Industry and mineral resources. Economy of Syria. Syria's place in the world economy Syria minerals map

Economic and geographical position of Syria

Note 1

The Syrian Arab Republic is located in the Middle East, South-West Asia.

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

The longest length of the state border of Syria is between Turkey (899 km) and Iraq (596 km).

The western shores of Syria are washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

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

There are also tense relations with Israel, whose existence 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 were also not always smooth.

In the 70s, 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 of Saudi Arabia, this problem was resolved.

Transport and its level of development play an important role in the development of the economy.

Transport in the country was poorly developed, and today, in wartime conditions, there is no need to talk about the development of transport infrastructure.

Before the war, the main role in cargo and passenger transportation was played by 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 roads reached 40 thousand km.

Despite the fact that railway 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. There was an international airport in Damascus that received modern airliners.

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

Pipeline transport was used for transit pumping of oil to the Mediterranean Sea. Oil was transported from Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

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

Beautiful Syrian cities received numerous foreign tourists.

Weapons are of particular importance for today's Syria. Liberated from ISIS (a terrorist organization banned in Russia), Syrian cities are beginning to live peacefully - they are restoring roads and rebuilding residential areas.

Note 2

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

Natural conditions of Syria

There are five natural regions within Syria:

1. Primorskaya lowland;
2. Western Mountain Range;
3. Rift zone;
4. Eastern Mountain Range;
5. Plateau of Eastern Syria.

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 lowland and the rift zone is the Ansaria mountain range, running from the coast of Turkey to the borders with Lebanon. Its average height reaches 1200 m, and the highest point is Nebi Younes (1561 m). Dropping 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.

To the north of the passage and east of the ridge, a rift zone stretches for 64 km. 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 Esh-Sheikh ridge - the mountain has the same name. These ridges 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 300 m lower than the southern part. To the east, the height of the plateau becomes lower from 750 m to 300 m in the Euphrates floodplain. Most of the plateau is covered with lava coarse material.

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

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 Range.

Although this time is the rainy season, there is very little rainfall. In eastern Syria, precipitation decreases to 500 mm per year. This is an area of ​​steppes and semi-deserts.

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

Humidity and temperature drop sharply after sunset. In winter, night temperatures drop below zero and frosts and precipitation in the form of snow are frequent in the northern part of the steppe zone.

Natural resources of Syria

The depths of Syria are not rich in mineral resources. Before today's events, the country was mainly engaged in oil production, large deposits of which are located in the far northeast.

Gas production activities have been intensified. Recoverable reserves of this fuel are estimated at 11 billion cubic meters. m.

The extraction of phosphates played an important role in the country's economy, the proven 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, and gravel.

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

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

The Tigris flows along the border with Iraq in the northeast. There are large lakes in the west.

The main soils are sierozems; they occupy most of the country. Chestnut soils occur in the north and west. The most fertile are the brown soils found on the lower slopes of the Ansaria ridge and the coastal lowlands. There are saline and gypsum soils.

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

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

Geographical position

Official name - Syrian Arab Republic . The state is located in the Middle East, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The length of the coastline is about 175 km. The country borders on 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 wet western part and a dry eastern part. In northwestern Syria there is a fertile coastal plain that extends 130 km from north to south along the Mediterranean coast.

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 country's territory is crossed by the Euphrates. A dam was built in the upper reaches of the river in 1973. It caused the formation of a reservoir, which is called El-Assad. This lake is about 80 km long and 8 km wide on average.

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

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 in the eastern regions to +12 °C on the coast. The average temperature in July ranges from +33 °C to +26 °C, respectively. The best time to visit the country is considered to be 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 occurs at the end of November - December and February - early March.

Visas, entry rules, customs rules

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

Visa documents must be submitted in person, through an authorized representative or through a travel agency. The visa is usually issued within 3-7 working days. But sometimes this process can take up to 10-14 business days. An application submitted by an unmarried woman under 35 years of age who is traveling unaccompanied by a man (brother, father) may be considered for a long time.
Initially, an entry visa is issued for a period of up to 14 days. You can extend your stay in the country to three months at the main office of the Syrian Immigration Department in Damascus. There is no fee for this. For tourist and transit visas, a consular fee of 20 US dollars is charged. It is paid at the consulate when submitting an application. In case of visa refusal, the fee is not refunded. Children who are included in the parent's passport are exempt from paying the consular fee.
You can obtain a tourist or transit visa upon arrival in the country at Damascus airport. This can also be done at any land border crossing with any of the neighboring countries. The exception is Israel, the border with it is closed.
When going through border control, you need to fill out an immigration card, which will need to be returned when leaving the country.
As proof of the purpose of the trip, you must have return tickets, or a visa to the country of final destination, an invitation from a Syrian travel agency or private individual, 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 exit from points bordering Israel (Aqaba, King Hussein Bridge in Jordan, Taba, Rafah, etc.).
Syrian border guards may be suspicious of a foreign passport received in Cairo or Amman.
Movement around the country is free. You can travel to the southwest of Syria, near the border with Israel, only with a special permit, which is issued in advance in the capital.
The import and export of foreign currency is limited to the amount of 5 thousand dollars. Money must be declared if the dollar equivalent of the imported amount exceeds 2000. The export of local currency is prohibited.
You can import small amounts of tobacco products, alcohol, perfume, personal items and gifts into the country duty-free.
It is prohibited to import weapons and ammunition, drugs, video and printed materials into the country that contradict Islamic norms and threaten public order.
Audio, video, television equipment and electronic devices must be included in the customs declaration. For televisions, a special form must be filled out. The gold import limit is 500 grams. The same amount of gold can be taken out of the country, but you will need to present receipts of purchase. Receipts will also be needed for the export of machine-made carpets, household appliances, antiques, crystal, etc. If there is no receipt, you will have to pay a tax of 10-25% of the value of the goods.
You should not bring into the country items that directly or indirectly indicate a visit to Israel.

Population, political status

The country's population is about 17.5 million people. Ethnic composition of the population: mainly Arabs (Syrians, tribal divisions are maintained), 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 legislative body is the People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab. It consists of 250 seats.
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 ("governor") and the equivalent municipality of Damascus.
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 Baath Party. His candidacy is nominated by this party, and then submitted by parliament to a popular referendum. The president is elected for a term of 7 years; there are no restrictions on the number of consecutive terms in power. The president of the country has the right to appoint the cabinet of ministers.
The president also determines the country's foreign policy 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.
The 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 authority.

What to see

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 “active” capitals of the planet. This city was first mentioned in chronicles in the 15th century. BC e.
It arose at the intersection of caravan routes and was a large trading center.
The "Old City" of Damascus is a unique site that was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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. Qasr al-Azem Palace was built in 1749. It was the residence of the Turkish Vali, 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.
The Takiya al-Sulaymaniyah Mosque, which dates back to 1554, is considered one of the most beautiful in the Arab world.
In Damascus, it is worth visiting the famous Souq al-Hamidiya with the caravanserai of Khan Asaad Pasha and the largest spice market, Bzuria.
Seyida-Zeinab is the tomb of the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, daughter of Caliph Ali. Seyida-Rukiya is the tomb of the granddaughter of Caliph Ali, daughter of Hussein. Many historical figures are buried at the Bab al-Saghir cemetery.
The Magarat ad-Damm cave is interesting because it was in it that Cain killed his brother.
There are many museums in the city, both private and public. It is worth visiting the National Museum, which is famous for its collection of unique exhibits of ancient civilizations from Mesopotamia to Phenicia and other interesting collections.
The Military Museum has one of the richest collections of ancient and medieval weapons in the world. Bimaristan is a hospital and medical academy of 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, Bukain, etc. 22 km away. from Damascus the Orthodox monastery of the Sednai Mother of God is located. It is famous for its miraculous icon, painted according to legend by St. Luke himself.
In the town of Maaloula, the convent of St. Thekla and the Church of St. Sergius or Mar Sarkis are interesting. Maaloula and 2 surrounding villages are the only place in the world where the language of Jesus Christ - Western Aramaic - is still spoken.
160 km. north of Damascus is Homs, which is famous for the Ibn al-Walid mosque 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 the structures here were built from black basalt. The main attraction of the city is 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 a magnificent theater that seats 15 thousand. In 1980, Bosra was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Aleppo (Aleppo) is the second largest city in the country and one of the oldest settlements on the planet. Its history goes back more than 5 thousand years. 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 are worth visiting here. Many of them date back to the 15th century. One of the attractions of this city is the old covered markets, which stretch for 12 km.
It is recommended to visit the Aleppo Citadel (12th 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 writings 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 decorated the portal of the 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, over a hundred settlements have been preserved, which date back to the 4th-6th centuries. Some of them are very well preserved.
Interesting are the dozens of palaces from different eras that are scattered throughout the desert areas around Aleppo.
The ancient dam at Kharbak is a majestic structure, a magnificent example of the irrigation systems of antiquity.
The city of Hama is located between Aleppo and Damascus. It is famous for its huge wooden water-lifting wheels "Norias", the diameter of which reaches 20 meters. They are the oldest mechanisms that still serve people. The mosques of al-Jami al-Kabir, Abu al-Fida and al-Nuri (12th century) and the Azem Palace (18th 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. first monarch of the Seleucid dynasty.
40 km. south of Aleppo you can visit the ruins of Ebla (Tel Mardih). This city was the capital of the state in the 2nd millennium BC. Here archaeologists discovered a palace library that contained over 17 thousand clay tablets.
Palmyra (Tadmor) is the capital of the ancient state. This city is located in the heart of the Syrian Desert. The first mentions of it are found in the 20th century BC. e.
Now there is a huge archaeological site here. Here you can see the temple complex of Bel (Baal), a large Colonnade, baths, the Senate, a 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.
The Palmyra Museum with its archaeological collection and the ruins of the Arab guard fortress of Kalat ibn Maan are also worth a visit. In 1980, all of 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 famous for the fact that St. Sergius was executed and buried here. Here you can see well-preserved ancient walls, part of the streets and large buildings, including the partially restored Basilica of St. Sergius and the Rasafa Palace.
The city of Kanavat (ancient Kanaf) is famous for its ruins of basilicas of the 6th century, 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 Hospitaller Order. It stands on a high hill in the Bukeya valley. This castle is known for its enormous size and original defensive structures. 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 Qala'at Salah ad-Din citadel is one of the most impressive crusader castles. 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 (Saladin).
Al-Markab (medieval Margat) is a huge crusader citadel made of black basalt. It is located above the ancient Phoenician seaport of Banyas, 6 km. southeast of the modern city. This huge structure has 14 towers and is located 500 m above sea level.
The coastal Syrian resorts of Syria are a popular destination. They are located on the hills and mountains along the sea coast. There is 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 (Côte d'Azur). 16 km. north of Latakia lies Ugarit (Ras Shamra) - the remains of a Phoenician city-state that flourished in the 16th-13th centuries. BC e. This city is considered the birthplace of the first alphabet in human history. Many ruins remain.
Recently, the development of two mountain resorts, Slenfe and Mashta al-Helu, which are located in the coniferous mountain forest zone, has been rapidly developing. Modern hotels were built here. Resorts such as Ras al-Bassit, Kasab, Salma, Draikish, etc. are also popular.

In the 3rd millennium BC. e. on these lands the Semitic city-state of Ebla was located; 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, local Hurrian tribes formed the state of Mitanni. In the 15th century BC e. Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose I came here.
In the period from the X to the VIII centuries BC. e. Damascus became the center of the powerful Aramaic kingdom. At the beginning of the 9th 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 began between them. The Assyrians managed to defeat the Syrian army, but were never able to take the city.
The Syrian king Hazael managed to retain the throne, but started a war with the Israelites. The Syrians practically made the Israeli king Jehoahaz a vassal. But in 802 BC. e. The Assyrians attacked Syria again. This time they captured and plundered Damascus. Hazael 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 to Syria. In 738 BC e. his troops captured 19 Syrian cities. Under these conditions, the rulers of Syria rallied around the new Damascus king Reason II. The king of Israel, Pekah, became his ally.
In 734 BC e. Tiglath-pileser III conquered Israel, and in 733 BC. e. The Assyrians took Damascus. The city was severely destroyed. 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. Later, Syria passed to Seleucus Nicator, under whom it reached its highest development.
But after his death, Syria was captured in 83 by Tigranes, king of Armenia. In 64, Pompey defeated Tigranes and made Syria a Roman province, annexing Judea. 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. Damascus served as the residence of the caliphs. The Crusades for 2 centuries led to constant military clashes in Syria. The Principality of Antioch was formed here, which was conquered by the Egyptian Sultan Saladin in 1187.
In 1260, the weakened Ayyubid state was captured by the Mongols, who were stopped by Mamluk forces led by Sultan Qutuz.
In 1517, Syria was conquered by the Ottoman Sultan Selim I. Its territory was divided into 4 provinces led by governors.
In the 18th century, French influence increased here. In the late 1850s and early 1860s. Bloody feuds broke out between the Druze and Maronites.
From Europe, through the Young Turk movement, ideas of nationalism penetrated into Syria. During World War I, Damascus was declared the seat of an independent government for all of Syria, which was perceived as a revival of the Damascus Caliphate.
Faisal I declared himself king of Syria. But behind his back, Britain agreed to give Syria to France in exchange for giving up the oil-rich Mosul region.
In 1920, France received a mandate to govern Syria. Her troops expelled Faisal. After the Uprising of 1925-27, France had to make concessions in matters of local government. In 1932, Syria was declared a republic (with the retention of the French mandate). In 1939, France granted Turkey the Syrian province of Alexandretta.
Syria received complete independence from France on April 17, 1946. The first president was the head of the colonial administration, Cuatli. The emergence of the State of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent Arab-Israeli War led to an acute political crisis. In 1949, three military coups took place in Syria.
In 1958, Syria attempted to unite with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic.
But in 1963, Syria came under the rule of the leaders of the Baath Party (Arab Socialist Renaissance Party) with an orientation towards total socialism.
During the reign of Hafez al-Assad, Syria sought to limit Israeli influence in the region. The Syrian Golan Heights came under Israeli control, but Syria gained almost complete political control over Lebanon, established during the civil war in that country. This was put to an end in 2005, Syrian troops were withdrawn from Lebanon.
After the death of Hafez al-Assad, his son, Bashar al-Assad, whose policy was more gentle, became the president of Syria.
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 food.
The main suppliers are: Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Italy, Egypt and the UAE.

The shops

The country's shops 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's good to shop at the markets, the best of which are located in Damascus and Aleppo. At the same time, you can bargain very effectively.
In Syria, you can purchase valuable products from local artisans made of wood, mother-of-pearl, leather, fabric and silver. Gold and silver jewelry, spices, silk scarves, wood products, olive oil, sweets, national costumes and sheep skins are brought from Syria as souvenirs and gifts.
It is almost impossible to pay in foreign currency. Only “duty free” stores work with currency. They are located not only at the airport, but also in other places.
Any product purchased from such a store must be taken out of the country and used only outside its borders. Typically, purchases are packaged in the store, labeled with the buyer's name, and delivered to the airport before departure.

Demography

The country's population continues to grow. Girls here get married early; on average, women give birth to 7 children.
The largest cities are Damascus and Aleppo.
The largest national minority is 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 1000 people. The mortality rate is 4.96 per 1000 people. Life expectancy for a man is 68.47 years, for a woman - 71.02 years.
The population density is 121.6 people per square meter. km.
The urbanization rate is 2.5% per year.

The average age of the population is 21.9 years.

Industry

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

Flora and fauna

The natural vegetation of Syria has been greatly altered by human activity. The Ansaria range in the west and the mountains in northern Syria were once covered with forests. Later they were replaced by secondary forests consisting of low-growing coniferous and deciduous species. In those coastal areas where agriculture was not developed, Mediterranean-type shrubs appeared.
In the west of the country, the mountain slopes are dominated by evergreen oaks, myrtle, laurel, magnolia, oleander, and ficus. There are groves of cypress, Lebanese cedar, Aleppo pine and juniper.
Plantations of sugar cane, tobacco and cotton stretch along the Mediterranean coast. Mulberry trees, figs, and citrus fruits are grown in the river valleys. Olives and grapes are grown on the gentle slopes. The fields are sown with wheat, corn and barley. Potatoes and vegetables are also grown.
Rice is grown under artificial irrigation conditions.
In deserts, only after rain do young shoots of grasses and low-growing shrubs and shrubs appear. They are represented mainly by saxaul, biyurgun, boyalych and wormwood.
The fauna is not particularly diverse. Among the predators, lynx, wild cat, fox, jackal, striped hyena, and caracal are sometimes found. A fairly large number of ferrets live in the steppes and semi-deserts.
Ungulates include antelope, wild ass, gazelle and onager. There are many jerboas in the country. Sometimes there are hedgehogs, squirrels, porcupines, and hares.
The most common reptiles are snakes, lizards, and chameleons. A variety of bird species live, especially in the Euphrates Valley and near water bodies: storks, flamingos, gulls, geese, herons and pelicans.
Larks, bustards, and sandgrouses are found throughout Syria. Sparrows and pigeons are common in populated areas, and cuckoos are common in groves. The predominant birds of prey are falcons, eagles, hawks and owls.

Banks and money

The most popular mode of transport in the country is buses. There is an extensive bus network that directly links local towns. You can also travel by bus to neighboring countries.
The buses are mostly modern and air-conditioned. But there are also many outdated cars, minibuses and minibuses. Usually buses have an unstable schedule, which is tied to the main flow of passengers. Outside the capital, most buses have route signs only in Arabic.
You can buy a ticket at the bus station or from the driver. It is inexpensive, but the buses are often overcrowded.
You can also use service minibuses. They follow established routes between all populated areas of the country.
Such cars can accommodate from 5 to 25 passengers and follow a strict schedule. They also operate on intercity routes. The price of the trip should be agreed upon in advance; you can bargain.
There are also railways in the country. Each train has a sleeping car. The fare is low.
It's even cheap to fly in Syria.
Tourists can also rent a car. It is best to do this in the offices of large international companies. The rent is quite high, and gasoline is also expensive.
To rent, you must have an international driver's license and local insurance, which is required for all road users. It can be purchased at customs or at local travel agencies and car clubs.
The country's main highways are in good condition. Most road signs are written in Arabic only; in some cases they are written in English, but the spelling may be incorrect.

Minerals

Syria is not particularly rich in mineral resources. Oil is produced in the country. The largest deposits are located in the extreme northeast of the country.
The largest oil refining complexes were built in Baniyas and Homs.
Syria is the largest producer of phosphorites. Their deposit is being developed in the Khneifis area. Most of the production is 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, and basalt. Table salt is being mined.

Agriculture

Agriculture accounts for about 30% of national income. Only a third of the country's territory is suitable for agriculture. Currently, Syrian agriculture is experiencing some growth 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 content. Fruits, tobacco, olives, and cotton are grown on these lands. In the El Asi River valley, a variety of crops are cultivated under irrigated conditions. The semi-arid highlands stretch from the Golan Heights and Damascus to the Turkish border. A significant portion of Syrian wheat and barley is produced here, and cotton is irrigated. The Euphrates Valley also has fertile lands. You should not refuse the offered coffee or any treat. It is forbidden to walk around worshipers in front. When entering mosques and residential buildings, you must remove your shoes. Women should not wear off-the-shoulder or low-cut clothing.
In Syria, it is prohibited to photograph government institutions, palaces, military and transport facilities. In Christian churches, you must ask for permission to film. You are not allowed to take photographs in mosques. You cannot photograph local women without permission. It is better to always carry documents with you.
Under no circumstances should you engage in political discussions with local residents, especially on the topic of Israel and the events in Hama.
A handshake is usually used for greeting, and it is very important to greet everyone greeting. When shaking hands, you do not need to look your interlocutor in the eyes, keep your other hand in your pocket, or swing it vigorously.
Good friends symbolically kiss three times. As a sign of gratitude, local residents touch their forehead and heart area with their palm. There is a very complex system of gestures. Therefore, you should not actively gesticulate, otherwise you may accidentally offend the locals.
European gestures that are familiar to us may turn out to be simply indecent according to local norms. But restraint in gestures can also be regarded as displeasure with something.

Healthcare

Tourists must obtain international medical insurance to enter the country. It is also recommended to be 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 the most modern equipment and highly qualified doctors.
Medical care is free. First aid and going to the clinic are free. But foreign citizens have to pay for other cases of visiting doctors.
Almost all medical staff speak English or French, many also speak Russian. Most hospitals in the periphery are private. Before treatment, you must confirm your solvency.
In public hospitals the level is no lower, and sometimes even higher, than in private ones.
Tap water is usually chlorinated. Outside the main cities, drinking water is poorly purified. It is best to drink bottled water.
The milk is not pasteurized and requires processing. Meat and fish can only be consumed after proper heat treatment. Vegetables from street stalls must be scalded with boiling water, and fruits must be peeled.
Many local dishes may seem unusual to our stomachs.
The country has high solar activity. You need to use sunburn creams and drink plenty of fluids. A hat and sunglasses are required.
It is better not to be on the street from 11.00 to 14.00 during the day.

General information

Official name - Syrian Arab Republic. The state is located 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 area is 185,180 km2. Population - 22,457,336 people. (as of 2013). The official language is Arabic. The capital is Damascus. The currency is the Syrian pound.

The Syrian Mediterranean is a stark contrast to the rugged nature of much of the country. On the coast, the climate is subtropical Mediterranean: damp, mild winters (average January temperatures are about +12°C) and dry summers (+26°C in July). The climate of the mountainous region of Syria is moderately warm. In winter there are frosts in the mountains and snow falls. The climatic conditions of the Syrian desert are characterized by large seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations. In winter, the temperature at night can drop to -10°C, and during the day rise to +20°C. Frequent sandstorms in the desert are accompanied by incursions of the winter shemal wind and the hot summer wind from the south, from the Arabian deserts.

Story

Phenicia, Assyria, Mesopotamia, the Hittite Empire, Babylon, Persia, Rome, Byzantium, Byzantium and the Arab Caliphate - these names constantly flash in the description of the events that took place in Syria. The campaigns of Alexander the Great, the battles of the crusaders with Sapaddin (Salahad-Din), the conquests of Timur - all this is directly related to Syria. The Syrian lands are also mentioned in the Bible according to legend; Adam and Eve lived here; here they show the place of the murder of Abel and the grave of King Nimrod, the grandson of Ham, who started the construction of the Tower of Babel. Here, in Damascus, the Pharisee Saul, the future Saint Paul, was healed of blindness by Saint Ananias and accepted Christianity.

The famous French archaeologist Andre Parrot (1901-1980), who devoted many years to excavations in Syria (Marie, 1933-1968), is credited with the phrase: “Every cultured person has two homelands - his own and Syria.” But in 1961, summing up his excavations in Marie, Parro recklessly wrote: “Really, it is unlikely that we will be able to make discoveries that will surpass those already made.”

Already in 1964, Italian archaeologists led by Paolo Mattie began to explore a hill located 60 km from Aleppo. This is how the state was opened, whose influence in the 25th-23rd centuries. BC e. spread throughout Syria, reaching the Sinai in the south, the Mediterranean coast in the west, and the interfluve of the Tigris and Euphrates in the east.

In 1968, the name of the state of Ebla was revealed. And in 1974, the first tablets with cuneiform texts were found, written in the ancient Canaanite language, which presumably became the basis for the emergence of the Amorite, Ugaritic, Phoenician and Hebrew languages.

In 1975, the largest royal archive known so far from the 3rd millennium BC was found. e. more than 20 thousand cuneiform clay tablets.

This discovery revealed a culture to the world that became the basis for subsequent civilizations in Syria.

Diplomatic documents, chronicles, royal decrees, military reports, court verdicts, descriptions of rites and rituals, texts on agriculture and animal husbandry, lists of animals, fish, geographical names, literary and historical texts, dictionaries, teaching aids, trade reports, lists of goods Ebla Library has become a real encyclopedia of the life of the great state that existed more than four thousand years ago.

It turned out that previous ideas about Syria as a territory located in the 3rd millennium BC. e. influenced by neighboring brilliant cultures and inhabited mainly by pastoralists, are completely incorrect.

The rulers of Ebla signed treaties with ancient Assyria on equal terms, traded with Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Iran; the Ebla documents mention the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It turned out that a school of scribes operated in Ebla, a state monopoly on trade in precious metals, wood, textiles and pottery was introduced, and a system of state control over the quality of goods was created. A special service informed traders where their goods were needed and informed about the situation with sales and supply. By the way, Ebla turned out to be not even a monarchy, but a kind of “presidential republic” - the king was elected here for a seven-year term.

An obituary for this unique state was written by Naramsuen, king of Akkad and Sumer, around 2250 BC. e. he erected a monument with the inscription: “Naram-suen, the mighty conqueror of Ebla, which no one had been able to conquer before.”

Sights of Syria

The history of civilization in Syria began “from the plow”: the territory of modern Syria is part of the so-called Fertile Crescent - a region of the Middle East, where the first centers of ancient agriculture and cattle breeding and the first urban cultures arose in the Stone Age.

In 2008, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) unveiled a plan to include the Middle Eastern areas known as the Fertile Crescent as a World Heritage Site. Many scientists believe that the biblical Garden of Eden was located in the Fertile Crescent. According to UNESCO, the Fertile Crescent may be included in the list of World Heritage Sites in 2011.

The complex of monuments left by history to Syria is treated with due respect in this country - restoration is carried out, museums and scientific research are supported, international archaeological expeditions have been working here for many years.

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is one of the oldest cities in the world. The age of the first mentions of it is approximately four and a half thousand years. The entire Old City of Damascus is included in the World Heritage List as a unique object. It still preserves its ancient layout. Midhat Pasha Street was once called Via Rekta - Straight Street. It still crosses the city from east to west. It was on this street that the future Apostle Paul, who had become blind on the road to Damascus, was brought to a certain Judas. The Chapel of St. Ananias, where the first Christians once gathered, has been preserved and today belongs to the Franciscan monastic order.

When Caliph Al-Walid I took away the Church of St. John the Baptist from the Christians, he returned the Chapel of St. Ananias to the community as compensation. And on the basis of the Temple of John the Baptist, one of the most magnificent mosques in the world was built - the Umayyad Mosque. The Caliph ordered the head of John the Baptist, kept in a Christian church, to be placed in a marble tomb in a separate chapel, where Christians still go to pray.

IN National Museum In Damascus, famous frescoes depicting biblical scenes from the synagogue of the ancient city of Dura-Europos are kept, which today are the pearl of the museum’s collection. These 3rd-century frescoes, in which biblical figures are depicted in Greek, Roman and Parthian clothing, confirm that not all Jewish communities observed the prohibition against depicting people.

The richest collection of objects from excavations in Syria in the National Museum includes the world's first alphabet, created in the city-state of Ugarit, which existed in the 2nd millennium on the Mediterranean coast, in Northern Syria.

Excavations at Ugarit showed that this highly developed trading civilization knew how to build magnificent palaces, which even had running water, toilets and sewers, and the furniture was inlaid with gold, lapis lazuli and ivory. Finds from Ugarit are presented in the National Museum in the hall of Ancient Syria.

Constantly ongoing archaeological excavations in Syria are bringing new fundamental discoveries. Thus, the state of Qatna (halfway between Aleppo and Damascus), which existed 3,500 years ago and created beautiful examples of architecture and jewelry, has recently been returned to the history of mankind. Syrian, German and Italian archaeologists continue to explore ancient Qatna.

Syrian Cuisine

Syrian cuisine is a combination of a huge number of different ingredients. This diversity has historical and geographical background. But the real secret of national Syrian cuisine is the joy of sharing a meal and the festive atmosphere of every, even the simplest, everyday feast.

Every meal for the residents of this country is an excellent opportunity to meet with family or friends. According to a long-standing tradition, participants in the meal are seated on cushions or a low bench around the table. Syrians prefer silence to too lively conversation at the table. But after the meal comes time for tea and conversation.

Syrian cuisine is famous for its skillful use of a variety of herbs, spices and herbs, as well as the excellent olive oil that is added to many dishes. The cuisine of Syria combines the culinary traditions of Arab, Caucasian and Aramaic peoples. In addition, Mediterranean influence can be noted.

The usual Syrian breakfast is bread, sheep cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives. Often, eggplant with walnuts or even lentil soup are prepared for breakfast. The appetizers, or mezze, come in a variety of varieties, but they are popular in all parts of the country.

Here are some of them:

Baba Ganoush, or eggplant paste with tomatoes and onions; spread on a flatbread; - kebbe, that is, minced lamb balls fried in oil with the addition of wheat, pine nuts and pomegranate; - khommus - pea puree mixed with tahina, garlic and lemon juice; - mutabal is a paste reminiscent of Baba Ganoush, but with a thicker consistency; In addition to eggplant, yogurt and olive oil are also added to it; - tabbouleh, for which you take coarse wheat, tomatoes, parsley, mint leaves, sesame seeds, garlic, lemon and olive oil; - fattoush - similar to tabbouleh, but served with crispy croutons.

The appetizer is served with bread, with the help of which sauces or even pieces of meat are sometimes taken. Syrian spiced bread is very tasty.

And of course, Syrian baklava (pictured)! The first mention of it dates back to the 15th century, but, of course, it was prepared before, and the tradition of making a special thin dough originated with the Assyrians. Not a single festive feast in Syria is complete without baklava.

Syria on the map

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Story Syria (Arabic: سوريا / Suriya, English: Syria) dates back more than five thousand years - it is a connecting link for three continents, the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations. This country never ceases to interest archaeologists, scientists, and tourists. The very first traces of humans on the territory of what is now the SAR (Syrian Arab Republic), discovered in the area of ​​Latakia and the Orontes River, are estimated to be about a million years old. In the Euphrates Valley, there is a significant part of those places where people switched from a nomadic lifestyle to agriculture. Syria's favorable geographical position at the junction of three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa - has contributed to the development of trade and the prosperity of cities at all times.

In the VI century. BC. the entire territory of Syria is part of the ancient Persian kingdom of the Achaemenids, and after its defeat in 333 BC. The Greek-Macedonian army entered the empire of Alexander the Great. Covering not only Syria, but also a number of other countries in Western Asia, North Africa and even Europe, the Arab conquest led to the emergence of the Arab Caliphate. , which fell into the hands of Arab conquerors in 635, became the capital of the first of the Arab dynasties - the Umayyads, and Syria - their crown province.

At the beginning of the 15th century. Syria was subjected to a short (less than a year) but extremely devastating invasion by Tamerlane. In 1516, after the battle in the town of Marj Dabiq, Syria became a province of the Ottoman Empire. Turkish rule, which lasted four centuries, left a heavy mark on the history of Syria, contributed to the decline of its economy and culture, and the impoverishment of the population. In September 1918, an anti-Turkish uprising began in southern Syria, and by the end of 1918 the Ottomans were expelled from Syria. Troops entered Damascus, the capital of Syria, under the command of Emir Faisal ibn al-Husseini, who was proclaimed King of Syria in 1920, but was forced to leave the country in the same year. Syria and Lebanon were placed under the mandate of France, which established a colonial regime. After the Syrian national uprising of 1925-27. France changed its apparently colonial methods of government.

From January 1944, the mandate officially ended and the country was formally declared independent. Syria became a member of the UN, and in March 1945 it was one of the initiators of the creation of the League of Arab States. The day of evacuation of foreign troops from Syria on April 17, 1946 is celebrated annually in the country as a national holiday.

With The modern flag of Syria (العلم السوريا) first appeared in 1958 and was used for three years during the period of the United Arab Republic (two stars representing Syria and Egypt). It became a national symbol again on May 30, 1980.

Green is the color of Islam; red - the blood of martyrs; black - dark colonial past; white is the color of the world.

Geography

Syria is a state in the Middle East, bordered by Lebanon and Israel to the southwest, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east and Turkey to the north, directly adjacent to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with a coastline of 173 km. The total length of the borders is 2414 km. The area of ​​the state is 185,180 km (86th place in the world). The territory of the state is very heterogeneous. The northwestern territories bordering Turkey are occupied by mountain spurs Taurus. The coastal zone is a rift zone, with the Al-Ghabb depression running parallel to the coast, through which the second largest river in Syria flows. Al-Asi(Orontes). On the coastal side, the depression is framed by the Jabal al-Nisairiya mountain range, dividing the country into a wet western part and an arid eastern part. The fertile coastal plain is located in northwestern Syria and stretches 130 km from north to south along the Mediterranean coast from the Turkish to the Lebanese border. Almost all of the country's agriculture is concentrated here. The highest point in Syria is Jabal Al Sheikh, mentioned in the Bible as Mount Hermon. To the south of the mountains lies the Syrian Badiyat Ashsham Desert, along with the oasis of Palmyra in the northern part of this arid region.

Population

With a population of 19,405,000, Syria ranks 55th in the world (at the beginning of 2008). The average population growth rate of the country is 2.5%, which is 6 times higher than in EU countries. The majority of the Syrian population consists of Arabs(87.8% of the total population). About 400 thousand people are Palestinian Arabs - refugees of 1947 and 1967. Of the national minorities, the most numerous are Kurds (10% of the population) and Armenians (more than 200 thousand). In addition, Aisors (Assyrians), Turkmens, Circassians, and Jews live in Syria. The bulk of the population is concentrated on the coast, along the banks of the Euphrates, mountain slopes, in intermountain basins and in the western part of the eastern plateau. The highest population density is typical for the regions of Damascus and Latakia.

Language

Modern Arabic literary- the official language in Syria and in 21 other states with a total population of about 330 million people. Arabic is one of the six working languages ​​of the UN. In all Arab countries, along with the official - classical language ( fusha - الفصحى), used in the media and government agencies, in everyday life everyone speaks the local dialect.

Religion

In the minds of most Russians, Syria is a distant Muslim country, no different from other states in the Arab world. But this is far from true. There are virtually no religious conflicts in the country. The vast majority of the population does not accept religious intolerance. Here, any citizen is first of all a Syrian, and only then a Muslim or Christian. Syria was once a generally Christian country, but today the majority of its inhabitants profess Islam However, the Constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens and equal protection to all religions. 89% of the believing population profess Islam (including 79% Sunnis, 8% Alawites, 2% Druze belonging to Shiite sects), the rest are Christians.

Connection

In recent years, the number of mobile phones, the GSM standard network is developed everywhere. There are two cellular operators in Syria - MTN(yellow signs) and Syriatel(red signs). For a stay of more than a week in Syria, it is recommended to purchase a SIM card from a local operator. You can purchase it at any mobile phone store. To do this, you need a copy of your passport, a form indicating the names of your parents and, don’t be surprised, a thumbprint. All incoming calls are free. Communication with Russia is carried out using code 007 - city code or mobile. operator - phone number (or +7), communication within the country through 0, similar to our 8. Internet. The Internet is widespread in Syria almost everywhere. Internet cafes and computer clubs offer the use of the Internet (sometimes not very fast), scanning and printing services for documents. There are sites that are closed for access, for example Youtube, Facebook. Prices vary from 60 liras in ordinary cafes to 650 liras in expensive hotels per hour of work.

Time

In Syria, time is one hour behind Moscow. The entire country is in the same time zone. Syria, like Russia, switches to summer time.

Details Category: Western Asian countries Published 11/21/2013 10:59 Views: 10823

Civilization arose here in the 4th century. BC. According to Karl Baedeker, the German founder of the publishing house of guides to various cities and countries, the capital of Syria, Damascus, is the oldest existing capital in the world.

Modern state Syrian Arab Republic borders Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. It is washed in the west by the Mediterranean Sea.

State symbols

Flag– The modern flag of Syria was reintroduced in 1980. This flag was previously used by the United Arab Republic.
The colors of the flag are traditional for the flags of Arab countries. The two stars stand for Egypt and Syria, two nations that were part of the United Arab Republic. Green is the color of the Fatimids (dynasty of Muslim caliphs from 969 to 1171), white is the color of the Umayyads (dynasty of caliphs founded by Muawiyah in 661), black is the color of the Abbasids (the second (after the Umayyads) dynasty of Arab caliphs (750-1258) and red represents the blood of martyrs; also red is the color of the Hashemite dynasty and was added when Sharif Hussein joined the Arab Revolt in 1916.

Coat of arms- represents a golden “hawk of the Quraish”, which has a shield on its chest, twice cut into scarlet, silver and niello with two green five-pointed stars one above the other in the middle (the colors of the flag of Syria). In its paws the hawk holds a green scroll on which the name of the state is written in Arabic: الجمهورية العربية السورية‎‎ (al-Jumhuriyya al-Arabiya al-Suriyyah). On the tail are two diverging green wheat ears.

State structure of modern Syria

Form of government- parliamentary republic.
Head of State- the president. Elected for 7 years, the number of consecutive terms in power is not limited.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Official language– Arabic. The most common languages ​​also include Kurdish, Armenian, Adyghe (Circassian) and Turkmen. Among the foreign languages, the most popular are Russian, French and English.
Capital- Damascus.
Largest cities– Aleppo, Damascus, Homs.
Territory– 185,180 km².
Population– 22,457,336 people. About 90% of the country's population are Syrian Arabs (including about 400 thousand Palestinian refugees). The largest national minority is the Kurds (9% of the Syrian population). The country's third largest ethnic group is the Syrian Turkmen, followed by the Circassians; there is also a large community of Assyrians in the country.
Currency– Syrian pound.
Economy– the most developed industries: oil, oil refining, electric power, gas production, phosphate mining, food, textile, chemical (production of fertilizers, plastics), electrical engineering.
Only a third of Syria's territory is suitable for agriculture. Cotton, livestock products, vegetables and fruits are produced.
Political instability, fighting and trade and economic sanctions imposed on Syria have led to a deterioration in the Syrian economy.
Export: oil, minerals, fruits and vegetables, textiles. Import: industrial products, food.

Damascus University

Education– in 1950, free and compulsory primary education was introduced. Currently, there are about 10 thousand primary and more than 2.5 thousand secondary schools in Syria; 267 vocational schools (including 107 women's), 4 universities.
Textbooks in secondary schools (under the rule of B. Assad) are provided free of charge up to grade 9 inclusive.
Damascus University was founded in 1903. It is the leading institution of higher education in the country. The second most important is the university in Aleppo, founded in 1946 as the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Damascus, but in 1960 it became an independent educational institution. In 1971, Tishrin University was established in Latakia. The youngest university was founded in Homs - Al-Baath University. A large number of Syrians receive higher education abroad, mainly in Russia and France.

Syrian landscape

Climate– arid, subtropical Mediterranean, in the interior – continental.
Administrative division– Syria is divided into 14 governorates, the head of which is appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs after the approval of the cabinet. Each governorate elects a local parliament.
Golan Heights. The territory of the Golan Heights makes up the Syrian governorate of Quneitra, with its center in the city of the same name. Israeli troops captured the Golan Heights in 1967, and the region was under the control of the Israel Defense Forces until 1981. In 1974, the UN Emergency Force was deployed here.
In 1981, the Israeli Knesset adopted the “Golan Heights Law,” which unilaterally declared Israeli sovereignty over this territory. The annexation was declared invalid by the UN Security Council Resolution of December 17, 1981 and condemned by the UN General Assembly in 2008.

In 2005, the population of the Golan Heights was approximately 40 thousand people, including 20 thousand Druze (an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious group in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel), 19 thousand Jews and about 2 thousand Alawites (a number of Islamic religious movements, branches or sects). The largest settlement in the area is the Druze village of Majdal Shams (8,800 people).
Syria and Israel are de jure in a state of war, since a peace treaty between these countries has not yet been signed.
Religion– approximately 86% of the population of Syria are Muslims, 10% are Christians. Of the Muslims, 82% are Sunnis, the rest are Alawites and Ismailis, as well as Shiites, which is constantly increasing due to the flow of refugees from Iraq.
Among Christians, half are Syrian Orthodox, 18% are Catholics.

There are significant communities of the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox churches.
Currently in Syria, Iraq and other countries there are people who want to create a split between Sunnis and Shiites.

Sunnis- the most numerous movement in Islam. Sunni theologians (ulema), unlike Shiite theologians, do not enjoy the right to make their own decisions on the most important issues of religious and social life. The position of a theologian in Sunnism comes down primarily to the interpretation of sacred texts. Sunnis place special emphasis on following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (his actions and sayings), on loyalty to tradition, on the participation of the community in choosing its head - the caliph.
Shiites- a branch of Islam that unites various communities that recognized Ali ibn Abu Talib and his descendants as the only legitimate heirs and spiritual successors of the Prophet Muhammad. A distinctive feature of the Shiites is the belief that the leadership of the Muslim community should belong to imams - appointed by God, chosen persons from among the descendants of the prophet, to whom they include Ali ibn Abu Talib and his descendants from the daughter of Muhammad Fatima, and not elected persons - caliphs.
Russia is concerned about attacks on Christian minorities in Syria.
Chapel of Saint Ananias in Damascus
Armed forces– includes the Ground Forces, the Air Force, the Navy and the Air Defense Forces. The supreme commander of the armed forces is the president.
Sport– the most popular are football, basketball, swimming and table tennis.

Syrian culture

Syria, as the oldest state in the world, is the cradle of many civilizations and cultures. Ugaritic cuneiform and one of the first forms of writing, Phoenician (XIV century BC), originated here. Syrian figures, scientist Antiochus of Ascalon, writer Lucian of Samosata, historians Herodian, Ammianus Marcellinus, John Malala, John of Ephesus, Yeshu Stylite, Yahya of Antioch, Michael the Syrian, contributed to the development of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine cultures.

Lucian of Samosata in his satirical writings he ridicules social, religious and philosophical prejudices, as well as other vices of his contemporary society. His essay “The True Story,” which describes a journey to the Moon and Venus, influenced the development of science fiction.

John Chrysostom. Byzantine mosaic

John Chrysostom(c. 347-407) - Archbishop of Constantinople, theologian, revered as one of the three Ecumenical saints and teachers, along with Saints Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian.
St. John Chrysostom. Byzantine mosaic
Christian theologians Pavel Samosata, John Chrysostom, Ephraim the Syrian, and John of Damascus are also known.
In the 12th century. In Syria, the famous warrior and writer Osama ibn Munkyz, the author of the autobiographical chronicle “The Book of Edification”, a most valuable source on the history of the Crusades, lived and worked.

Old houses in Damascus

The city of Damascus was one of the world centers for the production of bladed weapons, the famous “Damascus steel”.
In modern Syrian society, special attention is paid to the institution of family and religion and education.
Modern life in Syria is intertwined with ancient traditions. In the old quarters of Damascus, Aleppo and other Syrian cities, living quarters are preserved, located around one or more courtyards, usually with a fountain in the center, with citrus orchards, vines, and flowers.
The most famous Syrian writers of the 20th century: Adonis, Ghada al-Samman, Nizar Qabbani, Hannah Mina and Zakaria Tamer.

Adonis (Ali Ahmad Said Asbar) (b. 1930)

Syrian poet and essayist. Lived mainly in Lebanon and France. The author of more than 20 books in his native Arabic, he is considered the most significant representative of the New Poetry movement.

Nizar Qabbani (1923-1998)

Syrian poet, publisher, diplomat. One of the most significant Arab poets of the 20th century. He is one of the founders of modern Arabic poetry. Qabbani's poems are mostly written in simple language, often reflecting the realities of the Syrian colloquial language contemporary to the poet. Qabbani published 35 collections of poetry.
Cinema in Syria not very developed, it is completely in the hands of the state. On average, Syria produces 1-2 films per year. Films are often censored. Famous directors include Amirali Omar, Osama Mohammed and Abdel Hamid, Abdul Razzak Ghanem (Abu Ghanem), etc. Many Syrian filmmakers work abroad. But in the 1970s, Syrian-produced series were popular in the Arab world.
Together with the Syrian film studio “Ghanem Film”, feature films were shot in the USSR and Russia: “The Last Night of Scheherazade” (1987), “Richard the Lionheart” (1992), “Destroy the Thirtieth!” (1992), “Angels of Death” (1993), dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad, “Tragedy of the Century” (1993), “The Great Commander Georgy Zhukov” (1995), etc.

Nature

There are five natural regions on the territory of Syria: the Maritime Lowland, the Western Mountain Range, the Rift Zone, the Eastern Mountain Range, and the Eastern Syrian Plateau. The country is crossed by two large rivers: El Asi (Orontes) and Euphrates. Cultivated lands are mainly in the western regions - the coastal lowland, the Ansaria Mountains and the valleys of the El Asi River, the Euphrates and its tributaries.

Euphrates River

The natural vegetation of Syria has changed significantly. In the distant past, the Ansaria range in the west and the mountains in the north of the country were covered with forests.
In Western Syria, the least disturbed habitats on mountain slopes are dominated by evergreen oaks, laurel, myrtle, oleander, magnolia, and ficus. There are groves of cypress, Aleppo pine, Lebanese cedar, and juniper.

Magnolia flowers

Along the Mediterranean coast there are plantations of tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane. Figs, mulberries, and citrus fruits are grown in the river valleys, and olives and grapes are grown on the gentle slopes.

Olive Tree

Corn, barley, and wheat are sown in the fields. Potatoes and vegetables are also grown. In the north and partly on the eastern slopes of the Ansaria and other ridges and in the low mountains of the interior parts of the country, typical legume-cereal steppes are common, which serve as a fodder base for grazing livestock (mainly sheep). Wheat and barley, cotton are grown in the fields, and rice is grown under artificial irrigation conditions.
In deserts, the landscape comes to life only after rain, young shoots of grasses and low-growing shrubs and shrubs appear: saxaul, biyurgun, boyalych, wormwood. But even such poor vegetation cover is enough to feed the camels that are bred by the nomads.

Animal world Syria is not very diverse. Among the predators one can sometimes find a wild cat, lynx, jackal, fox, striped hyena, caracal, in the steppes and semi-deserts there are many ferrets, and among the ungulates there are antelope, gazelle, and wild donkey onager.

Wild donkey onager

Jerboa rodents are numerous. Sometimes there are porcupines, hedgehogs, squirrels, and hares. Reptiles: snakes, lizards, chameleons. The bird fauna is diverse, especially in the Euphrates Valley and near water bodies (flamingos, storks, gulls, herons, geese, pelicans).

The country is home to larks, hazel grouses, bustards, sparrows and pigeons in towns and villages, and cuckoos in groves. Birds of prey include eagles, falcons, hawks, and owls.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Syria

Old city in Damascus

Damascus has seven surviving city gates in the Old City wall, the oldest of which date back to the Roman period:
Bab el-Saghir (“Small Gate”) - behind the gate there are historical burial places, in particular, 2 wives of the Prophet Muhammad are buried here
Bab el-Faradis ("Heaven's Gate")
Bab el-Salam ("Gateway of Peace")
Bab Tuma (“Gate of Thomas”) - the name goes back to the name of the Apostle Thomas, leads to the Christian quarter of the Old City

"Gate of Thomas"

Bab Sharqi ("Eastern Gate")
Bab Kisan - built during the Roman era, were dedicated to the god Saturn. According to legend, the Apostle Paul fled from Damascus through them
Bab al-Jabiya

Old town in Bosra

Bosra- a historical city in southern Syria, an important archaeological site. The settlement was first mentioned in documents from the times of Thutmose III and Amenhotep IV (XIV century BC). Bosra was the first Nabatean city in the second century BC. e. The Nabatean kingdom was conquered by Cornelius Palma, Trajan's general, in 106 AD. e.

Under the rule of the Roman Empire, Bosra was renamed Nova Traiana Bostrem and became the capital of the Roman province of Arabia Petra. Two early Christian churches were built in Bosra in 246 and 247.
Subsequently, after the division of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern, the city came under the rule of the Byzantine Empire. The city was finally conquered by the army of the Arab Caliphate in 634.
Today Bosra is an important archaeological site, containing ruins from Roman, Byzantine and Muslim times, as well as one of the best preserved Roman theaters in the world, which hosts a national music festival every year.

Archaeological sites of Palmyra

Palmyra(Greek “city of palm trees”) - one of the richest cities of late antiquity, located in one of the oases of the Syrian Desert, between Damascus and the Euphrates.
It was a transit point for caravans crossing the Syrian Desert, which is why Palmyra was nicknamed the “bride of the desert.”
Currently, on the site of Palmyra there is a Syrian village and the ruins of majestic buildings, which are among the best examples of ancient Roman architecture.
Several cities in the United States are named after Palmyra. St. Petersburg was poetically called the northern Palmyra, and Odessa - the southern.

Old town in Aleppo

Aleppo (Aleppo) is the largest city in Syria and the center of the country’s most populous governorate of the same name.
For many centuries, Aleppo was the largest city in Greater Syria and the third largest in the Ottoman Empire, after Constantinople and Cairo.
Aleppo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world; it was inhabited already by the 6th century. BC e.

Castles Krak des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah ad Din

Krak de Chevalier, or Krak de l'Hospital– fortress of the Hospitallers (a Christian organization whose purpose was to care for the poor). One of the best preserved Hospitaller fortresses in the world.

Citadel of Salah ad-Din- a castle in Syria, located in the highlands, on a ridge between two deep ravines, and is surrounded by forests. The fortification has existed here since the middle of the 10th century.
In 975, the Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimiskes captured the castle; it remained under Byzantine control until approximately 1108. At the beginning of the 12th century. The Franks took control of it, and the castle became part of the newly formed Crusader state - the Principality of Antioch.
The castle is currently owned by the Syrian government.

Ancient villages of Northern Syria

All that remains are the ruins of 40 settlements, which are grouped into 8 groups.

Other attractions of Syria

Umayyad Mosque

Also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus. Located in the Old City of Damascus, it is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. It is considered by some Muslims to be the fourth holiest site in Islam.

Nimrod Fortress

A medieval fortress located in the northern part of the Golan Heights, at an altitude of about 800 m above sea level.

Qasioun Mountains

Mountains overlooking the city of Damascus. The highest point is 1151 m. On the slopes of Qasiun there is a cave about which there are many legends. It is believed that it was here that the first man, Adam, was expelled from paradise. Medieval Arabic history books say that Cain killed Abel in this place.

National Museum in Damascus

The museum was founded in 1919. It displays exhibits of the history of Syria from prehistoric times to the present. The museum houses contemporary works by artists from Syria, the Arab world and other countries.

Chapel of St. Paul (Damascus)

Built in honor of the Apostle Paul, who preached in Damascus.

Mountain hills of Syria

The country has very beautiful landscapes: rocky mountains, green valleys, deserts and mountain peaks forever covered with snow.

History of Syria

Ancient history

The history of Syrian civilization dates back to the 4th century. BC e.
Eblaitic (an extinct Semitic language) is the oldest known Semitic language. More than 17 thousand clay tablets in this language, dedicated to crafts, agriculture and art, have been found. Among the leading crafts of Ebla are the processing of wood, ivory, and pearls.

Ebla clay tablet

During the period between the invasion of the Canaanite tribes and the conquest of Syria in 64 BC. e. During the Roman Empire, its territory was under the rule of the Hyksos, Hittites, Egyptians, Arameans, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, ancient Macedonians, the Hellenistic power of the Seleucids, and the Armenian Empire of Tigran II the Great.
From the 16th century BC e. in the south of Syria there is a city of Damascus, originally subordinate to the Egyptian pharaohs.
According to the Bible, Paul accepted the Christian faith on the road to Damascus, and then lived in Antioch, where the disciples of Christ first began to be called Christians.

Islam in Syria

Islam took hold in Syria in 661, when Damascus became the capital of the Arab Caliphate under the Umayyads. Damascus became the cultural and economic center of the entire Arab world already in the 8th century. being one of the largest cities in the world. In 750, the Umayyads were overthrown by the Abbasid dynasty, after which the capital of the Caliphate moved to Baghdad.
From 1517, Syria became part of the Ottoman Empire for 4 centuries.

Syrian Arab Kingdom

It was formed shortly after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War, which collapsed. In 1920, the Syrian Arab Kingdom was founded with its center in Damascus. But Syria's independence did not last long. Within a few months, the French army occupied Syria, defeating Syrian troops in the Battle of Maysalun Pass. In 1922, the League of Nations divided the former Syrian possessions of the Ottoman Empire between Britain and France. Great Britain received Jordan and Palestine, and France received the modern territory of Syria and Lebanon (“League of Nations Mandate”).

French Mandate

In 1940, France was occupied by German troops and Syria came under the control of the Vichy Regime (governor General Denz). Vichy mode- a collaborationist regime in Southern France during the occupation of Northern France by Nazi Germany after defeat at the beginning of World War II and the fall of Paris in 1940. Existed from July 10, 1940 to April 22, 1945. Officially adhered to a policy of neutrality. Nazi Germany, having provoked the rebellion of Prime Minister Geilani in British Iraq, sent units of its air force to Syria.

Charles de Gaulle - eighteenth President of France

In 1941, with the support of British troops, Free French units led by generals Charles de Gaulle and Catroux entered Syria during a bloody conflict with Dentz's troops. General de Gaulle indicated in his memoirs that the events in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon were directly related to German plans to invade Greece, Yugoslavia and the USSR, as they had the task of diverting the Allied armed forces to secondary theaters of military operations.
On September 27, 1941, France granted independence to Syria, leaving its troops on its territory until the end of World War II. On January 26, 1945, Syria declared war on Germany and Japan. In April 1946, French troops were evacuated from Syria.

Independent Syria

The president of independent Syria was Shukri al-Quatli, who fought for the country's independence under the Ottoman Empire.

Shukri al-Quatli

In 1947, a parliament began to operate in Syria. After Syria gained independence, attacks on Syrian Jews intensified and their businesses were boycotted. The new government banned emigration to Palestine, and the teaching of Hebrew in Jewish schools was limited. On November 27, 1947, the UN decided to divide Palestine, and in connection with this, Jewish pogroms took place in Syria. Pogroms continued in 1948 and in subsequent years, as a result of which Jews were forced to almost completely flee Syria to Israel, the United States and South American countries; currently less than 100 Syrian Jews live in Damascus and Lattakia.
In 1948, the Syrian army took a limited part in the Arab-Israeli war started by the Arab League, after which a state of emergency was declared in the country. Colonel Husni al-Zaym came to power, abolishing the 1930 constitution, banning political parties and subsequently proclaiming himself president. He did not enjoy the support of the people and was removed after 4 months by his former comrades. Executed on August 14 near Damascus.
The civilian regime was restored by Colonel Sami Hinawi, but was soon removed by military leader Adib al-Shishakli. On September 5, 1950, a new constitution was proclaimed, according to which Syria became a parliamentary republic, but already in November 1951, the constitution was suspended and the country's parliament was dissolved. In 1953, Shishakli promulgated a new constitution and became president after a referendum.

President Adib al-Shishakli

In February 1954, a military-civil coalition led by Hashim Bey Khalid Al-Atassi came to power in the country, returning the 1950 constitution. In 1954, following the election results, the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party received the majority of seats in parliament, demanding radical changes in industry and agriculture. In the elections in 1955, Shukri al-Quatli was elected president of the country with the support of Saudi Arabia.
On March 15, 1956, an agreement on collective security against possible Israeli aggression was concluded between Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

United Arab Republic

On February 22, 1958, Syria and Egypt united into one state - the United Arab Republic, with its center in Cairo. Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser became president, but Syrians held many important positions until Nasser dissolved all Syrian political parties. On September 28, 1961, a coup d'etat took place in Damascus under the leadership of a group of officers, Syria again declared independence. Nasser did not resist. The OAR lasted only 3.5 years.

Confrontation between Syria and Israel

Between 1962 and 1966 There were 5 coups in Syria, when the nationalization of the main sectors of the economy was carried out and cancelled.
In 1967, the Six Day War occurred. The Golan Heights were occupied by Israel. Israeli air strikes caused enormous damage to the economy. The government was unable to ensure the restoration of industry, and anti-government protests began. In November 1970, Saleh Jedid's group was removed from power. Syria became the main ally of the Soviet Union in the Middle East. The USSR provided Syria with assistance in modernizing its economy and armed forces.
In 1973, Syria, along with other Arab states, began the Yom Kippur War; military operations on the Syrian front were fierce, especially the battle for Quneitra, called the “Syrian Stalingrad.” El-Quneitra was held, but the Golan Heights remained with Israel. By decision of the UN Security Council at the end of the war in 1973, a buffer zone was created separating Israel and Syria. The Golan Heights are currently controlled by Israel, but Syria is demanding their return.
In 1976, at the request of the Lebanese government, Syrian troops entered the country to stop the civil war. The war ended in 1990, when Lebanon established a government that maintained friendly relations with Syria. Syrian troops left Lebanon only in 2005. Syria supported Iran in the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988.
After the death of Hafez al-Assad, who had led the country for almost 30 years, on June 10, 2000, his son Bashar al-Assad was elected president.

Bashar al-Assad

Civil War

Riots and revolutions in the Middle East have spread to Syria. Demonstrations began with demands to change the existing regime. The country's leadership made serious changes: it repealed the state of emergency law, laws on the media and political parties, and adopted democratic reforms.
In 2013, there were street battles with the use of heavy weapons in several large cities of the country, including the capital. More than 500 thousand Syrians have fled their country as a result of the fighting. Refugees find shelter in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.
Currently, the civil war in Syria is being fueled by some Western countries.
Russia voted against the draft resolution “The situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic.” It was co-authored by a number of countries, including the UK, France, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. 123 countries supported the adoption of the project, 46 countries voted against.
“The proposed draft resolution acts contrary to the logic of the political-diplomatic settlement, placing the main responsibility for what is happening in the country on the government, while not it, but the foreign opposition needs to be pushed to start negotiations with the authorities,” the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized.