Jordan

=__Welcome! To the Country of Jordan!!__=

By: Yadira Paniagua, and Beth Bullard

==This is a wonderful country full of beautiful customs, people, and arts. On this page, we will take you through this wonderful land, and we hope that you will enjoy it as much as we have had researching it.== = =

The country that we know of as Jordan, is widley known as Al-mamlaka al-Urduniya al-Hasimiyah. (Hard to pronounce, I know. Just try your best.) In this country many Jordanians love to watch sports on television. When a soccer game is broadcast, a group of fans will gather to cheer their favourite team. Car racing is also popular, especially the annual races called the //Jordan Rally// and the //Jabal ar-Rumman//. Other favorite activities are martial arts such as //karate// and //tai kwan do//. In the Gulf of Aqaba, waterskiing and scuba diving are popular sports. But when they are not out watching camels kick up dirt, or when they're out catching the waves, they enjoy spending time with their family and site-seeing the beautiful land that they have been provided with.

=__Map__= Here we have the map of Jordan, it is located northwest of Saudi Arabia, with Iraq to the northeast, and Syria due north.



[|map of Jordan]

=__Flag__=

The flag of Jordan is comprised of three equal horizontal bands, one of black, representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate. It also has a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran. The seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations. The design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I.

http://embassyofjordan.ca/Quickstart/ImageLib/Animated_flag.gif



[|flag of Jordan]

=__Jordan's "info-please" facts__=

Capital: Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan


 * Area:** The area of Jordan is 89,556 sq km (34,578 sq mi).


 * Language:** Arabic is the official language. English and some French are also spoken.


 * Religion:** The great majority of the Jordanian people are Sunni Muslims. Shi´ite Muslims form a small minority. Christians, about one-third of whom belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, make up about 5 percent of the population. Over 80% Sunni Muslim, with Christian and Shi´ite minorities.


 * Population:** The population of Jordan (2006) 5,906,760, yielding an average population density of 125 people per square mile.The population of Jordan is almost entirely Arab. The only sizable racial minorities in the country are the Circassians and the Armenians; each group accounts for less than 1 percent of the population. Jordan is 72 percent urban; nomads and seminomads make up almost 5 percent of the population.


 * Membership:** Jordan is a member of the UN and Arab League and Organization of the Islamic Conference.


 * Currency:** Jordanian Dinar of 1000 fils.


 * Government Type:** Constitutional monarchy.


 * Independence****:** In May 25, 1946 they recieved their independence.


 * Constitution:** They received their constitution on January 8, 1952.


 * Branches:** Executive--king (chief of state), prime minister (head of government), council of ministers . Legislative--bicameral National Assembly (appointed Senate, elected Chamber of Deputies). Judicial--civil, religious, special courts.


 * Political parties:** Wide spectrum of parties legalized in 1992.

[|Credit to traveldocs.com]
 * Administrative subdivisions:** Twelve governments--Irbid, Jarash, Ajloun, al-'Aqaba, Madaba, al-Mafraq, al-Zarqa, Amman, al-Balqa, al-Karak, al-Tafilah, and Ma'an.

Geographical and Economic info.