The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the heart of the Middle East, neighbored by countries such as Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, and therefore having a somewhat privileged access to cities such as Jerusalem and Mecca. It also has access to the Red Sea, via the port city of Aqaba and its homonymous gulf. Jordan has a total area of 89,213 sq. km (34,445 sq. miles), a mere 329 sq. km (127 sq. miles) of which is water – less than 1%.