 89,342 sq km Population: 6,342,948 (July 2009 est.) Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes Religions: Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

Jordan Sacred Sites Index Browse our illustrated index of sacred sites and religious places Jordan Map A detailed interactive map of Jordan with major cities and religious sites marked, plus links to travel maps and more Jordan Books A hand-selected gallery of books on Jordan specially chosen for Sacred Destinations readers Jordan Hotels Search availability, view photos, read reviews, and get a great deal on a hotel room in Jordan

Featured Destinations in Jordan (List All Destinations) Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan The area known as Wadi Kharrar has long been believed to be the biblical Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, where John the Baptist lived and Jesus was baptized. The Treasury Petra Believed by the Bedouin to contain a pharaoh's treasure, the Treasury is a beautiful Nabatean temple carved entirely out of the living rock. Madaba Mosaic Map Madaba Located 25km southwest of Amman, Madaba is famous for the many Byzantine mosaics uncovered here. The most famous is the 6th-century "Madaba Map" of the Holy Land in St. George's Church.

Jordan City Guides Petra Petra is a spectacular Nabatean city in western Jordan. With massive facades carved entirely out of the existing red sandstone, Petra's magnificent temples and tombs are like no other religious buildings in the world.

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