Al Mafraq

History

The site of Mafraq, formerly known as al-Fudayn (), was first occupied in Neolithic times and then in the Bronze Age. The name al-Fudayn was of Aramaic origin, meaning a tall structure or high wall. Remains of an Iron Age fortification, destroyed in the 8th century BC, have also been found. Under Byzantine rule in late antiquity, the site was occupied under by a monastic complex called al-Samra. The name al-Mafraq in Arabic was derived from the fact that multiple roads converged here and the pilgrims returning from Mecca would separate from each other here to return to their respective countries. The city gained more significance after the establishment of the Hejaz Railway connecting Damascus (and by extension Istanbul) to Medina in 1908. Mafraq was the location of a British military base and airport during the British post-WWI Mandate. During the Second World War, the city's military base hosted British troops from India, Australia and other British colonies. It later became the base for the Arab Legion during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. In 1945, the Municipality of Mafraq was established, with Ali Abdeyyah as its first mayor. As of 2016, 50% of the population of Mafraq were Syrian refugees.

Geography

The city of Mafraq is located in northern Jordan at the boundary between the Hauran plateau and the Syrian Desert, about 80 km north of Amman. It is the capital and largest city of Mafraq Governorate. The city is close to three major cities in the region, Amman to the south, Irbid to the west, and Damascus to the north.

Most-observed species

• Spur-winged Lapwing

  Vanellus spinosus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  9
• Crested Lark

  Galerida cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  6
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  6
• Eurasian Hoopoe

  Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  6
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  4

Most recent

• M 4.1 — 2023-02-07
  Dead Sea region
• M 3.7 — 2022-01-23
  4 km ENE of Kafr Mi?r, Israel
• M 4.1 — 2022-01-22
  4 km E of Taiyiba, Israel
• M 2.9 — 2018-07-27
  1 km ESE of Migdal, Israel
• M 2.9 — 2018-07-22
  9 km E of Tiberias, Israel
• M 4.7 — 2018-07-04
  2 km NNE of Giv‘at Avni, Israel