 At
the crossroads of the Middle East,
Syria’s colorful history dates back to primeval times. Yet, Syria remains
a land to be discovered. This fascinating country, stretching from the
shores of the Mediterranean Sea to beyond the Euphrates River, is
extraordinarily rich in historical sites. And these ancient sites are
refreshingly free of commercial ventures with an atmosphere of uncluttered
authenticity no longer present at more well-trodden historical locations.
Stately Roman ruins, ornately-painted Byzantine basilicas, awe-inspiring
fortress-castles built by the Crusaders, and elegant Ottoman turbas
(tombs) - all and more abound in this ancient land.
Syria is situated on the far
east Mediterranean coast. It covers
185,180 km2 and is divided into 14 governorates (mohofazats). The western
coastal region is fertile, intensely cultivated and densely populated; the
mountain ranges in the interior are divided by the river Orontes and the
eastern regions of the Syrian desert are traversed by the Euphrates river.
The great Euphrates Dam has made the hitherto barren terrain in the
north-east agriculturally useful. Jesh Sheikh (Mount Hermon) at the
Lebanese border is the highest peak at 2,814m. Following the breakup of
the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the
French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria
lost the Golan Heights to Israel.
Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a
peacekeeping capacity. Talks with Israel over the return of the Golan
Heights have recently been revived.
The climate is Mediterranean along the
coast, with hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall increases in the
mountains, but then decreases in the eastern semi-desert. Summer
temperatures in those regions can reach 45°C in summer.
The population was estimated at 15.1 million in 1997. About 50% of the
peoplelive in urban areas. Ethnic divisions: 90.3% Arabs, 9.7% Kurds,
Armenians, Assyrians, Turks, Circassians .Arabic is the official language
spoken by about 90% of the population. Other languages spoken are Kurdish,
Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French and English. Muslim about 90%; 10%
are Christians of various denominations.
Damascus is the capital of Syria. It
is the world's oldest inhabited city. A central feature of this cluttered
and clamorous city is the Ummayyad Mosque. The 18th-century Al-Azem palace
is now a national museum, featuring beautifully illuminated copies of the
Quran. Homs is a large city known for its industry. Of historical interest
is the mausoleum of Khalid Ibn al-Walid. Crac des
Chevaliers: 65km (40 miles) outside Homs, Crac des Chevaliers
is the most famous crusader castle in the world. Rising from an altitude
of 670m (2200ft), its watch-towers once afforded protection.
|
|
