Balqa Governorate: Gateway to the Jordan Valley and Salt's Heritage

Overview of Balqa Governorate

• Balqa Governorate is located in the western part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, combining historical richness and geographical diversity, making it one of the most prominent Jordanian governorates in terms of cultural and economic identity.
• Balqa ranks fourth in terms of population, tenth in terms of area, and third in terms of population density in the Kingdom.
  Salt City, the capital of the governorate, represents a historic urban center that has produced writers, scientists, and statesmen, and is today considered one of the most prominent heritage cities in Jordan.
• The diversity of terrain gives Balqa a unique environmental character, ranging from the lowest point on Earth (the Dead Sea) to mountainous highlands reaching an elevation of 1130 meters.
  This geographical diversity supports a varied climate that contributes to rich agricultural production and year-round tourism, ranging from therapeutic tourism in the Jordan Valley to ecological and cultural tourism in the mountains.

Geography and Strategic Location

Balqa is distinguished by a strategic central location; it is bordered to the west by the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, to the north by Irbid, Jerash, and Ajloun, to the east by the capital (Amman) and Zarqa, and to the south by Madaba. This location has given it unprecedented topographical and climatic diversity:

• Topography and Climate: The governorate ranges from mountain peaks reaching 1130m (rainy and cold in winter, moderate in summer with an average rainfall of 600 mm) to the level of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, which lies at 224m below sea level (moderate in winter, hot in summer with an average rainfall of 150-200 mm). This geographical diversity has made it a food basket providing crops year-round.

• Administrative Statistics: Its area is 1,120 km², with a population of approximately 582,100 people. It is administratively divided into five main districts: Qasabat Salt, Al-Shounah Al-Janubiyyah, Deir Alla, Ain Al-Basha, and Mahes & Al-Fuhais.

Balqa includes hundreds of villages and towns that form the mosaic of life within it. Each village has its own story: Yarqa with its agricultural pillars, Eira with its moderate mountain climate, Al-Fuhais representing a demographic and cultural mix, Al-Shounah Al-Janubiyyah with its desert clarity and light, and countless other places that give Balqa both urban and rural depth simultaneously.

Cities, Towns, and Villages in Balqa Governorate

Diversity of Terrain, Climate, and Agricultural Cover

Balqa is characterized by a rare environmental diversity, where the level of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea reaches 224m below sea level (the lowest point), while the mountains rise to about 1130m. This contrast creates two different climatic systems that support agriculture and tourism throughout the year:

1. Highland Areas (Salt): Rainy and cold climate in winter and moderate in summer, with an average rainfall of about 600 mm.

2. Jordan Valley and Lowland Areas: Climate characterized by moderate temperatures in winter and high temperatures in summer, with an average rainfall ranging between 150-200 mm.

This climatic diversity and the high fertility of the soil, especially in the Central Jordan Valley area, make Balqa a food basket that provides agricultural crops year-round.

Historical and Tourist Landmarks and Sites

The unique nature and historical heritage in Balqa support a diverse tourism sector including therapeutic, religious, and recreational tourism, making it a summer destination in the highlands and a winter destination in the valley.

• Salt City - UNESCO World Heritage Site: Salt itself is an open museum of Ottoman architecture, and Hammam Street is considered the beating heart of the old city, where historic yellow stone buildings are aligned.

• Dead Sea: Known as the lowest point on Earth and one of the saltiest bodies of water. It is not just a natural site but a global center for therapeutic and wellness tourism thanks to its mineral-rich mud and unique waters.

• Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan): A site of paramount importance for Christian pilgrimage, believed to be the place where Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) was baptized by John the Baptist. This religious site puts Balqa on the map of global religious tourism.

• Archaeological and Historical Sites: The governorate includes sites such as the Roman Tombs in Wadi Shueib and Tell Al-Jadur, which reflect the succession of civilizations in the region throughout the ages.

• Zee National Park and Al-Rumaymin Area: These areas are preferred destinations for recreational and natural tourism, providing green spaces and charming mountain landscapes as a haven for visitors and residents to relax and escape the city bustle.

Education and Culture: Building the Future in the Depths of History

A civilizational center that has produced scholars, and includes:

• Al-Balqa' Applied University: A leading public university in technical and applied education, with branches spread across several areas of the governorate.

• Amman Private University: A private university with a wide academic scope, attracting students from within and outside the governorate.

These universities form intellectual and cultural hubs in Balqa, hosting events, seminars, and initiatives that connect the local community with the outside world.

Jordanian Cuisine: (Balqa/Salt Dishes)

Comprehensive Jordanian Dishes

• MansafMansaf (Mansaf): It is the primary national dish of Jordan and a symbol of generosity. It consists of local lamb meat slow-cooked in a sauce of Jameed (dried and fermented goat's yogurt) which gives it its unique flavor. It is served over layers of rice and Shrak bread, and garnished with nuts.
• MaqlubaMaqluba (Maqlubah): A famous celebratory dish, where rice, meat (chicken or lamb), and fried vegetables (like eggplant and cauliflower) are cooked together, then flipped upside down when served.
• MakmouraMakmoura (Makmura): Rustic Meat Pie. A northern dish consisting of layers of dough stuffed with a rich filling of chicken, onions, and extra virgin olive oil, and slowly baked in the oven.
• MusakhanMusakhan (Musakhan): A famous dish from northern Palestine and Jordan, consisting of Taboon bread, topped with chicken, caramelized onions, local olive oil, and large amounts of sumac. (Although not originally on your list, it is essential).
• MaftoulMaftoul (Maftul): Large balls resembling couscous, cooked with chickpeas and pieces of chicken in rich chicken broth.
• Stuffed Zucchini (Kousa Mahshi) and Grape Leaves (Waraq Enab/Dawali): Stuffed dishes are essential. Zucchini are hollowed out and stuffed with rice and minced meat. Grape leaves are stuffed with rice and herbs, and both are cooked in a tangy lemon broth or tomato broth.
• Stuffed Cabbage (Malfuf): Cabbage leaves are stuffed with a mixture of rice and minced meat, and cooked in a sour broth containing garlic and lemon.
• Okra Stew (Bamia): Okra pods are cooked in a tomato sauce with onions and pieces of lamb. Served hot with rice.
• Bean Dishes of Various Types (Fasoulya): Include white beans or green beans cooked in a rich tomato sauce, served as a side dish with rice.
• Jute Mallow (Mulukhiyah): Leaves of the Jute Mallow plant are cooked with meat or chicken broth, and Tasha (fried garlic and coriander) is added to it.

Oven Trays and Quick Preparation Dishes:

• Chicken Tray Bake: A practical and common dish in all governorates, where seasoned chicken pieces are baked in the oven with vegetables like potatoes and onions until browned, usually served with rice.

• Meat Tray Bake (Kofta): A dish prepared from seasoned minced meat (Kofta), arranged with slices of vegetables like potatoes and tomatoes, and may be covered with tahini or tomato sauce before baking in the oven.

• Kibbeh or Kebab: Widely popular dishes, prepared in various forms (fried, grilled, cooked) in different regions of Jordan.

Appetizers and Popular Daily Foods in Jerash

• Galayet BandoraGalayet Bandora (Galayet Bandora): Tomatoes fried and stewed with onions and olive oil, salt, and hot pepper, can be served with rice but are more commonly eaten with bread in Jordan, and are indispensable for all segments of society in all governorates.
• FalafelFalafel (Falafel): Balls made from fried chickpea flour and Middle Eastern spices. Dipped in any Mezze, especially hummus. Jordanian falafel balls tend to be smaller in size.
• Hummus and Fava BeansHummus and Fava Beans (Hummus and Ful Medames): Foods usually served for breakfast, especially on Fridays, and also served as appetizers during lunch and dinner meals.

Sweets

• BaklavaBaklava (Baklava): A rich and delicious sweet made from thin, crispy layers of phyllo doughPhyllo Dough, stuffed with chopped nuts (usually pistachios or walnuts), and generously soaked in honey or syrup (simple sugar syrup).

• KnafehKnafeh (Knafeh): A famous and distinctive Middle Eastern sweet based on cheese. It consists of coarse Knafeh pastry or fine semolina threads, layered over a layer of soft cheese, then drenched in a sugar syrup often flavored with rose water.

• WarbatWarbat (Warbat): Thin, triangular-shaped pastries, made from layers of thin, crispy phyllo dough, stuffed with smooth and sweet cream (or custard). Like Qatayef, Warbat is consumed extensively during the holy month of Ramadan.

• QatayefQatayef (Qatayef): A sweet in the form of a stuffed pancake, unique to the region. It resembles a folded pancake, traditionally stuffed with fresh cream or ground pistachios, and is considered a famous sweet consumed primarily during the holy month of Ramadan.

• Lizzaqiyat (Syaliat): The dough for Lizzaqiyat or Syaliat is soft, like Qatayef batter, poured onto a hot griddle, removed from the heat, and layered on top of each other, drizzled with traditional ghee (sheep's ghee) and honey or sugar. Its dough consists of milk and tahini. It is classified as a sweet.

• Awama (Luqmat Al-Qadi): These are balls of fermented dough fried in oil, drenched in hot syrup. Served on occasions and during Ramadan.

The Rhythm of Life and Balqan Identity

What makes Balqa distinctive is not just its location or terrain, but its people—who carry inherited customs and traditions, with generous hospitality, and hearts beating with love for the land and homeland.
In popular markets, you hear conversations about the past and present, and in stone shops, you see craftsmen still making their tools by hand. The echo of the Adhan (call to prayer) blends with church bells in some villages, reflecting religious diversity and coexistence.

From Salt to the Jordan Valley, and from the hills to the water valleys, Balqa showcases the living spirit of Jordan in harmony between the old and the new, between nature and civilization.

Thus, Balqa Governorate offers a unique blend of historical depth, rich heritage, and beautiful natural diversity, making it a fundamental cornerstone of the Jordanian identity.