Shoubak

Shoubak () is a municipality that lees at the north wastren edge o the Ma'an Govrenorate, bordered wi Tafilah Govrenorate an Aqaba Govrenorate. It haes a population o 12500. At ane o the heichest elevations abuin sea level in Jordan, this municipality is famous for aiple an fruit farms.

History
Shoubak wis first settled bi the Edomites who haed thair caipital in Busaira in neighborin Tafilah Govrenorate. It wis then settled bi the Nabateans.

Shoubak became a Nahia in 1894, an wis admeenistratively belangin tae the then-Ottoman Kerak depairtment. In 1973, it wis ranked up tae a Qadaa, in the 31st Admeeniastrative Diveesions Seestem o 1995, Shoubak became a full depairtment athin Ma'an Govrenorate benefitin frae the decentralization program.

Shoubak is kent for the Montreal (Crusader castle). Alang wi Petra an Aqaba, Shoubak forms the third heid o this triangle that lees on the cross road atween Sirie, Arabie an Egyp. Its unique heich elevation (1330m abuin sea level) gae it a strategic importance.

The importance o Shoubak reached its peak efter Baldwin I o Jerusalem teuk control o it, cuttin the ruits atween Egyp an Sirie, the famous Montreal castle wis biggit on tap o a hill thare in 1115. Shoubak wis then annexed tae the Ayyubid sultanate bi Saladin in 1187.

Geography an climate
Shoubak is locatit at an aurie borderin Tafilah Govrenorate tae the north an Aqaba Govrenorate tae the wast. It is admeenistrativley in Ma'an Govrenorate.
Due tae its heich elevation, Shoubak is famous for its cauld freezin winters, an due tae its location at the borders o the Arabie desert, it haes a dry simmer saison. The average annual rainfaw in Shoubak is in the range 150-350mm.

Demographics
The Naitional census o the year 2004 showed that the tot population o Shoubak wis 12590 persons, o whom 5666 wur males (45%) an 6924 are females constitutin 55% o the tot population. Thare wur 1663 households wi an average o 5 persons/household. Awmaist the entire population are Muslims. 

Economy
Agricultur forms the major soorce o income for Shoubak, follaeed bi tourism. Benefitin frae its heich altitude o mair nor 1300 m abuin sea level, the kintraside o Shoubak extends tae aboot 189 km2 o olive, vegetable an fruit ferms, mainly aiple ferms surroondin an athin the toun o Shoubak, resultin in the ceety spannin a relatively lairge aurie. Thare are 129 honey bee ferms in the toun's kintraside, makkin it a major producer o honey.Shoubak Municipality 

Education
The college o agricultur o Balqa Applied University is locatit in Shoubak. The Regional Center o Agricultural Research an Technology Transport is locatit in Shoubak an aw.

Famous fowk frae Shoubak
Dr. Eid Dahiyat, Meenister o Eddication

References

Category:Municipalities in Jordan
Category:Populatit places in the Ma'an Govrenorate