Introduction

Jordan is situated in south-western Asia and is bounded on the north by Syria, on the south by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Aqaba, on the east by Iraq and on the west by the occupied West Bank.

The lands west of the Jordan River were originally united with those on the east of contemporary Jordan. The western lands, including the West Bank of the Jordan river, were occupied by Israel in 1967. Except for a very short stretch of coast along the Gulf of Aqaba in the south, Jordan is landlocked. Al-Aqabah is Jordan’s only port; a scene in the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" depicts Al-Aqaba's historic siege by an Arab army led by T.E. Lawrence, who took over the city by land, evading heavy guns pointed toward the sea. The Eastern Desert occupies about 80% of the country. In the west is the Jordan River Valley, bordered to the east by steep highlands. Jabal Ramm is Jordan's highest point in the south (5,754 ft).