King Abdullah Canal

The King Abdullah Canal, originally known as the East Ghor Canal, is a 43-mile (69 km) long canal in Jordan that plays a crucial role in the country's agriculture. It diverts water from the Jordan River to irrigate land on the eastern side of the valley. This has enabled the cultivation of crops such as oranges, bananas, early vegetables, and sugar beets in an area that was previously barren. The canal's construction in the 1960s transformed the Ghawr region into a productive agricultural area.12

The Jordan River itself is a vital water source for the region, flowing south from Mount Hermon into the Dead Sea. However, the diversion of its waters by both Israel and Jordan for irrigation, including through canals like the King Abdullah Canal, has significantly reduced its flow into the Dead Sea. Access to water remains a major challenge for Jordan, leading to conflicts among regional states due to overuse of the Jordan River and its tributaries, as well as excessive tapping of natural aquifers.23