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Jordan covers an area of about 90,000 square kilometers
including the Dead Sea. It is divided into three main
geographic and climatic zones: the Jordan Valley; the
Highlands and the Eastern Desert
The Jordan Valley forms part of the Great Rift Valley of
Africa and is the most fertile region of Jordan. It
extends from the northern border down to the Dead Sea
with altitudes ranging between 220m below sea level in
the north and 407m below sea level at the Dead Sea.
The Jordan Valley, being several degrees warmer in the
winter than the rest of Jordan, allows for year-round
agricultural production. Fertile soils, higher winter
rainfalls and extensive irrigation during summer have
made the Jordan Valley the "food bowl" of this country.
The Highlands extend from north to south throughout the
western part of Jordan and thus separate the Jordan
Valley from the eastern desert. Elevation in the
highlands varies from 600m to about 1,500m above sea
level. The highlands get the highest rainfall in Jordan,
and therefore have the most vegetation in the country.
They also host almost 90% of Jordan's population.
The Eastern Desert comprises of around 88% of Jordan's
total area, with elevations varying between 600m and
900m above sea level. Temperatures vary highly between
night and day and between summer and winter. Rainfall is
extremely low throughout the year, averaging less than
50 millimeters.
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