Syria Geography: Location, Borders & Key Facts

Geography of Syria Browse the article Geography of Syria

Introduction to Geography of Syria

Syria, or Syrian Arab Republic, one of the countries of the Middle East in southwestern Asia. It lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea and occupies part of the ancient Fertile Crescent, a center of early civilization. Syria borders largely on Turkey, Iraq, and Jordan, but also adjoins Israel and Lebanon.

Facts in brief about SyriaCapital: Damascus.Official language: Arabic.Official name: Al-Jumhuria Al-Arabia Al-Suria (The Syrian Arab Republic).Area: 71,498 mi2 (185,180 km2). Greatest distances—east-west, 515 mi (829 km); north-south, 465 mi (748 km). Coastline—94 mi (151 km).Elevation: Highest—Mount Hermon, 9,232 ft (2,814 m) above sea level. Lowest—sea level along the coast.Population: Current estimate—20,423,000; density, 286 per mi2 (110 per km2); distribution, 50 percent urban, 50 percent rural. 2002 official government estimate—16,924,000.Chief products: Agriculture—cotton, wheat, barley, milk, grapes, sugar beets. Manufacturing—textiles, fertilizer, petroleum products, cement, glass, processed foods. Mining—petroleum, phosphates.National anthem: "Humata al-Diyari" ("Guardians of the Homeland").Flag: Syria's flag, adopted in 1980, has three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black (top to bottom) that are traditional Arab colors. Two green stars appear in the center of the middle white strip. The coat of arms is a hawk with a shield of the Syrian flag. The bird was the emblem of the tribe of Muhammad, the founder of Islam.Money: Basic unit—Syrian pound (also called lira). One hundred piasters equal one pound.

Facts in brief about Syria

Physical Geography

Syria is a country at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.Land

Syria consists of two general regions—a narrow mountainous belt in the west and a large plateau area in the east.

The western region begins at a narrow coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea and rises gradually in the Nusayriyah Mountains to elevations of some 4,000 to 5,000 feet (1,200 to 1,500 m). Between this range and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, which rise to the south, is a relatively flat region known as the Homs Gap. For centuries traders and invaders have crossed this region to penetrate Syria's interior. In the Anti-Lebanon Mountains is Mount Hermon. At 9,232 feet (2,814 m), it is Syria's highest peak.

The plateau region begins just east of the mountains and spans the rest of the country. In general it is a dry land, with extensive areas of level to rolling terrain. Grassy plains and sparsely covered steppes prevail along the northern and western margins; the rest is occupied by the virtually barren Syrian Desert. In several areas, particularly the central section and the southwest, are low mountain ranges, among them the Abu Rujmayn, Ruwaq, and Druze Mountains. There are also large lava flows, especially in and around the Druze Mountains in the southwest.

Water

Syria is located in one of the drier parts of the world and has few rivers and no natural lakes. All of Syria's major streams, including the Euphrates, Syria's largest, originate in Turkey. Water diversion projects in Turkey involving these streams, especially the Euphrates, have caused tension between Syria and Turkey. In the extreme northeast, beyond a plains region known as Al Jazirah, the Tigris River forms a small section of Syria's border with Turkey. In the west the chief river is the Orontes, which follows a marshy, flat valley between Lebanon and Turkey, east of the Nusayriyah Mountains. Several other rivers, though short, are important because they carry water from the mountains to nearby plateau cities and oases, including Damascus and Aleppo—Syria's two largest cities. The Syrian Desert has only dry watercourses called wadis.

Climate

The Mediterranean coast has a mild climate, much like that of southern California. Inland, the climate is more varied. Summers there are hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching 100° F. (38° C.). Winters are moderately cold, with occasional frosts at night.

Rainfall is relatively abundant only along the coast and in the adjoining mountains. High elevations receive as much as 30 to 40 inches (760 to 1,020 mm) of precipitation, including some snow, annually. East of the mountains—throughout the plateau—rainfall is scant and declines from about 15 to 20 inches (380 to 510 mm) a year in the northern plains to less than 5 inches (130 mm) a year in the desert. Almost all of the rain falls during the winter months. The total amount varies greatly from year to year.

Economy

Despite periods of political instability and enormous military expenditures, Syria has greatly strengthened its economy since the early 1950's. It has moved in successive stages from a centuries-old system controlled by powerful families with vast holdings toward a planned, largely socialist economy. Syria's first five-year plan began in 1961 and others followed. The country has received much financial aid from other Arab countries, which are among Syria's main trading partners. Other major trading partners include Germany, Italy, and France.

Probably the greatest change has occurred in agriculture, the principal sector of the economy. Large estates have been broken up and sold to former tenants and farmworkers. Syria's irrigated area has been greatly increased, much wasteland has been reclaimed, and new agricultural machinery and techniques have been introduced. In other sectors of the economy, including manufacturing and banking, nationalization has been widespread.

One of the greatest development projects was the building of the Euphrates Dam, completed in 1975 with the assistance of the Soviet Union. It supplies large amounts of hydroelectric power, conserves water, and makes extensive irrigation possible.

Although the economic changes have been disruptive and only partly successful, many Syrians are beginning to enjoy an improved standard of living. Many others, however, especially those in rural areas and villages, are still impoverished and live in a way that has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

Agriculture

About 40 per cent of Syria's workers are engaged in farming. Much of the cultivated land lies in the west, between Damascus, Aleppo, and the Mediterranean coast. Other agricultural areas include the Euphrates and Khabur valleys and the extreme northeast, where dry farming is practiced. Nearly 20 per cent of the farmland is irrigated; irrigation is slowly being expanded. The Syrian Desert has little or no agricultural value except for nomadic herding.

Cereals, primarily wheat and barley, are the most widely grown and abundantly produced crops. Fruits, led by grapes and olives, rank second. Also grown in large amounts are sugar beets, tomatoes, potatoes, and other vegetables. Cotton is the leading industrial crop and the most valuable agricultural export. Most of it is grown in the Orontes, Euphrates, and Khabur valleys.

The raising of livestock, partly for export, is important. Sheep, valued for wool, hides, meat, and milk, are the most numerous animals; goats rank second. Both can be raised on land too rough or too dry for the growing of crops.

Manufacturing

The ancient crafts, such as metalworking, leatherworking, and the handweaving of textiles, are still practiced, and they account for many of the items sold in local markets. They are, however, of secondary importance compared with modern manufacturing, which is still relatively limited by Western standards but is developing. Most of the large manufacturing concerns are owned and operated by the government. Textile manufacturing, especially of cottons, and the processing of foods are the major industries. Others include petroleum refining and the making of tobacco products, cement, glass, plastics, and a variety of consumer goods, such as soap, shoes, apparel, refrigerators, and television sets. Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hamah, and Latakia are the chief industrial centers.

Other Industries

Petroleum, phosphate rock, asphalt and rock salt are produced in Syria. Petroleum, the nation's leading export, comes from a number of oil fields and is brought westward by pipeline to Homs for refining and to Tartus for export. Most of the nation's power requirements are met with domestically produced petroleum and the Euphrates Dam. Syria's fishing industry is small.

About 40 percent of Syria's workers are employed in service jobs, in such areas as government, teaching, medicine, and tourism.

Transportation

Syria's road and railway systems are most heavily concentrated in the west, where they run generally north-south. Syrian Arab Airlines is the national airline. Major airports are at Damascus and Aleppo. Latakia is the chief general-cargo port; Baniyas and Tartus are mainly petroleum ports.

In addition to the pipelines from Syria's own oil fields, there are two foreign pipelines, both crossing the country on the way to the Mediterranean—one from Iraq and one from Saudi Arabia. Except when the pipelines are closed by war in the Middle East, their transit royalties contribute substantially to Syria's economy.

The People

Most Syrians call themselves Arabs. However, they are descendants of many peoples who have lived in or passed through the region. About 10 per cent of the people are members of minority ethnic groups including the Kurds, Armenians, and Circassians. Because of a greater availability of water, most of the people live in the western part of Syria.

Arabic is the official and the most used language. Among the ethnic groups retaining their own languages are Kurds, Armenians, and Circassians. Syriac, a form of Aramaic, survives in some remote areas.

Most Syrians are Muslims of the Sunnite branch. Minority Muslim groups include Shiites, Alawites, Ismailis, and Yezidis. About 10 percent of Syria's people are Christians, most of them affiliated with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Protestant churches. Among smaller groups are Druses and Jews.

Syria has an overall literacy rate of about 80 per cent, but literacy is lower among women and in rural areas. For children, six years of primary education are compulsory, if available, beginning at age six. Public schools are supplemented by private and religious schools. Secondary education lasts six more years, divided into two three-year cycles. Institutions of higher education include universities at Damascus, Aleppo, Latakia, and Homs, as well as professional and technical institutes, all government-run.

Syria's rich cultural heritage reflects its midpoint location between Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was the site of very early human habitation, and several of its museums specialize in archeology. The National Museum in Damascus has exhibits of the ancient and medieval civilizations of the region. Modern Syrian culture is based on the Islamic faith and Arab tradition.

Government

Under the constitution of 1973, the government is headed by a president, elected for a seven-year term. The president is assisted by a vice president, premier, and ministers, all appointed by him. The People's Council is an elected one-house parliament. The constitution declares Syria to be a socialist state. It does not designate the state as Islamic, but specifies that the president be a Muslim.

The judicial system is based on French, Ottoman, and Islamic jurisprudence. The Supreme Constitutional Court decides questions of constitutionality. The Court of Cassation is the highest court of appeals for most matters.

Syria maintains a large army and air force and a small navy. Military service is compulsory for men, making practical a large militia organization. The civil police forces are also under military control.