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General Information
Area: 89,342 sq km (34,495 sq miles; not including West Bank).
Population: 5,039,000 (2000). The West Bank is now administered by the Palestinian National Authority; see Israel section for details of area and population.
Population Density: 56.4 per sq km.
Capital: Amman. Population: 1,864,500 (1999).
GEOGRAPHY: Jordan shares borders with Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The Dead Sea is to the northwest and the Red Sea to the southwest. A high plateau extends 324km (201 miles) from Syria to Ras en Naqab in the south with the capital of Amman at a height of 800m (2625ft). Northwest of the capital, are undulating hills, some forested, others cultivated. The Dead Sea depression, 400m (1300ft) below sea level in the west, is the lowest point on earth. The River Jordan connects the Dead Sea with Lake Tiberias (Israel). To the west of Jordan is the Palestinian National Authority Region. The east of the country is mainly desert. Jordan has a tiny stretch of Red Sea coast, centred on Aqaba.
Government: Constitutional Monarchy since 1952. Head of State: King Abdullah Ibn al-Hussein-al-Hashimi since 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ali Abu al-Ragheb since 2000.
Language: Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken in the cities. French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken.
Religion: Over 90 per cent Sunni Muslim, with Christian and Shi’i Muslim minorities.
Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from April to September).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Lamp sockets are screw-type, and there is a wide range of wall sockets.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD service is available within cities, with direct dialling to most countries. Country code: 962 (followed by 6 for Amman). Outgoing international code: 00. There are telephone and facsimile connections to Israel from Jordan.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network in use. Network providers include Jordan MTS (website: www.jmts-fastlink.com) and MobileCom (website: www.mobilecom.jo).
Fax
The use of fax is increasing. Most good hotels have facilities and the main post office in Amman also provides a fax service.
Telegram
The overseas telegram service is reasonably good. Telegrams may be sent from the Central Telegraph Office; Post Office, First Circle, Jebel Amman; Post Office, Jordan Intercontinental, Jebel Amman; or from major hotels and post offices.
Internet
There are Internet cafes in Amman, Aqabam Jerash and Jordan. The main ISP is Destinations (website: www.jonet.com).
Post
Packages should be left opened for customs officials. Airmail to Western Europe takes three to five days. For a higher charge, there is a rapid service guaranteeing delivery within 24 hours to around 22 countries. Post office opening hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1800, closed Friday (except for the downtown post office on Prince Mohammed Street in Amman which is open on Fridays).
Press
The English-language newspapers are The Jordan Times (daily), Arab Daily and The Star (weekly).
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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