Regions & Governorates

Three natural regions

Geographers usually divide Jordan into three natural regions. The first is the Jordan Rift Valley, a long, low trench that runs from the Yarmouk River in the north, through the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, to Wadi Araba and the Gulf of Aqaba. Its warm climate and water supply make the northern part of the valley one of the country's main farming areas, producing vegetables, bananas and citrus fruit.

The second region is the highlands, a chain of hills and plateaus that rises east of the valley. Here are most of the cities, farmland, olive groves and forests. The third region is the Badia, the eastern and southern desert, which covers most of the country. It includes gravel plains, basalt fields, sandstone mountains and scattered oases, and it is home to Bedouin communities and important wildlife reserves.

North and south

The north of Jordan receives more rain than the south. Around Irbid, Ajloun and Jerash, the hills are covered with olive trees, oak and pine forests, and fields of wheat that turn green in winter and gold in early summer. Villages here are built of stone, and Roman cities such as Jerash and Umm Qais stand among the farmland.

As you travel south along the highlands, the land becomes drier and more open. Karak and Tafilah sit on high plateaus cut by deep canyons, while Ma'an and the area around Petra lead to wide desert landscapes. The far south includes the mountains of Wadi Rum and the city of Aqaba, where the desert meets the sea. Population is thinner in the south, and distances between towns are greater.

Urban life

Most Jordanians live in cities, especially in the northern highlands. Amman, together with Zarqa and Russeifa to its north-east, forms the largest urban area in the country. Irbid is the main city of the north and a busy university centre. These cities have modern shopping districts, cafés, cultural centres and parks, alongside older neighbourhoods with traditional markets.

Smaller cities such as As-Salt, Madaba, Karak and Ma'an keep a strong local identity, with historic centres, family businesses and close-knit communities. Aqaba, as the only coastal city, has its own rhythm, shaped by its port, beaches and tourism. Across all these places, daily life often centres on family, neighbourhood and shared meals.