Al-Karak

Al-Karak (Arabic: الكرك) is a city in Jordan known for its medieval castle, the Kerak Castle. The castle is one of the three largest castles in the region, the other two being in Syria. Al-Karak is the capital city of the Karak Governorate.

Al-Karak
الكرك
City
Nickname: 
Qir of Moab
Al-Karak
Coordinates: 31°11′0″N 35°42′0″E
Grid position216/065
Country Jordan
GovernorateKarak Governorate
Greater Karak Municipality1893
Government
  MayorMohammed Maaitah
Area
  Metro
765 km2 (295 sq mi)
Elevation
930 m (3,051 ft)
Population
 (2015)
  City32,216
  Metro
351,169
Time zoneGMT +2
  Summer (DST)+3
Area code+(962)2

Al-Karak lies 140 kilometres (87 mi) to the south of Amman on the ancient King's Highway. It is situated on a hilltop about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level and is surrounded on three sides by a valley. Al-Karak has a view of the Dead Sea. A city of about 32,216 people (2005) has been built up around the castle and it has buildings from the 19th-century Ottoman period. The town is built on a triangular plateau, with the castle at its narrow southern tip.

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