Madaba (Arabic مادبا) is one of the governorates of Jordan. It is located southwest of Amman, the capital of Jordan, and its capital is Madaba. The governorate is ranked 8th (of 12 governorates) by population and by area. It is bordered by Balqa Governorate to the north, The Capital Governorate to the east, Karak Governorate to the south and the Dead Sea to the west.

Madaba Governorate
محافظة مادبا
The city of Madaba is the capital of Madaba Governorate.
The city of Madaba is the capital of Madaba Governorate.
Madaba Governorate
Madaba Governorate
CountryJordan
CapitalMadaba
Government
 • GovernorMustafa Al-Maaiyah
Area
 • Total
940 km2 (360 sq mi)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total
159,700
 • Density170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Time zoneGMT +2
 • Summer (DST)+3
Area code+(962)5
Urban71.4%
Rural28.6%
HDI (2021)0.704[1]
high · 10th of 12

History

edit
 
Madaba Governorate hosts the World Economic Forum held on its Dead Sea coasts

Many civilizations existed on the soils of Madaba, most prominent are the Moabites, Nabateans, Romans, and the Arab Muslim empires.

The city of Madaba is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially the Madaba Map, a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta.

Biblical and ancient history

edit

Many sites in Madaba Governorate are considered biblical sites, some of which are:

  • Mount Nebo: according to the Bible, is the site where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Mount Nebo, just west of Madaba city, formed part of the Madaba Diocese during Byzantine times. Here the mosaics discovered at the Moses Memorial together with those in the churches in the village of Nebo, in the 'Uyun Musa valley and at 'Ayn al-Kanisah carry inscriptions which date them to the times of the Bishops of Madaba from the late fifth century to the middle of the eighth century AD.
  • Um er-Rasas (Kastron Mefaa): lies on the southeastern steppes, also formed part of the diocese, laying as it is close to the Wadi Mujib (Arnon river), a natural boundary of the Province. Here were brought to light the splendid mosaics of the Saint Stephen Complex together with the Church of the Lions (sixth-eighth centuries AD), which complement the eighth-century mosaic discovered in the village of Ma'in.
  • Mukawer: 15 km south of Madaba city, is where the Body of Saint John the Baptist supposedly lies after he was beheaded at the request of King Herod Antipas' niece. The site is located on top of a big mountain rising from the shores of the Dead Sea and overlooking most of the Dead Sea and ancient Israel.
  • Madaba Map: The only complete mosaic map of Jerusalem from the Byzantine era.

Many archeological excavations with pre-Biblical and Biblical emphases take part during the summer months in Madaba Governorate; new discoveries are being made each year.

Geography

edit

Madaba Governorate is bordered by Capital Governorate from the east and Balqa Governorate from the north, the West Bank across the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea from the west, and Karak Governorate from the south. Ma'in is a village in Madaba that is the site of a natural thermal waterfall. Its therapeutic effects are utilized by those with aching joints and skin irritations. a new tourist industry is growing around the site with the building of a new hotel and spa.

The climate ranges significantly in the governorate due to the difference in altitude of the governorate's regions, the capital city of Madaba is at 798 meters above sea level, while the Dead Sea is at about 300 meters below sea level, resulting in a double digit difference in temperature between the two locations.

Economy

edit

Tourism

edit

Due to its richness of historic sites, and natural sites such as the Ma'in Hot Springs and the Dead Sea, Madaba Governorate depends mainly on tourism as a main source of income. The governorate is the fifth touristic destination following Petra, Jerash, Aqaba, and Amman.

Agriculture

edit

The northern region of the governorate is agricultural, with a total area of 59 km2 of fruit and olive farms. The governorates production of olives and fruits is eighth on the kingdom (after Balqa, Irbid, Mafraq, The Capital, Ajloun, Jerash, and Zarqa governorates).[2]

Administrative divisions

edit
 
Nahias of Madaba

Article 12 of the Administrative Divisions law of the Jordanian Ministry of Interior divides Madaba into two departments:

Demographics

edit

The population of districts according to census results:[3]

District Population
(Census 1994)
Population
(Census 2004)
Population
(Census 2015)
Madaba Governorate 107,321 129,960 189,192
Dhībān 23,497 28,577 36,422
Qaṣabah Ma'dabā 83,824 101,383 152,770
edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  2. ^ "Ministry of Agriculture- Jordan (Arabic site)". Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  3. ^ "Jordan: Administrative Division, Governorates and Districts". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 25 December 2016.