25 Facts About Jordan

Jordan is a country in Western Asia that is officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

It is the location of the famous archaeological site of Petra, the Nabatean capital from around 300 B.C.

Petra, known as the "Rose City," is set in a narrow valley with tombs, temples, and monuments carved into the surrounding pink sandstone cliffs.

Jordan is the location of the Dead Sea. It is one of the world's saltiest lakes.

The Dead Sea is the world's lowest point. It's 480 metres below sea level. The lake's depth is 728 metres below sea level.

Jordan's only natural coastline is the Red Sea. With a length of only 16 miles, it's a short one.

In 363 AD, Jordan was hit by a massive earthquake. Petra, which was literally carved into the rock, was one of the most prominent structures to suffer.

Jordan's most famous attraction is Petra. It is one of the World's Seven Wonders. It was founded more than 10,000 years ago and became the capital of the formerly nomadic Nabataean Arabs around the 4th century BC. It's so well-known that it's been used as a filming location for numerous films, including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Classic.

Jordan serves as a vital link between Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Jordan has over 100,000 archaeological and tourist sites.

Jordan has the world's oldest dam by a long shot, which is a fascinating historical fact. The Jawa Dam was built for water supply, as are many dams, in the fourth millennium BC. Jordan is still dealing with water scarcity to this day.

Amman, which was founded in 7250 BC, is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.

The Jordanian film Theeb, released in 2014, follows a young Bedouin boy who must survive in the desert. It was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards, despite using non-professional actors for realism.

Jordan won its first Olympic medal in Taekwondo in 2016. Ahmad Abu Ghaush took home the gold medal. He took gold in the under-67-kilo weight class. Taekwondo has since become one of Jordan's most popular sports.

Jordan is one of the world's least forested countries. Forests cover less than 2% of the country's ecosystems, far less than the international average of 15%.

Jordan is the long-eared hedgehog's habitat.

Jordan has a monarchy. King Abdullah II is the current monarch. Since 1921, the same royal family has ruled the country.

Jordan was a British "protectorate" from 1921 to 1946. The Emirate of Transjordan was its official name.

Jordan is one of only two Arab countries to have signed an agreement with Israel. On October 26, 1994, the two countries signed an agreement with the "assistance" of the Soviet Union and the United States. The treaty is known as the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.

In the 1970s, Jordan was the first Arab country to allow female police officers.

Jordan is home to the world's oldest statues. They are known as the Ain Ghazal Statues because they were discovered naturally in Ain Ghazal. They are impressive because they date back to the Neolithic period.

Mansaf is Jordan's national dish.

Jordan hosted the Middle East's first women's sports tournament.

Jordan is devoid of oil.

Jordan's national flower is the mega-rare black iris, which is extremely rare.