Economic and geographical position of Syria

Remark 1

Syrian Arab Republic located in the Middle East, Southwest Asia.

Syria's neighbors are 5 states - the border with Turkey runs in the north, then the eastern border falls on Iraq, in the south it borders on Jordan, the western border goes with Israel and Lebanon.

The largest length of the state border of Syria falls on Turkey (899 km) and Iraq (596 km).

The western coast of Syria is washed by the waters mediterranean sea.

Syria and Turkey are connected by historical and geographical factors, but despite this, there are no bilateral relations at the official level.

Tensions are also with Israel, the existence of which Syria has never recognized. There are no economic or cultural ties between the countries.

Among all the countries of the Middle East, Lebanon is a strategic partner of Syria, relations between these countries are formed on the basis of the ethnic, cultural and economic unity of their peoples.

Relations with Jordan have also not always been smooth.

In the 1970s, relations between Syria and Iraq worsened. The reason was that Syria filled Lake Assad with water, which led to a reduction in water flow in Iraq, but with the help Saudi Arabia managed to solve this problem.

For the development of the economy important role plays transport, the level of its development.

Transport in the country was poorly developed, and today, in wartime conditions, we can talk about development transport infrastructure do not have to.

Before the war, the main role in cargo and passenger transportation was assigned to road transport. The country had a single network of roads, concentrated in the west of the country, along the Mediterranean coast.

The main transport routes stretched from Turkey to Jordan and Lebanon. Before the war, the length of asphalt concrete roads reached 40 thousand km.

Despite the fact that rail transport appeared earlier than road transport, it was in second place in the national transport system.

Air transport began to develop in the 60s of the last century. Provincial settlements were not connected by air. An international airport operated in Damascus, which received modern airliners.

In the presence of rivers river transport has not received much development, and maritime transport is in its infancy.

Pipelines were used to transport oil to the Mediterranean Sea. Oil was transported from Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

The country was very dependent on the import of manufactured goods, especially it needs machinery and equipment, vehicles, and ferrous metals.

The beautiful Syrian cities hosted numerous foreign tourists.

Weapons are of particular importance for today's Syria. Liberated from ISIS (a terrorist organization banned in Russia), Syrian cities begin to peaceful life- roads are being restored, residential areas are being rebuilt.

Remark 2

For peacetime, the economic and geographical position of Syria is favorable, because the country has an open outlet to the Mediterranean Sea, and from it to the Atlantic Ocean, and is located at the crossroads of international land and air routes. The circumstances today have developed in such a way that its political and geographical position is very difficult, the country itself is a hot spot on political map world and is close to other hot spots in the Middle East region.

Natural conditions of Syria

There are five natural areas within Syria:

1. Seaside lowland;
2. Western mountain range;
3. Rift zone;
4. Eastern mountain range;
5. East Syria Plateau.

The Primorskaya lowland stretches along the coast in a narrow strip. In some places it is interrupted by rocky headlands approaching the shore.

Between the lowlands and the rift zone is the Ansaria mountain range, which runs from the coast of Turkey to the borders with Lebanon. Its average height reaches 1200 m, and the highest point is Nebi-Yunes (1561 m). Breaking sharply in the east, the mountains form a ledge 900 m high. In the southern part of the Ansaria ridge there is an intermountain passage, where a road runs connecting the city of Homs with the Lebanese port of Tripoli.

In the northern direction from the passage and east of the ridge, it stretches for 64 km rift zone. It is a continuation of the East African Rift System.

The eastern mountain range is a hilly surface with a height of 460-600 m with a maximum elevation of 900 m. To the south of the Ansaria ridge stretch the Anti-Lebanon and Hermon (Esh-Sheikh) ridges. The highest point in Syria (2814 m) is located in the Ash-Sheikh ridge - the mountain has the same name. These ranges are the natural border between Syria and Lebanon.

The eastern part of Syria is occupied by the vast Eastern Plateau, the northern part of which is lower than the southern by 300 m. To the east, the height of the plateau becomes lower from 750 m to 300 m in the floodplain of the Euphrates. Most of the plateau is covered with large-clastic lava material.

The western part of Syria is characterized by a subtropical Mediterranean climate, while the interior is dry continental.

In the west, an average of 750 mm of precipitation falls annually, in the mountains from 1000 to 1300 mm. The rains begin in October and continue until March.

Air temperature +30 ... +35 degrees with high humidity. Higher in the mountains, the temperature becomes lower - by 5 degrees during the day, and by 11 degrees at night. Winter average temperatures are +13…+15 degrees. Precipitation in the form of snow is possible, but only for the upper mountain belt of the Ansaria ridge.

Although this time is the rainy season, there are very few of them. In the east of Syria, the amount of precipitation decreases to 500 mm per year. This is a region of steppes and semi-deserts.

The average July temperature in the Damascus region is +28 degrees. The average daily air temperature in July and August exceeds +38 degrees.

Humidity and temperature drop sharply after sunset. AT winter period nighttime temperatures drop below zero and in the northern part of the steppe zone frosts and snowfall are frequent.

Natural resources of Syria

The subsoil of Syria is not rich in minerals. Prior to today's events, the country was mainly producing oil, large deposits of which are located in the extreme northeast.

Gas production activities were activated. The recoverable reserves of this fuel are estimated at 11 billion cubic meters. m.

In the economy of the country big role phosphate mining played, the explored reserves of which are estimated at 1.5 billion tons - these are the Khneifns and Sharkiyya deposits.

Iron ore reserves are estimated at 400-500 million tons, and its main areas are Zabadani, Bludan, Raju.

The country also mined rock salt, building stone, gypsum, marble, asphalt, gravel.

Water resources are represented by rivers flowing through the territory of Syria in transit - in the east, the full-flowing Euphrates with tributaries originating in the mountains of Turkey.

In the west of Syria, the El-Asi River flows, the beginning of which is located in the mountains of Lebanon.

Along the border with Iraq, in the northeast, the Tigris flows. There are large lakes in the west.

The main soils are gray soils, they occupy most of the country. Chestnut soils occur in the north and west. The most fertile are brown soils found on the lower slopes of the Ansaria Range and the coastal lowland. There are saline and gypsum soils.

Anthropogenic impact on vegetation is great, especially now. The primary forests that covered the slopes of the mountains were replaced by secondary forests, represented by low-growing coniferous and deciduous species.

In the western part of the country, evergreen oaks, laurels, magnolias, ficuses grow on the mountain slopes. You can meet cypress groves, groves of Lebanese cedar, Aleppo pine. On the coast there are plantations of tobacco, cotton, sugar cane.

Useful data for tourists about Syria, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, the currency of Syria, the cuisine, the features of visa and customs restrictions in Syria.

Geography of Syria

The Syrian Arab Republic is a state in the Middle East, bordering Lebanon and Israel in the southwest, Jordan in the south, Iraq in the east and Turkey in the north. It is washed by the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

The Ansaria mountain range divides the country into a humid western part and an arid eastern part. The fertile coastal plain is located in northwestern Syria and stretches for 130 km from north to south along the Mediterranean coast from the Turkish to the Lebanese border. Most of the Syrian territory is located on an arid plateau dotted with the mountain ranges of Dajabl-ar-Ruwak, Jabal-Abu-Rujmayn and Jabal-Bishri. Average Height plateau above sea level ranges from 200 to 700 meters. To the north of the mountains is the Hamad desert, to the south - Homs. In the east, Syria is crossed by the Euphrates.

State

State structure

Syria is a multi-party parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president. The president is usually the general secretary of the Ba'ath Party. The government is headed by the prime minister. Legislature presented People's Council.

Language

Official language: Arabic

AT northern regions countries are often used Kurdish. The most widely spoken languages ​​also include Armenian, Adyghe (Circassian) and Turkmen. In some areas there are various dialects of Aramaic. Among foreign languages the most popular are French and English.

Religion

90% of the population of Syria are Muslims, 10% are Christians. Of the Muslims, 75% are Sunnis, the remaining 25% are Alawites and Druze, as well as Shiites. Among Christians, half are Syrian Orthodox, 18% are Catholics (mainly members of the Syrian Catholic and Melkite Catholic churches). There are significant communities of the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox churches.

Currency

International name: SYP

The pound consists of 100 piastres (kyrsh), although piastres are no longer issued. They are in circulation: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 (coins) and 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 (banknotes). It is almost impossible to pay in foreign currency anywhere, the only means of payment in the country is the pound.

You can exchange currency at hotels and at exchange offices of the Commercial Bank of Syria. Private currency exchange is officially prohibited, but very widespread. Reverse exchange of pounds is almost impossible.

Credit cards are accepted in a fairly limited range of establishments - with their help you can buy airline tickets, pay in large stores, in some offices of car rental companies and large hotels. It is almost impossible to get cash from a credit card in Syria, but the scope of non-cash forms of payment is growing rapidly. Traveler checks are accepted only at the office of the Commercial Bank of Syria, while a commission is charged for cashing checks.

Syria Tourism

A typical Syrian lunch consists of rice or flatbread, meat, vegetables, beans, sweets and fruits. The national dish is burghol (burgul), which is steamed, dried and ground wheat. It is added to many dishes, including the national kibbeh, which is made from minced lamb....

Tips

It is customary to give tips only in expensive hotels and restaurants, usually 5-10% of the cost of service.

Visa

Office Hours

Banks are usually open from 8.30 to 13.00-14.00 from Saturday to Thursday (on Thursday they are open only in the morning). Exchange offices are open from 8.30 to 19.00-20.00 on the same days.

Purchases

Shops are usually open from Saturday to Thursday from 09.30 to 14.00 and from 16.30 to 21.00 in summer, in winter - from 09.30 to 14.00 and from 16.00 to 20.00, large supermarkets - until 20.00-22.00. Many private shops operate on their own schedule.

Emergency Phones

Police (Damascus) - 112.
Ambulance health care - 110.
Red Cross - 442-1600.

Photo and video shooting

Photographing government institutions, palaces, military and transport facilities is prohibited. In Christian temples, you should ask permission before shooting, usually shooting is not prohibited. Filming is not allowed in mosques. Do not photograph local women without permission.

National features of Syria. Traditions

You should also take food, money and things right hand.

The soles of the feet should not point in any direction. During the handshake, you should not look into the eyes of the interlocutor, and you should also not keep your other hand in your pocket or wave it vigorously in the air (especially with a cigarette). You can not bypass the worshipers in front. Shoes should be removed when entering mosques and houses.

The Koran forbids the use of alcohol, but in Syria this issue is practically not raised. Alcoholic beverages should not be drunk in front of everyone.

Clothing should be modest. Women should not wear provocative clothing. Appearance in in public places wearing sportswear or beachwear is considered extremely indecent. Even on the beach it is not recommended to appear in the nude or "topless".

Geographical position

Official name - Syrian Arab Republic . The state is located in the Middle East east coast Mediterranean Sea. The length of the coastline is about 175 km. The country borders Turkey in the north, Iraq in the east, Jordan and Israel in the south, and Lebanon in the west.

The total area of ​​the country is 185.1 thousand square meters. km. Of these, 1,295 sq. km. the territory of the country (Golan Heights) has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

The Ansaria mountain range divides the country into a humid western part and an arid eastern part. In the north-west of Syria there is a fertile coastal plain, the length of which from north to south is 130 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Most of the country's territory is located on an arid plateau, which is dotted with mountain ranges.

The average height of the plateau above sea level ranges from 200 to 700 meters. To the north of the mountains is the Hamad Desert, to the south is Homs.

In the east, the territory of the country is crossed by the Euphrates. A dam was built in the upper reaches of the river in 1973. She became the reason for the formation of the reservoir, which is called El-Assad. This lake is about 80 km long and 8 km wide on average.

The Euphrates is the longest and most important river in the country. It contains more than 80% of all its water resources. Large rivers are also its main left tributaries Balikh and Khabur.

Syria has a subtropical Mediterranean climate on the coast and a dry continental climate in the interior.

The average January temperature ranges from +4 °C to eastern regions up to +12 °C on the coast. The average July temperature ranges from +33 °C to +26 °C, respectively. The best time to visit the country is the period from the beginning of autumn to the end of spring.

Precipitation in the eastern regions is 100-300 mm, in the mountains and on the Mediterranean coast - up to 1000 mm. in year. Their maximum number falls on the end of November - December and February - beginning of March.

Visas, entry rules, customs regulations

Citizens of Russia and the CIS to visit Syria require a visa. To apply for a tourist visa, you need to contact the consular department of the Syrian Embassy, ​​located in Moscow.

Documents for a visa are submitted personally, through a trusted person or through a travel agency. A visa is usually issued within 3-7 business days. But sometimes this process can take up to 10-14 business days. For a long time, an application submitted by an unmarried woman under the age of 35 who is traveling unaccompanied by a man (brother, father) can be considered.
Initially, an entry visa is issued for up to 14 days. You can extend your stay in the country up to three months at the main office of the Syrian Department of Immigration in Damascus. There is no fee for this. A consular fee of 20 US dollars is charged for issuing a tourist and transit visa. It is paid at the consulate when applying. In case of visa refusal, the fee is non-refundable. Children who are inscribed in the parent's passport are exempted from paying the consular fee.
You can get a tourist or transit visa upon arrival in the country, at the Damascus airport. You can also do this at any land border crossing with any of the neighboring countries. The exception is Israel, with which the border is closed.
When passing through border control, you need to fill out an immigration card, which will need to be returned when leaving the country.
As evidence of the purpose of the trip, you need to have return tickets, or a visa to the country of final destination, an invitation from a Syrian travel agency or a private person, or confirmation of a hotel reservation.
It is impossible to obtain a Syrian visa for those who have Israeli visas in their passports, any Israeli marks, a stamp on leaving the border points with Israel (Aqaba, King Hussein Bridge in Jordan, Taba, Rafah, etc.).
The Syrian border guards may be suspicious of a passport obtained in Cairo or Amman.
Movement within the country is free. You can go to the south-west of Syria, to the border area with Israel, only with a special permit, which is issued in advance in the capital.
Import and export of foreign currency is limited to 5 thousand dollars. Money must be declared if the dollar equivalent of the imported amount exceeds 2000. The export of local currency is prohibited.
Duty-free can be imported into the country not a large number of tobacco products, alcohol, perfumes, personal items and gifts.
It is forbidden to bring into the country weapons and ammunition, drugs, video and printed materials that are contrary to the norms of Islam and threaten public order.
Audio, video, television equipment and electronic devices must be included in the customs declaration. On TVs is filled special shape. The import norm of gold is 500 gr. The same amount of gold can be taken out of the country, but you will need to present receipts for the purchase. Receipts will also be needed for the export of machine-made carpets, household appliances, antiques, crystal, etc. if there is no receipt, then you will have to pay a tax in the amount of 10-25% of the value of the goods.
Items that directly or indirectly indicate a visit to Israel should not be imported into the country.

Population, political condition

The population of the country is about 17.5 million people. Ethnic composition of the population: mainly Arabs (Syrians, tribal division is preserved), Kurds (6.5%), Armenians (3%), Turks (0.5%), Circassians and Chechens (together about 0.5%), Iranians , Assyrians, etc. There are also about 300 thousand Palestinians in Syria.
Syria is a presidential republic with highly centralized power. The head of state is the president. The legislature is the People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab. It consists of 250 seats.
The executive power belongs to the Council of Ministers, its members are appointed by the president.
Administratively, the country's territory is divided into 13 provinces ("governorate") and the municipality of Damascus equated to them.
The official language is Arabic. English, Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian and French are also widely spoken in the country. Many Syrians speak Russian well.
The president is usually the general secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His candidacy is put forward by this party, and then submitted by parliament to a national referendum. The President is elected for 7 years, there are no restrictions on the number of consecutive terms in office. The President of the country has the right to appoint the Cabinet of Ministers.
The President also decides foreign policy country and is the supreme commander of the armed forces. According to the country's constitution, the president must be a Muslim, although Islam is not the state religion.
Legislative power in the country is represented by the People's Council. Members of Parliament are directly elected for a 4-year term.
The judicial system is based on a combination of Islamic, Ottoman and French traditions. There are three levels of courts: the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court, which is the highest instance.

What to watch

Damascus is the capital of Syria and one of the most ancient cities in the world. In addition, it is also the oldest of the "acting" capitals of the planet. In the chronicles, this city was first mentioned in the 15th century. BC e.
It arose at the crossroads of caravan routes and was a major trading center.
"Old city Damascus is a unique site that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here, the ancient quarters and Via Pecta ("Straight Street") are of great interest to tourists. The Umayyad Mosque dates back to the 8th century and is the largest mosque in the world. It is famous for its unique mosaics.
The mausoleum of Salah ad-Din was built in 1193. It contains the ashes of the legendary Sultan, who began the expulsion of the Crusaders from the East. The Qasr al-Azem Palace was built in 1749. It was the residence of the Turkish Wali, and currently houses the Museum of Art and Folk Traditions.
The head of the saint is kept in the shrine of St. John the Baptist. The underground church of St. Ananias is famous for the fact that the Apostle Paul was baptized here.
Taqiya al-Suleimaniyya Mosque, which dates back to 1554, is considered one of the most beautiful in the Arab world.
It is worth visiting the famous Souq al-Hamidiyya in Damascus with the Khan Asaad Pasha caravanserai and the largest Bzuria spice market.
Seyida-Zeynab is the tomb of the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, the daughter of Caliph Ali. Seyida-Rukiya - the tomb of the granddaughter of Caliph Ali, daughter of Hussein. Many historical figures are buried at the Bab as-Sagyr cemetery.
The cave of Maharat ad-Damm is interesting because it was in it that Cain killed his brother.
The city has many museums, both private and public. Worth to visit National Museum, which is famous for its collection of unique exhibits of ancient civilizations from Mesopotamia to Phoenicia and other interesting collections.
The Military Museum has one of the richest collections of ancient and medieval weapons in the world. Bimaristan - hospital and medical Academy medieval Damascus, which is now a museum of the history of medicine and contains rare exhibits.
In the vicinity of Damascus there are such famous resort places as Zabadani, Bludan, Madaya, Bukeyn and others. 22 km. from Damascus is the Orthodox monastery of the Mother of God of Sednai. It is famous for its miraculous icon, painted according to legend by St. Luke himself.
In the town of Maalula, the convent of St. Thekla and the church of St. Sergius or Mar-Sarkis are interesting. Maalula and 2 surrounding villages are the only place in the world where the language of Jesus Christ, the Western Aramaic dialect, is still spoken.
160 km. north of Damascus is Homs, which is famous for the mosque of Ibn al-Walid with two minarets and the tomb of this legendary Arab commander.
120 km. south of the capital is the city of Bosra. It was the capital of the Roman province of Arabia. Almost all structures here were built of black basalt. The main attraction of the city can be called the Roman theater, which is very well preserved. It is interesting because in the 5th century it was fortified and turned into a citadel. 9 towers were built around the building.
Here you can visit the magnificent theater, which is designed for 15 thousand seats. In 1980, Bosra was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Aleppo (Aleppo) is the second largest city in the country and one of the ancient settlements planets. Its history goes back over 5 millennia. This city lies 360 km. north of Damascus and is the ancient center of the Great Silk Road.
The old districts of Jade and Taiba with dozens of medieval buildings deserve attention here. Many of them date back to the 15th century. One of the attractions of this city are the old covered markets, which stretch for 12 km.
It is recommended to visit the Aleppo Citadel (XII century), which was built on the site of an ancient acropolis. It is the best example of medieval Arab fortification art.
The Jami-Kykan Mosque was built in the 13th century. A stone block with Hittite inscriptions was built into its wall. He once helped decipher the Hittite language.
The Aleppo Archaeological Museum is interesting with exhibits from the excavations of the ancient Mesopotamian cities of Mari, Ebla and Ugarit. There are many sculptures and bas-reliefs that once adorned the portal royal palace in the Aramaic Guzan. The Old City of Aleppo has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Around Aleppo, in a small area, more than a hundred settlements have been preserved, which date back to the 4th-6th centuries. Some of them are very well preserved.
Dozens of palaces are interesting different eras, which are scattered across the desert regions around Aleppo.
The ancient dam in Harbak is a majestic structure, a magnificent example of the irrigation systems of antiquity.
Between Aleppo and Damascus lies the city of Hama. It is famous for its huge wooden water-lifting wheels "Norias", whose diameter reaches 20 meters. They are the oldest mechanisms still serving people. The mosques of al-Jami al-Kabir, Abu al-Fida and al-Nuri (XII century) and the Azem Palace (XVIII century) with a museum also deserve the attention of tourists here. 55 km. to the northwest are the ruins of the ancient city of Apamea. It was founded in 300 BC. e. the first monarch of the Seleucid dynasty.
40 km. south of Aleppo you can visit the ruins of Ebla (Tel Mardikh). This city was the capital of the state in the II millennium BC. Here, archaeologists opened the palace library, which contained over 17 thousand clay tablets.
Palmyra (Tadmor) - the capital of the ancient state. This city is located in the heart of the Syrian desert. The first mention of it is found in the XX century BC. e.
Now there is a huge archaeological site. Here you can see the Bela (Baal) temple complex, the Great Colonnade, baths, the Senate, the theater and other public buildings of the Greek period. There is also a valley of tombs with unique "multi-layer burials" Hypogeum and several dozen burial towers.
It is worth visiting the Palmyra Museum with an archaeological collection, the ruins of the Arab watch fortress Kalat ibn Maan. In 1980, the entire Palmyra was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
160 km. north of Palmyra is the city of Rasafa (ancient Sergiopolis). This dead city in the desert is known for the fact that St. Sergius was executed and buried here. Here you can see the well-preserved ancient walls, part of the streets and large buildings, including the partially restored Basilica of St. Sergius, Rasafa Palace.
The city of Kanavat (ancient Kanaf) is known for its ruins of 6th century basilicas, which were rebuilt from the ancient temples of Helios (2nd century).
Krak des Chevaliers (Kalaat al-Hosn, 1150-1250) - this castle at one time served as the residence of the Grand Master of the Order of the Hospitallers. It stands on a high hill in the Bukeya valley. This castle is famous for its huge size and original fortifications. Its area is about 3 thousand square meters. m. This castle was the most formidable building of its time.
Arvad is a picturesque island where the Crusaders held out the longest.
The citadel of Qalaat Salah ad-Din is one of the most impressive castles of the crusaders. It is unique, because entirely carved from a rock monolith. Although the castle was considered impregnable, it was taken in just three days by the legendary Sultan Salah ad-Din (Saladdin).
Al-Markab (medieval Margat) is a huge Crusader citadel of black basalt. It is located above the ancient Phoenician seaport of Banyas, 6 km. southeast modern city. This huge building has 14 towers and is located 500 meters above sea level.
The coastal Syrian resorts of Syria are a visited place. They are located on the hills and mountains along the sea coast. It has clean water and a very pleasant climate. The water is shallow, so it warms up well. The swimming season lasts from May to November.
Latakia is the fourth largest city in Syria and the main seaport. In its vicinity is the main seaside resort of the country - Shatt al-Azraq (Cote d'Azur). 16 km. north of Latakia lies Ugarit (Ras Shamra) - the remains of the Phoenician city-state, which flourished in the 16th-13th centuries. BC e. This city is considered the birthplace of the first alphabet in the history of mankind. Many ruins have survived.
Recently, there has been a rapid development of two mountain resorts, Slenfe and Mashta al-Helu, which are located in the zone of coniferous mountain forests. Modern hotels were built here. Such resorts as Ras al-Bassit, Kasab, Salma, Drykish, etc. are also popular.

In the III millennium BC. e. the Semitic city-state of Ebla was located on these lands; it was part of the circle of the Sumerian-Akkadian civilization. Subsequently, the Amorite state of Yamhad was formed here, but it was put an end to the invasion of the Hittites from the Balkans. In the 17th century, the local tribes of the Hurrians form the state of Mitanni. In the XV century. BC e. Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose I came here.
Between the 10th and 8th centuries BC. e. Damascus became the center of a powerful Aramaic kingdom. At the beginning of the ninth century BC e. The Syrians conquered part of northern Galilee from the Israelites. At this time, the Assyrians were gaining strength. They began to collect tribute from the rulers of Syria. The rulers created a powerful anti-Assyrian alliance. A fierce battle took place in 854 BC. e., under the walls of the city of Karkara, but it did not bring results.
However, the coalition of Syrian and Palestinian rulers, dangerous for the Assyrians, did not last long. A war broke out between them. The Assyrians managed to defeat the Syrian army, but they could not take the city.
The Syrian king Hazael managed to keep the throne, but started a war with the Israelites. The Syrians practically made the Israelite king Jehoahaz a vassal. But in 802 BC. e. The Assyrians attacked Syria again. This time they captured and sacked Damascus. Azail became a vassal of Assyria. But again he remained on the throne. Under his children, the Israelis continued to push Damascus.
The next Assyrian king, Tiglath-pileser III, decided to expand the borders at the expense of Syria. In 738 BC e. his troops captured 19 Syrian cities. Under these conditions, the rulers of Syria rallied around the new Damascus king Rhizon II. The king of Israel, Fakey, became his ally.
In 734 BC. e. Tiglath-Pileser III conquered Israel, and in 733 B.C. e. The Assyrians took Damascus. The city was badly damaged. Then the Assyrians were replaced by the Chaldeans, and then the Persians.
Alexander the Great captured Syria and made it part of the Macedonian kingdom. Syria later passed to Seleucus Nicator, under whom she reached her highest development.
But after his death, Syria was captured in 83 by Tigranes, the king of Armenia. In 64, Pompey defeated Tigranes and made Syria a Roman province, adding Judea to it. But gradually the power of the Roman emperors weakened, and Syria became the prey of the Saracens.
In 635, Syria was devastated and then conquered by the Arabs, who converted most of the Aramaic population to Islam. In 660-750 years. Damascus served as the residence of the caliphs. Crusades for 2 centuries led to constant military clashes in Syria. Here the Principality of Antioch was formed, which in 1187 was conquered by the Egyptian Sultan Saladin.
In 1260, the weakened Ayyubid state was captured by the Mongols, who were stopped by the Mamluk forces led by Sultan Qutuz.
In 1517, Syria was conquered by the Ottoman Sultan Selim I. Its territory was divided into 4 provinces headed by governors.
In the 18th century, there was an increase French influence. In the late 1850s and early 1860s. bloody feuds broke out between the Druze and the Maronites.
From Europe, through the movement of the Young Turks, the ideas of nationalism penetrated into Syria. During the First World War, Damascus was declared the seat of an independent government for all of Syria, which was perceived as the revival of the Damascus Caliphate.
Faisal I declared himself King of Syria. But Britain, behind his back, agreed to give Syria to France in exchange for giving up the oil-rich region of Mosul.
In 1920, France received a mandate to govern Syria. Her troops expelled Faisal. After the Rising of 1925-27, France had to make concessions in matters local government. In 1932, Syria was declared a republic (with the preservation of the French mandate). In 1939, France granted Turkey the Syrian province of Alexandretta.
Syria gained full independence from France on April 17, 1946. The first president was the head of the colonial administration Kuatli. The emergence of the state of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent Arab-Israeli war led to an acute political crisis. There were three military coups in Syria in 1949.
In 1958, Syria tried to unite with Egypt and the United Arab Republic was formed.
But in 1963, Syria was under the rule of the leaders of the Baath Party (Arab Socialist Renaissance Party) with a focus on total socialism.
During the years of Hafez al-Assad, Syria sought to limit Israel's influence in the region. The Syrian Golan Heights came under Israeli control, but Syria gained almost complete political control over Lebanon, established during the country's civil war. An end to this was put in 2005, the Syrian troops were withdrawn from Lebanon.
After the death of Hafez al-Assad, his son, Bashar al-Assad, became president of Syria, whose policy was more gentle.
In 2011, an uprising broke out in Syria.

International trade

The country exports minerals, oil, textiles, fruits and vegetables.
Syria's main export partners are: Iraq, Germany, Lebanon, Italy, France, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Syria imports industrial products and foodstuffs.
The main suppliers are: Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Italy, Egypt and the UAE.

The shops

Shops in the country are open from Saturday to Thursday from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 21:00. Many private shops have their own schedule. Large supermarkets are usually open until 20.00-22.00. It is good to shop in the markets, the best of which are located in Damascus and Aleppo. At the same time, you can bargain and very effectively.
In Syria, you can buy valuable products of local artisans made of wood, mother-of-pearl, leather, fabric and silver. Jewelry made of gold and silver, spices, silk scarves, wood products, olive oil, sweets, national costumes and sheepskins are brought from Syria as souvenirs and gifts.
It is almost impossible to pay with foreign currency. Only "duty free" shops work with currency. They are located not only at the airport, but also in other places.
Any product purchased in such a store must be taken out of the country and used only outside it. Typically, purchases are packaged at the store, tagged with the buyer's name, and delivered to the airport before departure.

Demography

The population of the country continues to grow. Girls here marry early, on average, women give birth to 7 children.
The largest cities are Damascus and Aleppo.
The largest national minority is formed by the Kurds, who make up about 9% of the Syrian population.
The country's population growth is 2.4. The birth rate is 28.93 per 1,000 people. The death rate is 4.96 per 1000 people. The life expectancy of a man is 68.47, women - 71.02 years.
The population density is 121.6 people per sq. km. km.
Urbanization rate - 2.5% per year.

The average age of the population is 21.9 years.

Industry

Industry provides the bulk of the national income. The most developed industries are: oil, oil refining, gas production, electric power, phosphate mining, textile, food, electrical and chemical, which is based on the production of fertilizers and plastics.

vegetable and animal world

The natural vegetation of Syria has changed greatly under the influence of human activity. Once upon a time, the Ansariyya range in the west and the mountains in northern Syria were covered with forests. Later they were replaced by secondary forests, consisting of low-growing coniferous and deciduous species. In those coastal regions where agriculture was not developed, shrubs of the Mediterranean type appeared.
In the west of the country, evergreen oaks, myrtle, laurel, magnolia, oleander, and ficuses predominate on the mountain slopes. There are groves of cypress, Lebanese cedar, Aleppo pine and juniper.
Plantations of sugar cane, tobacco and cotton stretch along the Mediterranean coast. In the river valleys, mulberries, figs, and citrus fruits are grown. Olives and grapes are grown on gentle slopes. The fields are sown with wheat, corn and barley. They also grow potatoes and vegetables.
Rice is grown under artificial irrigation.
In deserts, young shoots of grasses and undersized shrubs and shrubs appear only after rain. They are represented mainly by saxaul, biyurgun, boyalych and wormwood.
The animal world is not particularly diverse. Of the predators, sometimes there are lynx, wild cat, fox, jackal, striped hyena, caracal. A fairly large number of ferrets live in the steppes and semi-deserts.
Of the ungulates, there are antelope, wild ass, gazelle and onager. There are many jerboas in the country. Sometimes there are hedgehogs, squirrels, porcupines, hares.
Of the reptiles, snakes, lizards, and chameleons are common. A variety of bird species live, especially in the Euphrates valley and near water bodies: storks, flamingos, gulls, geese, herons and pelicans.
Throughout Syria there are larks, bustards, sandgrouse. Sparrows and pigeons are common in settlements, cuckoos in groves. Of the birds of prey, falcons, eagles, hawks and owls are predominant.

Banks and money

by the most popular view transport in the country are buses. There is an extensive bus network that links local cities directly. You can also take buses to neighboring countries.
The buses are mostly modern, air-conditioned. But there are also many outdated cars, minibuses and fixed-route taxis. Buses usually have an unstable schedule, which is tied to the main flow of passengers. Outside the capital, most buses have route signs in Arabic only.
Tickets can also be bought at the bus station or from the driver. It is inexpensive, but the buses are often crowded.
You can also use the service taxis. They walk along established routes between all settlements countries.
Such cars can accommodate from 5 to 25 passengers and follow strictly on schedule. They also run intercity routes. The price of the trip should be negotiated in advance, you can bargain.
There are also railways in the country. Each train has a sleeping car. The fare is low.
In Syria, even flying on planes is cheap.
Tourists can also rent a car. It is best to do this in the offices of large international companies. The rent is quite high, gasoline is also expensive.
To rent, you must have an international driver's license, local insurance, which will be required by all road users. It can be purchased at customs or at local travel agencies and car clubs.
The main highways of the country are in good condition. Most road signs are inscribed only in Arabic, in some cases they are dubbed in English, but the spelling may be incorrect.

Minerals

Syria is not particularly rich in minerals. The country produces oil. The largest deposits located in the extreme northeast of the country.
The largest oil refineries have been built in Baniyas and Homs.
Syria is the largest producer of phosphorites. Their deposit is being developed in the Hneifis area. Most of the products are exported, the rest is used domestically for the production of fertilizers.
Syria also has deposits of gas, phosphates, chromium, uranium, iron ore, manganese, lead, sulfur, asbestos, copper, dolomite, natural asphalt and limestone, tuff, basalt. Salt is mined.

Agriculture

Agriculture accounts for about 30% of the national income. Only a third of the country's territory is suitable for agriculture. Currently Agriculture Syria is experiencing some recovery thanks to the efforts of the state.
Arable land makes up about 30% of the country's area. They stretch in a narrow strip along the coast and have fertile soils and high moisture. Fruit, tobacco, olives, and cotton are grown on these lands. A variety of crops are cultivated in the El Asi River Valley under irrigation conditions. The semi-arid highlands stretch from the Golan Heights and Damascus to the border with Turkey. A significant part of the Syrian wheat and barley is produced here, and cotton is produced on the irrigation wedge. The Euphrates valley also has fertile lands. You should not refuse the offered coffee and any treats. It is forbidden to bypass the worshipers in front. Shoes must be removed when entering mosques and residential buildings. Women should not wear off-the-shoulder or plunging necklines.
In Syria, it is forbidden to photograph government institutions, palaces, military and transport facilities. In Christian churches, you must ask permission to take pictures. Photography is not allowed in the mosques. You can not photograph local women without permission. Documents should always be carried with you.
In no case should you enter into political discussions with local residents, especially on the topic of Israel and the events in Hama.
A handshake is usually used to greet, and it is very important to greet all those who greet. During the handshake, you do not need to look into the eyes of the interlocutor, keep the other hand in your pocket, or swing it vigorously.
Good acquaintances symbolically kiss three times. As a token of gratitude, local residents touch their foreheads and hearts with their palms. There is a very a complex system gestures. Therefore, do not actively gesticulate, otherwise you can accidentally offend the locals.
The European gestures familiar to us according to local norms may turn out to be simply indecent. But restraint in gestures can also be regarded as displeasure with something.

healthcare

Tourists to enter the country should take out international health insurance. It is also recommended to get vaccinated against hepatitis, polio, tetanus and typhoid.
From May to October there is a slight risk of contracting malaria, especially in the north-eastern part of the country.
Syrian medicine is at a high level. Many hospitals have state-of-the-art equipment and highly qualified doctors.
Medical care is free. First aid and going to the clinic are free of charge. But foreign citizens have to pay for other cases of visiting doctors.
Almost all medical staff speaks English or French, many also know Russian. Most hospitals in the periphery are private. Before treatment in them, you must confirm your ability to pay.
In public hospitals, the level is not lower, and sometimes even higher, than in private ones.
Tap water is usually chlorinated. Outside the main cities drinking water poorly cleaned. It is best to drink bottled water.
Milk is not pasteurized and requires processing. Meat and fish can only be consumed after a good heat treatment. Vegetables from street stalls need to be scalded with boiling water, and fruits need to be peeled.
Many local dishes may seem unusual for our stomachs.
The country is high solar Activity. Creams to be used sunburn and drink plenty of fluids. You must wear a hat and sunglasses.
It is better not to be on the street from 11.00 to 14.00 in the afternoon.

GEOGRAPHY OF SYRIA.

The surface of Syria is mostly flat. In the east it is a vast plateau with a height of 500-800 m, along the Mediterranean Sea a narrow strip (10-15 km wide) of the coastal lowland stretches for more than 200 m.
The spurs of mountains directed to the sea divide it into several isolated plains:
Latakia, Jebla-Banias and others. Typical mountainous relief typical only for the western part of the country.

The colorful nature of the Syrian Mediterranean differs sharply from harsh nature most of the country. The climate on the coast is subtropical Mediterranean, humid mild winters (average January temperature + 12") are replaced by dry summers with high temperatures (average temperature in July + 26"). Here falls 900 mm of precipitation per year. Evergreen subtropical woody and shrubby vegetation dominates (five species of evergreen oaks, laurel, myrtle, oleander, magnolia, ficuses). The Mediterranean coast is the most populated and developed part of the country with a large area of ​​plowed land occupied by plantations of tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane; olive groves, plantations of figs, mulberries, citrus fruits, vineyards stretch along the rivers and streams; corn, barley, wheat, potatoes, and vegetables are grown in the fields.

The sea makes this area especially picturesque. The mountains do not approach the sea, and therefore, along the entire Syrian coast, a luxurious, yet little used beach stretches. The water in this area of ​​the sea is clear, clean and warm.
You can swim almost all year round, with the exception of January and February. In some places the seashore is covered with pebbles, in some places it has sand dunes, light yellow, plains contrasting with the blue sea and red soil. The sands are poorly fixed and therefore in many places they step on the fields.

To the east of the coastal plain there is a fault line represented by the El-Gab depression (15-20 km wide) and mountain folds bordering this depression from the west and east: in the west - the Ansaria ridge (highest point 1500 m), in the east - a number of ridges, extending far into the south of the country.
These are El-Akrad (1759 m), Ez-Zawiya (more than 800 m), Anti-Lebanon (2659 m) and Hermon (2814 m). The last two are on the border between Syria and Lebanon.

The Ansaria Ridge, which stretches from north to south, descends relatively calmly to the coastal plain and abruptly breaks off in the east to the El-Gab graben. Mountain ranges bordering Syrian from the east fault zone, for the most part gradually pass into the plateaus adjacent to them from the east. Composed mainly of limestone, the mountain ranges are highly indented, their slopes are replete with gorges, rather deep and steep.
The climate of the mountainous region of Syria is subtropical Mediterranean, moderately warm. In winter, frosts and snow fall in the mountains. Precipitation decreases from west to east. On the western slopes of Ansaria, they fall 1500 mm. in the El-Gab graben - from 500 mm (in the south) to 750 mm (in the north), in the eastern part of the country - 400 - 500 mm, and in the southeast - only 250 mm.

From the forests that once covered the slopes of the mountain ranges, only miserable groves remained. The forests were cut down.
The only fairly significant forests in all of Syria can be seen when driving along the highway connecting the port of Latakia with the city of Aleppo (Aleppo). The road winds up into the mountains.
Vineyards, carefully cultivated fields, olive groves are left behind, and behind one of the turns the forest begins. Separate bushes turn into thickets, oaks, cypresses, groups of Lebanese cedars appear. But the brightest and most beautiful of all is the Aleppo pine. It is similar to our European pine and at the same time it is not similar. She does not have such a golden trunk, and she is smaller in size, but her needles are thicker and longer and have such a deep emerald color that they seem to glow. The road rises higher and higher. The trees are getting bigger. They fill in the ravines.
climb the rocks and close the horizon. And gradually you forget that you are in Syria - a country with an arid climate, 90% of whose territory is made up of areas experiencing an acute shortage of water. But then the road slid down the slope, the mountains receded to the north, and the forests receded with them. Far below, the wide depression of Ep-Gab opened up.
It stretches from the Turkish border to the Lebanese, fertile, sunny, well-groomed. There are no longer forests here, but there is a deep river. Orontes (El-Asi), and therefore life.

The length of the Orontes is 571 km. It originates in Lebanon, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey, passing through the territory of Syria for 325 km. It is Oponty that owes its fertility to the plains of Hama and Homs, which form a vast and economically important region of Syria. Already in the lII millennium BC. e. on the Orontes near the city of Homs, to prevent the annual flooding of the valley, a dam was built, which, apparently, is the oldest hydraulic structure on the ground. It had a height of 5 m, and the volume of "Khomsky Lake" was 90 million cubic meters. m. The dam, newly erected on this site in 1938, reaches a height of 7 m, and the volume of water in the reservoir is 200 million cubic meters. m.

The rest of the territory of Syria to the east of the mountains is occupied by a plateau, gradually lowering to the northeast, to the valley of the Euphrates, and again rising behind this river. Various areas of the plateau are quite often
are diverse in terms of nature and management, as well as the way of life of the population.
The southeastern part of it is called the Syrian Desert, the northeastern part is called the El Jazeera Desert (Jezire), and the areas between deserts and mountains are occupied steppe expanses.

On the plateau there are separate mountain ranges and vast lava plateaus with groups of volcanoes. Of these, the highest massif is Ed-Druz (1800 m), located in the extreme south of the country, west of the Syrian Desert. How different it is from all the other mountainous regions of Syria! Black gloomy lava fields, a heap of stones sometimes create a fantastic picture of the harsh dead nature. And right next to it, somewhere in a gorge, where a brook murmurs or a lake lurks, and where the basalt cover is thinner and the soil layer is thicker, there is a lush riot of plants, flashes of flowers, soft green fields, juiciness of fruits.

Man has long inhabited these mountains, the slopes of which were covered with trees and shrubs. At present, cultural landscapes (fields, gardens, vineyards) here rise to a height of 1100 - 1500 m, and in some places even up to 1600 m. The meadows located above are usually used as summer pastures.

The Syrian desert is a monotonous plateau, elevated to a height of 500 to 800 m only in places up to 1000 m above sea level. Small drainless depressions are characteristic, in which short dry channels of watercourses end.
The surface of the desert, like a cloak, more than 1 m thick, is covered with rubble covered with black desert tan. You walk on the wreckage, and they ring like metal.

The Syrian desert is pretty lifeless. Its climate is characterized by large seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations. In winter, the temperature can drop to -10" at night, and rise to +20" and higher during the day. In summer, the temperature
the tour can sometimes even reach + 45 + 50".
The desert receives little precipitation - 50 - 100 mm per year. It is practically devoid of soil cover. Vegetation is poor and occurs only in small patches in some runoff troughs and depressions. Large spaces are completely bare. from plants
only drought-resistant and salt-tolerant shrubs and shrubs have taken root here: saxaul, biyurgun, boyalych, in some places wormwood, from grassy sedge, bluegrass; in depressions here and there - ephemera.

Large expanses of the Syrian desert are used only by pastoral nomads as pastures, and then mainly in winter, during and after the rains. By summer, the vegetation burns out, water sources dry up, and pastoralists are forced to migrate to the north-west and north of the country, to the steppe zone. Sometimes this retreat does not save from disaster, and entire herds die of thirst and hunger.

The entire northeast of Syria from the Euphrates to the Tigris is occupied by the El Jazeera plain, which is part of the greater Mesopotamian-
a depression stretching for 1200 km from the shores of the Persian Gulf in the southeast to the Taurus Mountains in the northwest. Syrian El Jazeera is a plateau with elevations up to 600 m, slightly inclined to the southeast. The northern, more elevated part of it has a predominantly undulating relief with a number of hills elongated from west to east (for example, Abd al-Aziz, 920 m, and the western part of the Sinjar ridge). The southern part of the Syrian El Jazeera is more depressed, with numerous depressions.

The climatic conditions of most of the Syrian El Jazeera are also quite harsh. Summer is very hot and dry. The average temperature in July is above +30 ", and the maximum temperature is above + 50. In winter, there are frosts (the average temperature
January + 6 "). There is little precipitation: 200 - 300 mm per year and only in the extreme northeast - 400 - 600 mm; they occur mainly in winter.
The surface of the desert is covered with gypsum-bearing and salt-bearing deposits, which greatly interferes with the growth of plants, and also hinders the agricultural use of these lands.

Many troubles for man and all living things in the desert are caused by storms that accompany the invasions of the winter shemal wind and the hot summer wind from the south, from the Arabian deserts. Few people easily tolerate this phenomenon. It plunges almost everyone into a depressing state.
Yellow, brown, thickening to black clouds of dusty particles rush over the surface of the earth at great speed, destroying rocks, carrying thousands of tons of sand and clay with them over long distances,
penitent even through closed windows and doors to houses.

The pastures of El Jazeera look different in all seasons. In the spring, after the winter rainy season, they are characterized by the lush development of plants: saxaul, camel's thorn, wormwood, sedge, bluegrass and other fodder grasses. By summer, the grass dries up, and does not impede the agricultural use of these lands.

The Euphrates crosses Syria from the northwest to the southeast, from the foot of the Taurus on the border with Turkey to the border with Iran.
com. Within Syria, the Euphrates flows in a deep and wide valley, cutting like a green ribbon into the gray and yellow expanses of the deserts. The speed of the flow of water in the river 1 - 1.5 m / sec. Rarely, only in winter, the Euphrates water is clear. In the rest of the year it is a stream saturated with clay. It is estimated that on average the Euphrates carries up to 15 million tons of solid particles per year. The river leaves most of them in the floodplain, some is redeposited in other places, while it often changes its course. Most fertile lands are located on river floodplain terraces. Only the lower part of the floodplain is unsuitable for cultivation, where flood waters linger for a long time. This part of the floodplain is covered with tamarisk tugai or reed thickets.

The extreme northeast of El Jazeera, which is foothill plain Taurus, as well as the western part of the plateau, located east of the Syrian mountains, are occupied by steppes. Unlike the rest of the plateau, these territories
The territories have fairly good soil and climatic conditions and water resources, for which they are called the "fertile crescent" zone.

The climate here is subtropical, with very hot summers (average temperature in July +28") and relatively warm winter(average January temperature +6). Annual precipitation in the northeast varies within 400 - 600 mm per year, in the western foothill plain - 300 - 600 mm. Rains usually fall in winter.
The northeast of this zone is irrigated by numerous tributaries of the river. Khabur, flowing down from the well-moistened Taurus Mountains. The main (western) part of the steppe zone is irrigated by the waters of the Orontes - a river with a significant runoff and an even regime. This area is rich groundwater, usually shallow.
The soils here are brown, brown and gray soils, mostly slightly saline and characterized by good moisture capacity and, if they are not depleted by plowing, high fertility.

The areas of the "fertile crescent" zone, covered in the past by the steppe with characteristic herbaceous and semi-shrub groups of feather grass, bonfire, astragalus, mallow and other plants, are currently heavily plowed. Arable lands occupy the plains, the foot of the rop, the gentle slopes of the hills; in some places the steeper slopes are terraced and also plowed up. Arable lands are found even on the tops of rocky hills.

Quite characteristic of Syria are oases where irrigated agriculture is carried out, the so-called guts. These are the green islands
sea ​​of ​​sands. The most famous of them is the Damascus Guta. In the past, this oasis occupied more space; now its dimensions are 12 x 25 km. Protected by mountains from the Arabian sands, fed by the waters of numerous branches of the river. Barady is an oasis with well developed horticulture and horticulture, Any description of Damascus from ancient times to
of our days begins with a description of the Guta. "Eye of the East", " God's gift"- about such epithets are awarded by its enthusiastic authors. But the testimony of the French researcher and writer Renan: "Everyone who sees the Guta with its orchards separated by water channels will feel a surge of joy and peace in himself." It was written in the 19th century, but one cannot but agree with this even now. Imagine a road laid through green thickets. Overhead, tree branches are tangled. Somewhere a ditch murmurs, and the sound of its jets merges with the singing of birds. All around - apple trees, apricots, plums showered with flowers compete with each other. with a friend in the brightness and richness of colors.And in the distance you can see a strip of mountains.

There is an oasis in Syria that gave shelter to the once famous Palmyra. It is located in the very center of the Syrian Desert, just halfway between the Orontes and the Euphrates, and owes its existence to the underground river Efka, which breaks out in one place to the surface. Mostly date palms and olives grow here. After many hours of travel, the view of palm groves makes an indelible impression, which is enhanced by the magnificence of the ruins of Palmyra.

According to the materials of the reference book "Countries and peoples".

The Syrian Arab Republic is located in Southwest Asia, or as it is commonly called, in the Middle East. Its territory is 185.2 thousand square meters. km (Golan Heights - about 1370 sq. km, occupied since 1967 by Israel).

In the north, Syria borders on Turkey (the length of the border is 845 km), in the west - on Lebanon (356 km) and Israel (74 km), in the east - on Iraq (596 km), in the south - on Jordan (356 km).

In the northwest, for 183 km, the country's territory is washed by the Mediterranean Sea. The maximum length from east to west is 793 km, from south to north - 431 km.

Most of Syria is an elevated plateau, the height of which ranges from 200 to 700 m above sea level. West Side The plateau has a rather pronounced mountainous relief. There are 2 ridges of mountain ranges here, separated by a longitudinal depression - the Syrian graben 15-20 km wide; the river El Asi (Orontes) flows along its bottom. One of these massifs, located in the west, is called Ansaria, highest point it reaches 1562 m. This array is almost parallel sea ​​coast countries.

To the east of the El-Gab depression, a group of mountain ranges Jebel Akard, Ez Zawiya, Jebel el-Sharki and others extend. The slopes of these massifs abruptly end in the direction of the El-Gab tectonic basin.

In the northeast direction, low ridges depart from the Jebel ash-Sharki mountain range, some of which reach the Euphrates. These are the so-called Palmyrene mountain folds.

The eastern, most of the territory of Syria, is occupied by a plateau with a height of 500-800 m. Its southeastern part is called the Syrian Desert (a plateau with a monotonous landscape, also extending into the territory of Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; its height above sea level is 650 m), and the northeast by the desert of Djedire. The surface of the desert is covered with a network of small valleys - wadis, often lost in vast depressions, in poorly defined folds of the relief. Groups meet on the plateau extinct volcanoes and separate flat-topped arrays. In the south-west of Syria, on the border with Jordan, the Ed-Druze massif stands out, in the current Syrian cartography called Jabal al-Arab. highest peak of this massif - Mount El Jaina reaches 1803 m.

Separated by mountain ranges from the interior of the country, the coastal plain, stretching from the Turkish border to Lebanon, is a narrow strip of land (no more than 32 km in its widest part), which in several places almost completely disappears with the direct access of the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea.

The climate of Syria is subtropical, Mediterranean type. In the Mediterranean region, the climate is maritime, with large quantity rainfall, in the center of the country - dry, continental. In the central part of the country, dry and hot summers give way to cold, harsh winters. There are sharp fluctuations in winter and summer temperatures, temperature fluctuations at night and during the day.

High average annual air temperature is typical for almost the entire country (for the Mediterranean coast + 19 degrees, the southeastern part of Syria - more than + 20 degrees, the rest of the + 15-20 degrees). Only in mountainous areas located at an altitude of more than 1000 meters above sea level, the average annual temperature does not reach +15 degrees.

Precipitation is distributed very unevenly throughout the country. Their greatest number is typical for Western and northern regions countries, and in the eastern and southern regions their number is drastically reduced. The greatest amount of precipitation is typical for the Mediterranean coast of Syria (600-900 mm per year, and on the slopes of the Ansaria mountain range - 1500 mm) and the mountainous regions of the country (over 1000 mm per year). In areas located inland, the amount of precipitation is reduced to 500 mm per year, because. mountain barriers prevent the penetration of moist sea winds there. On the steppe plateaus in the southeastern part of Syria, the amount of precipitation is reduced to 250-100 mm.

Syria is dominated by western and northwest directions that carry moisture from the Mediterranean. However, in spring, early summer and autumn, a hot wind, khamsin, blows from the Arabian Desert. It carries with it a huge amount of sandy dust and raises the temperature by 10-15 degrees.

The rivers of Syria mainly belong to the basins of the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. The largest river in Syria is the Euphrates (in Arabic - Shattel-Firat). It starts in Turkey and crosses the territory of Syria from the northwest to the southeast for 675 km, after which it heads to Iraq. The width of the Euphrates valley in Syria ranges from 4 to 15 km. In Syria, the Euphrates receives 2 left tributaries: Khabur (460 km) and Belikh (105 km). The water level in previous years was mostly unstable, there were frequent floods, especially during the snowmelt period. However, since 1973, the gigantic dam built with the assistance of the USSR has made it possible to regulate the flow of the river.

El Asi is the second largest river in Syria. It originates in Lebanon (in the Baalbek Mountains) and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Through the territory of Syria, El Asi flows for 325 km, crossing the country from south to north. This river is fed by mountain springs, melted snow and has significant water reserves. The waters of this river irrigate the fertile plains of Homs, Hama, El-Gab. In places the river forms lakes and marshes. Most large lake- Homs, swamps - Asharna and Gab.

On the Tigris River (in Arabic Ed-Dijla) for 50 km passes state border Syria with Turkey and Iraq.

In the south-west of Syria, the Barada River (71 km) flows, flowing into Lake Buhair al-Uteiba. The waters of the Barada River irrigate the territory of the Damascus Guta oasis, where the capital of Syria, Damascus, is located. Syria also owns the right bank of the Yarmuk River, which borders Jordan.