Jordan Geography
What is the terrain and geography like in Jordan?
Overview
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the heart of the Middle East and the Arab World. Most of Jordan's borders do not follow well-defined or natural features of the terrain. Rather, they were established by various international agreements. In the 1967 War, the West Bank of the Jordan River, which Jordan had annexed in 1949, came under Israeli occupation. In 1988, King Hussein relinquished Jordan's claim to administrative control of the West Bank.The country's terrain varies. On the eastern desert plateau, average elevation is 3,000 feet; in the west, mountains rise to 5,700 feet; and at the Dead Sea, terrain drops to the Earth's lowest land point of some 1,300 feet below sea level. Although historically an earthquake-prone region, no severe shocks have been recorded for several centuries.
Geography - note
strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank
Climate
Jordan's countryside offers a diversity of climate and scenery. Within easy driving distance of the capital city of Amman, one can visit Irbid's temperate highlands, Ajlun's majestic hills, the fertile Jordan Valley, the southern sandstone mountains, and the arid desert of the eastern plateau.
Inadequate rainfall is a chronic problem. Rainfall usually occurs only from November to April; the rest of the year has bright sunshine daily and low humidity. In the spring, a desert wind brings higher temperatures; daytime summer temperatures can be hot, but nights are usually pleasant, cool, and dry. Autumn is long and pleasant; winter can sometimes bring light snow to the mountains and to Amman; and spring carpets the country's grazing lands with beautiful wildflowers.
Jordan Use of Natural Resources
Jordan Environment
Climate:
Jordan's countryside offers a diversity of climate and scenery. Within easy driving distance of the capital city of Amman, one can visit Irbid's temperate highlands, Ajlun's majestic hills, the fertile Jordan Valley, the southern sandstone mountains, and the arid desert of the eastern plateau.
Inadequate rainfall is a chronic problem. Rainfall usually occurs only from November to April; the rest of the year has bright sunshine daily and low humidity. In the spring, a desert wind brings higher temperatures; daytime summer temperatures can be hot, but nights are usually pleasant, cool, and dry. Autumn is long and pleasant; winter can sometimes bring light snow to the mountains and to Amman; and spring carpets the country's grazing lands with beautiful wildflowers.
Terrain:
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Natural Resources:
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Natural Hazards:
droughts; periodic earthquakes
Irrigated Land:
304 Square Miles789 Square Kilometers
Environmental Issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - International Agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Jordan Geography
| Geographic Location | Middle East |
| Total Area |
34,495 Square Miles 89,342 Square Kilometers |
| Land Area |
34,286 Square Miles 88,802 Square Kilometers |
| Water Area |
208 Square Miles 540 Square Kilometers |
| Land Boundaries |
1,016 Miles 1,635 Kilometers |
| Irrigated Land |
304 Square Miles 789 Square Kilometers |
| Border Countries | Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km |
| Coastline |
16 Miles 26 Kilometers |
| Geographic Coordinates | 31 00 N, 36 00 E |
| Terrain | mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River |
| Highest Point | 1,734 Meters |
| Highest Point Location | Jabal Ram 1,734 m |
| Lowest Point | -408 Meters |
| Lowest Point Location | Dead Sea -408 m |
| Natural Resources | phosphates, potash, shale oil |
| Time Zone | UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| Daylight saving time | +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends last Friday in October |