Kufranjah

History

In 1596, during the Ottoman Empire, Kufranjah (under the name of 'Kufranji ) was noted in the census as being located in the nahiya of Ajloun in the liwa of Ajloun. It had a population of 8 households and 2 bachelors, all Muslim. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on various agricultural products, including wheat (980 a.), barley (800 a.), olive trees (800 a.), goats and beehives (350 a.), in addition to "occasional revenues" (150 a.) and for an olive oil press/press for grape syrup (80 a.) and a water mill (140 a.); a total of 3,300 akçe. In his account, the traveler, James Buckingham, notes that he passed through the town of Kufranjah in 1825. He states that the population at that time was 400 individuals. Buckingham also describes the town's sheikh as polite in his behavior, respectful of strangers, and holding considerable authority. He notes that the sheikh was officially under the authority of the Pasha of Damascus, a status shared by all the sheikhs of the Ajloun district villages. In 1838 Kefrenjy's inhabitants were predominantly Sunni Muslims and Greek Christians. The Jordanian census of 1961 found 3,922 inhabitants in Kufrinja.

Geography

The town of Kufranjah is situated in a fortified location, surrounded by mountains on three sides. To the west, the terrain transitions to an open area that connects to the Jordan Valley. The terrain of Kufranjah is characterised by rugged mountains, which presents significant challenges to the construction of roads in the region. The valley designated as Kufranjah Valley traverses the region from its northern border. The river is fed by a multitude of tributaries and springs, which are distributed throughout the area and utilized by residents for irrigation purposes, particularly for the cultivation of vegetables and fruits. The city's location at the crossroads of the trade route between the Jordan Valley and Palestine, on the one hand, and Ajloun, Irbid, and Amman, on the other, and its temperate climate were among the factors that led to its initial construction and subsequent habitation. The climate of Kufranjah is classified as Mediterranean, with short cold winters marked by heavy precipitation. The summer season is characterized by prolonged periods of high temperatures and low precipitation. The region is known for its copious precipitation, commencing in late September. Kufranjah is situated in the southwestern region of the Ajloun Governorate, spanning between 35°35' 35" and 35°48' 35" east longitude and between 35°16' and 32°21' north latitude. It is located at an elevation of 640 meters above sea level. The region is distinguished by a range of altitudes above sea level. The southern areas are the highest, with elevations gradually decreasing towards the west, reaching sea level in some areas, such as Khirbet al-Nileh. At the town of Karima, where the valley emerges from the rift edge, the elevation is approximately -200 meters. The total area…

Most-observed species

• White-spectacled Bulbul

  Pycnonotus xanthopygos (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833) · Aves
  1,459
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  1,446
• Graceful Prinia

  Prinia gracilis (Lichtenstein, 1823) · Aves
  1,367
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,366
• Laughing Dove

  Spilopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,322
• Crested Lark

  Galerida cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,305
• Barn Swallow

  Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,298
• golden jackal

  Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758 · Mammalia
  1,286

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