About Jordan
Jordan lies on the continent of Asia between
latitudes 29° and 34° N, and longitudes 35° and 40° E. It
consists of an arid plateau in the east, irrigated by oasis and
seasonal water streams, with highland area in the west of arable
land and Mediterranean evergreen forestry. The Jordan Rift
Valley of the Jordan River separates Jordan from Israel and the
Palestinian Territories. The highest point in the country is
Jabal Umm al Dami, at 1,854 m (6,083 ft) above sea level, its
top is also covered with snow, while the lowest is the Dead Sea
−420 m (−1,378 ft). Jordan is part of a region considered to be
"the cradle of civilization", the Levant region of the Fertile
Crescent. Major cities include the capital Amman and Salt in the
west, Irbid, Jerash and Zarqa, in the northwest and Madaba,
Karak and Aqaba in the southwest. Major towns in the eastern
part of the country are the oasis town of Azraq and Ruwaished.
The climate in Jordan is semi-dry in summer
with average temperature in the mid 30 °C (86 °F) and is
relatively cool in winter averaging around 13 °C (55 °F). The
western part of the country receives greater precipitation
during the winter season from November to March and snowfall in
Amman (756 m (2,480 ft) ~ 1,280 m (4,199 ft) above sea-level)
and Western Heights of 500 m (1,640 ft). Excluding the rift
valley the rest of the country is entirely above 300 m (984 ft)
(SL). The weather is humid from November to March and semi dry
for the rest of the year. With hot, dry summers and cool winters
during which practically all of the precipitation occurs, the
country has a Mediterranean-style climate. In general, the
farther inland from the Mediterranean a given part of the
country lies, the greater are the seasonal contrasts in
temperature and the less rainfall.
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