Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north, Israel and Palestine to the west. The Dead Sea lies along its western borders and the country has a small shoreline on the Red Sea in its extreme south-west, but is otherwise landlocked. The capital, Amman, is Jordan’s most populous city as well as the country’s economic, political and cultural center.

Jordan is a small, semi-arid, almost-landlocked country with an area of 89,342 km² (34,495 sq mi) and a population numbering 10 million.  Sunni Islam, practiced by around 95% of the population, is the dominant religion in Jordan.

Jordan is a constitutional monarchy and has a king. The King is the head of state, but he does not have all the power in the country.

The country is a major tourist destination. Jordan is home to around 100,000 archaeological and tourist sites. Jordan is part of the Holy Land and has several biblical attractions that attract visitors.

As the 8th largest producer of olives in the world, olive oil is the main cooking oil in Jordan. A common appetizer is hummus, which is a puree of chick peas blended with tahini, lemon, and garlic. The most distinctive Jordanian dish is mansaf, the national dish of Jordan. The dish is a symbol for Jordanian hospitality and is influenced by the Bedouin culture. Mansaf is eaten on different occasions such as funerals, weddings and on religious holidays. It consists of a plate of rice with meat that was boiled in thick yogurt, sprayed with pine nuts and sometimes herbs. As an old tradition, the dish is eaten using one’s hands.

 

 

 

source:  Jordan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.