Irbid is the second-largest metropolitan area and Jordan and third-largest city. With a population of over 1.7 million in the metro area, Irbid is the capital of the Irbid Governorate. It is known for its several institutions of higher education in the city, including Jordan University of Science and Technology, Yarmouk University, and Irbid National University. Being in the far north of the country, Irbid also is an important ground transportation hub connecting Jordan with Syria.