Shoubak
Encyclopedia
Shoubak is a municipality that lies at the north western edge of the Ma'an Governorate
, bordered with Tafilah Governorate
and Aqaba Governorate
. It has a population of 12500. At one of the highest elevations above sea level in Jordan, this municipality is famous for apple and fruit farms.
ites who had their capital in Busaira
in neighboring Tafilah Governorate
. It was then settled by the nabateans.
Shoubak became a Nahia in 1894, and was administratively belonging to the then-Ottoman
Kerak
department. In 1973, it was ranked up to a Qadaa, in the 31st Adminiastrative Divisions System of 1995, Shoubak became a full department within Ma'an Governorate
benefiting from the decentralization program.
Shoubak is known for the Montreal (Crusader castle)
. Along with Petra
and Aqaba
, Shoubak forms the third head of this triangle that lies on the cross road between Syria
, Arabia and Egypt
. Its unique high elevation (1330m above sea level
) gave it a strategic importance.
The importance of Shoubak reached its peak after Baldwin I of Jerusalem
took control of it, cutting the roots between Egypt and Syria, the famous Montreal castle was built on top of a hill there in 1115. Shoubak was then annexed to the Ayyubid sultanate by Saladin
in 1187.
to the north and Aqaba Governorate
to the west. It is administrativley in Ma'an Governorate
.
Due to its high elevation, Shoubak is famous for its cold freezing winters, and due to its location at the borders of the Arabian desert, it has a dry summer season. The average annual rainfall in Shoubak is in the range 150-350mm.
Ma'an Governorate
Ma'an is one of the governorates of Jordan, it is located south of Amman, Jordan's capital. Its capital is the city of Ma'an. This governorate is the largest in the kingdom of Jordan by area.-History:...
, bordered with Tafilah Governorate
Tafilah Governorate
Tafilah is one of the governorates of Jordan, located about 180 km south-west of Amman, Jordan's capital.Tafilah Governorate is bordered by Karak Governorate to the north, Ma'an Governorate to the east and south, Aqaba Governorate to the south, and by Israel to the west. The area of this...
and Aqaba Governorate
Aqaba Governorate
Aqaba is one of the governorates of Jordan, located south of Amman, capital of Jordan. Its capital is Aqaba. It is the fourth largest governorate in Jordan by area and is ranked 10th by population....
. It has a population of 12500. At one of the highest elevations above sea level in Jordan, this municipality is famous for apple and fruit farms.
History
Shoubak was first settled by the EdomEdom
Edom or Idumea was a historical region of the Southern Levant located south of Judea and the Dead Sea. It is mentioned in biblical records as a 1st millennium BC Iron Age kingdom of Edom, and in classical antiquity the cognate name Idumea was used to refer to a smaller area in the same region...
ites who had their capital in Busaira
Bozrah
Botsra, Botzrah, Bozrah is an ancient biblical city in southern modern-day Jordan, now Bouseira 20 Km to the south of Tafilah,between Tafilah and Shoubak.-History:...
in neighboring Tafilah Governorate
Tafilah Governorate
Tafilah is one of the governorates of Jordan, located about 180 km south-west of Amman, Jordan's capital.Tafilah Governorate is bordered by Karak Governorate to the north, Ma'an Governorate to the east and south, Aqaba Governorate to the south, and by Israel to the west. The area of this...
. It was then settled by the nabateans.
Shoubak became a Nahia in 1894, and was administratively belonging to the then-Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Kerak
Kerak
Kerak Castle is a large crusader castle located in Kerak in Jordan. It is one of the largest crusader castles in the Levant.Construction of the castle began in the 1140s, under Pagan, the butler of Fulk of Jerusalem. The Crusaders called it Crac des Moabites or "Karak in Moab", as it is frequently...
department. In 1973, it was ranked up to a Qadaa, in the 31st Adminiastrative Divisions System of 1995, Shoubak became a full department within Ma'an Governorate
Ma'an Governorate
Ma'an is one of the governorates of Jordan, it is located south of Amman, Jordan's capital. Its capital is the city of Ma'an. This governorate is the largest in the kingdom of Jordan by area.-History:...
benefiting from the decentralization program.
Shoubak is known for the Montreal (Crusader castle)
Montreal (Crusader castle)
Montreal is a Crusader castle on the eastern side of the Arabah, perched on the side of a rocky, conical mountain, looking out over fruit trees below...
. Along with Petra
Petra
Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is famous for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited...
and Aqaba
Aqaba
Aqaba is a coastal city in the far south of Jordan, the capital of Aqaba Governorate at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. Aqaba is strategically important to Jordan as it is the country's only seaport. Aqaba is best known today as a diving and beach resort, but industrial activity remains important...
, Shoubak forms the third head of this triangle that lies on the cross road between Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Arabia and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Its unique high elevation (1330m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
) gave it a strategic importance.
The importance of Shoubak reached its peak after Baldwin I of Jerusalem
Baldwin I of Jerusalem
Baldwin I of Jerusalem, formerly Baldwin I of Edessa, born Baldwin of Boulogne , 1058? – 2 April 1118, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade, who became the first Count of Edessa and then the second ruler and first titled King of Jerusalem...
took control of it, cutting the roots between Egypt and Syria, the famous Montreal castle was built on top of a hill there in 1115. Shoubak was then annexed to the Ayyubid sultanate by Saladin
Saladin
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb , better known in the Western world as Saladin, was an Arabized Kurdish Muslim, who became the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and founded the Ayyubid dynasty. He led Muslim and Arab opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant...
in 1187.
Geography and climate
Shoubak is located at an area bordering Tafilah GovernorateTafilah Governorate
Tafilah is one of the governorates of Jordan, located about 180 km south-west of Amman, Jordan's capital.Tafilah Governorate is bordered by Karak Governorate to the north, Ma'an Governorate to the east and south, Aqaba Governorate to the south, and by Israel to the west. The area of this...
to the north and Aqaba Governorate
Aqaba Governorate
Aqaba is one of the governorates of Jordan, located south of Amman, capital of Jordan. Its capital is Aqaba. It is the fourth largest governorate in Jordan by area and is ranked 10th by population....
to the west. It is administrativley in Ma'an Governorate
Ma'an Governorate
Ma'an is one of the governorates of Jordan, it is located south of Amman, Jordan's capital. Its capital is the city of Ma'an. This governorate is the largest in the kingdom of Jordan by area.-History:...
.
Due to its high elevation, Shoubak is famous for its cold freezing winters, and due to its location at the borders of the Arabian desert, it has a dry summer season. The average annual rainfall in Shoubak is in the range 150-350mm.