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OLogy Cards > Jordan

OLOGY CARD 225
Series: Place

Jordan

Located in the heart of the Middle East, this small desert nation is home to some of the world's oldest archaeological sites. Jordan became a democratic monarchy after gaining its independence from Great Britain in 1946. Jordan is bordered by Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Like its neighbors, Jordan's landscape is covered with desert to the east and mountains to the north and south.

Population: 5.5 million
Size: 34,444 square miles (about the size of Indiana)
Capital and largest city: Amman
Geography: arid hills, mountains, desert
Language: Arabic, some English
Religion: more than 90 percent Muslim, some Christians

A Queen's Job is Never Done
The nation of Jordan is a monarchy, which means it is ruled by a royal family. Both the king and Queen have very important political roles as country leaders. Jordan's queen, Queen Rania, was born in the tiny Islamic country of Kuwait. Before she became the Queen of Jordan, she attended college in the Egyptian city of Cairo and studied business. She then moved to Jordan, and married King Abdullah. Together the King and Queen work hard to improve the life of the people of Jordan. Queen Rania has started and directed many projects to improve education, human rights, women and children's welfare for all Jordanian people. She is also active in organizations that address these challenges around the world.

One of the biggest challenges in Jordan is a shortage of:

water

rocks

ancient sites

Correct!

With just one short coastline and no waterways, Jordan faces a problematic shortage of water. Also, the country has limited natural resources, such as oil.

Jordan is ruled by a:

president

emperor

king

Correct!

Jordan is ruled by King Abdullah. King Abdullah took the throne after his father, King Hussein, passed away in 1999. When the king is not ruling the country of Jordan, he has hobbies, too. He likes to race cars and play water sports.

There are Roman ruins in the middle of Jordan's capital of Amman.

Fact
OR
Fiction
?

Fact

There are two restored Roman theatres built in the 2nd century A.D. One of the theatres could hold 6,000 people!

Image credits: courtesy of AMNH.

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