The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan – A Country Where History Has Been Preserved

Jordan is a Middle Eastern country that is full of history. Deeply rooted in this history and religion, much of it still lives today, making it an excellent vacation destination for those looking to go beyond the stereotypical vacation. Jordan features some of the most interesting sites in the world: the lost city of Petra, huge Crusader castles, the brook where Jesus was baptized, the mountain peak from where Moses saw the Promised Land, the fortress where John the Baptist was beheaded, to name a few. If you are thinking of traveling to Jordan to see these sites, you will need to apply for a passport. Start by going online and filling out passport application forms.

Online passport processing sites make handling all of your passport needs a breeze. From these sites, you can access all sorts of passport services, from adding more pages to your passport to getting an emergency passport renewal. These sites were made to help citizens of the US get their passports quickly and safely, and they can help you do just that.

Petra is recognized as the most famous archaeological site in Jordan, and one of the most famous in the world. It’s even earned the designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Constructed by Nabataeans in the 6th century BC, Petra is an ancient city located on the slope of Mount Hor. Called “The Rose-Red City,” it was carved straight from the side of the mountain that has a beautiful deep red color. The Nabataeans were extremely skilled at building aqueduct systems, making their city an artificial oasis. Approaching Petra requires you to walk through a dark, very narrow gorge called the Siq. Once you’re out, you gain a huge view of the city, where you can see Petra’s famous buildings: the Treasury, the Theatre (a spot from which you can see the whole site), the Ampitheatre, the Monastery, the Tombs, the Hadrien Gate, and the Cardo Maximum.

Qasr Amra is another famous World Heritge Site. Qasr Amra is actually a desert castle, and it’s significant in that it is considered among the best representations of Islamic architecture and artistic style in the world. Only the basic foundations of this castle have withstood history as well as the desert, but it is still a magnificent thing to see. Just imagining what it would be like in it’s full state is hard to do.

Yet another archaeological World Heritage Site located in Jordan is Umm ar-Rasas. This site is a melting pot of influences, as it has evidence of three different civilizations: Muslim, Byzantine, and Roman. It’s because of this mixed heritage that it has become a World Heritage Site, and it’s really interesting to see in person. The famous mosaic floor on the Church of St. Stephen, which was created in 785, is actually the largest mosaic in all of Jordan. This very well-preserved piece of art is an ancient map; it shows the different cities in Jordan at the time it was made.

Jordan is a country where there is so much to see and discover, and honestly, you won’t have a hard time finding things to discover for yourself- the history is everywhere. Don’t forget that you will need a passport if you are thinking of traveling to Jordan. Get yours by going online and getting passport application forms, and don’t forget about emergency United States passport renewal service should you need your passport in a hurry.