Russeifa is a big city. It is in a place called Jordan. It sits near a river. Many people live there. It is a busy place to be. Do you want to see it?
Russeifa is a big city in Jordan. It sits near the Zarqa River. It is near two other large cities. This makes the area very busy.
Many people live in the city. People work in big factories there. Some people also dig for rocks called phosphate. This work started a long time ago.
There is an old site on a hill. Long ago, people used it for trade. Now, only a small part is left. It is a special place to see.
Russeifa is a big city in Jordan. It sits in the Zarqa Governorate. The city is in the Zarqa River basin. It is near the cities of Amman and Zarqa. These three places form one large area.
Russeifa is the fourth-largest city in Jordan. In 2015, it had 472,604 people. Many people work in heavy industry there. The city is also known for phosphate mining. This work began in 1935. Amin Kamel Kawar found the phosphate rocks. He also started a mining company.
There is an old site called Khirbat ar-Rusayfah. It sits on a hill. This site is about 675 meters above the sea. Long ago, it was a place for trade. People lived there during many times in history. They lived there in the Bronze Age. They also lived there in the Byzantine period.
Archaeologists found many things at the site. They found coins and old lamps. They even found an ivory spindle whorl. A spindle whorl is a small tool for making thread. They also found a large limestone building. This building might have been a church. Most of the old site is now gone due to new buildings.
Russeifa is a busy city in the Zarqa Governorate of Jordan. It sits in the Zarqa River basin in the central part of the country. The city is located right on the Amman-Zarqa highway. It is part of a very large metropolitan area. This area includes the cities of Amman and Zarqa. It is the second-largest such area in the Levant region. This region is located near the city of Damascus.
The city has grown a lot over many years. In 1961, only 6,200 people lived there. By 2004, the population reached 268,237 people. In 2015, the number grew to 472,604 inhabitants. This makes it the fourth-largest city in all of Jordan. Most people living there are Jordanian citizens. The city is divided into five different districts. These are Hitteen, Ameriyya, Yarmouk, Qadessiyya, and Rasheed.
Many people in Russeifa work in heavy industry. This is partly because the city sits between Amman and Zarqa. The Zarqa River is also nearby. A major part of the economy is phosphate mining. This work started in 1935. A man named Amin Kamel Kawar found the phosphate deposits. He also started the Jordan Phosphate Mines company. This company still runs the mines today.
There is a very old place called Khirbat ar-Rusayfah. It is an archaeological site on a hill. The hill is about 675 meters above sea level. Long ago, this was a busy place for trade and travel. It was an important part of the Decapolis period. Many explorers have studied this site. These include Burckhardt, Condor, and Glueck. Modern building projects have changed much of the site. Now, only a small part of the top remains.
Archaeologists have found many treasures at the old site. They found pottery, coins, and old lamps. They even found an ivory spindle whorl. They also found a large limestone building. This is called the "Big Building." It has four halls and a small room. Experts think it might have been a church. They also found a deep well and a cistern. These were made during the Byzantine period.
Russeifa is a major city located in the Zarqa Governorate of Jordan. It sits within the Zarqa River basin in the central region of the country. The city is positioned along the Amman-Zarqa highway. This location helps it form a large metropolitan area with Amman and Zarqa. This metropolitan zone is the second-largest in the Levant region, following Damascus. Russeifa serves as a vital hub for industry and history in the area.
The city has experienced massive population growth over the last century. In 1961, the population was only 6,200 people. This group included 3,400 males and 2,800 females. By the 2004 Jordan National Census, the population rose to 268,237. At that time, the ratio was 51.54% male and 48.46% female. By 2015, the number reached 472,604 inhabitants. This makes Russeifa the fourth-largest city in Jordan.
Administratively, the metropolitan area is organized into five distinct districts. Each district covers a different amount of land. The Rasheed District is the largest at 8.0 square kilometers. Hitteen District follows with 6.51 square kilometers. Ameriyya District covers 5.0 square kilometers. Qadessiyya District covers 4.0 square kilometers. Finally, the Yarmouk District is the smallest at 3.0 square kilometers.
The economy of Russeifa is driven by heavy industry and mining. Phosphate mining has been a major part of the city since 1935. This industry began after Amin Kamel Kawar discovered phosphate deposits. Kawar also founded the Jordan Phosphate Mines company. This company still manages the local mines today. Many heavy industries are located here because of the city's geography. It sits between Amman and Zarqa near the Zarqa River.
Russeifa is also a place of great archaeological importance. The site of Khirbat ar-Rusayfah sits on an artificial mound. This mound is located on hills about 675 meters above sea level. The site covers nearly 20 acres of land. Historically, it was a waypoint for trade during the Decapolis period. It acted as a commercial artery along the upper Zarqa River. However, modern urbanization has damaged about 95% of this ancient site.
Archaeologists have studied this site for many years. Explorers like Burckhardt, Condor, and Glueck documented the area. Between 1999 and 2004, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan conducted excavations. Led by Romel Ghrayib, they searched 21 squares of the site. This represents about 15% of the total area. They found evidence from the Early Bronze Age to the Byzantine period. Findings included mud-brick walls and stone-faced city walls.
Many specific artifacts and structures have been uncovered at Khirbat ar-Rusayfah. During the Byzantine period, a large limestone structure was found. It is known as the "Big Building" and measures 15.2 m by 11.5 m. It contains four halls and one small room. Researchers believe this building may have been a church. They also found a 10 m deep well and a 3 m deep cistern. Other items include coins, lamps, and an ivory spindle whorl. These items connect the city to many different historical eras.
Where will your curiosity go next?
More to explore
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.