Al-Salt

Salt (Arabic: السلط‎ As-Salt) is a city located in the center of Jordan, and it is the center of Al-Balqa Governorate. It is about 29.8 km northwest of the capital, Amman. The city is 880 meters above sea level. Its population at the end of 2019 was about 117,060.

Al-Salt السلط Saltus
City
Clockwise from the left top: As-Salt's skyline, Great Mosque of As-Salt, St. George Church, Latin Church, As-Salt Castle, As-Salt Archaeological Museum, Al-Hammam Road and As-Salt Small Mosque.
Nickname:  Saltus (Ancient Greek)
Al-Salt Location in Jordan
Coordinates: 32°02′N 35°44′E
Grid position	218/160
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Balqa Governorate
Founded	300 B.C.
Municipality	1887
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Mayor	Khalid Khashman
Area [1]
• City	48 km2 (19 sq mi)
• Metro	79 km2 (31 sq mi)
Elevation	820 m (2,690 ft)
Population  (2018 [2])
• City	107,874
• Density	1,479/km2 (3,830/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (UTC+3)
Area code	+(962)5
Website	www.salt.gov.jo/ar
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	As-Salt - The Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iii
Designated	2021
Reference no.	689
State Party	Jordan
Region	Arab States

The city is located on the old main road leading from Amman to Jerusalem, on the slopes of the Balqa Mountains. It was named Saltos based on the Greek leader who opened it at the time of Alexander the Great. Saltos built a temple for the god Zeus in the area of Zeus that was attributed to him. Old Salt was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 27 July 2021.