Zarqa, the capital of
Zarqa Governorate is the second largest city in Jordan. It is popularly known as the industrial centre of the country. More than half of the Jordanian factories are located in
Zarqa. Inspite of its desert like climatic condition, due to this industrial development the city is now inhabited by nearly 15% of the total Jordanian population.
Location of Zarqa
The city is located in the north-western part of Jordan in the
Zarqa river valley. It is only 15 km south-west of Amman, the capital of Jordan.
Zarqa is a very well connected city and can be easily accessed from other urban centres of Jordan.
Places to visit in Zarqa
There are some ancient ruins located in the eastern side of the city. These magnificent ruins were to some extent re-constructed, but most of it had been destroyed. “Qasr al-Hallabat” is the main attraction of the tourists. This ruin of a Roman fort is decorated with ornate frescos and carved by Ummayyads. The remains of a hunting house and a bathing lodge are situated next to the ruins of the fort.
The
city of Zarqa has flourished due to the phosphate mines located nearby. These mines are the centre of the industrial development of the city. The main reason behind this sudden development of
Zarqa is due to the cheap
real estate costs. People have been migrating to
Zarqa since 1940s from various places across the country.
