Capital: Damascus

Area: 185 18000 square kilometers.

Population: 654.38+0.99 million (2007)

Ethnic composition: Syria is a multi-ethnic country, with Arabs accounting for more than 80%, Kurds, Palestinians, Turkmen, Armenians and others.

Language: Arabic is the national language, and English and French are widely used.

Currency: Syrian pound

National Geographic

Syria is located in the west of the Asian continent and on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Turkey in the north, Iraq in the southeast, Jordan in the south, Lebanon and Palestine in the southwest, and Cyprus across the sea in the west. On the whole, the territory of Syria inclines from northwest to southeast, which can be divided into five topographic regions: mountains, plains and deserts. Sheikh Peak in the southwest is 28 14 meters above sea level, which is the highest peak in China. Grassland and desert cover more than half of the country. The main river in Syria is the Assi River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea from the western mountainous area via Turkey. The Euphrates River flows through the central plain and flows into the Persian Gulf through Iraq. The largest lake is Lake Assad. Mineral resources mainly include oil, natural gas, phosphate and iron. The coastal and northern regions of Syria belong to the subtropical Mediterranean climate, while the southern region belongs to the tropical desert climate. The average annual precipitation in the southern coastal area is more than 1000 mm, while that in the southern area is only about1000 mm.

The origin of Syrian names

The word "Syria" means "highland" Arabs also call this area "Sham", which means "Left". It means "North". This is based on the fact that Mecca was the center and Syria was the north in the early Arab Empire. Syria is therefore called the country of the north. Furthermore, Syria was called Suriston in ancient times, which means "the capital of roses".

"City of Paradise": Damascus

Damascus is the capital of Syria and one of the oldest cities in the world with a history of more than 4,500 years. The 7th century AD was the cultural and commercial center of the Arab Empire. The ancient Arabic book says: "If there is a heaven on earth, Damascus will be in it;" If heaven is in the sky, Damascus is as famous as it is. "Now it is an important political, economic and cultural center, railway, highway and aviation hub of China. The main industries are textiles, food, soap, leather, cement and so on. There are famous Damascus University and Damascus Museum in the city. Places of interest include mosques, ancient castles and ancient city gates.

Archaeological site of Baal Milla

Located in Homs province in central Syria, it is located in an oasis on the edge of the desert between the Euphrates River and the Eastern Mediterranean. It is a famous ancient city on the ancient Silk Road. Visitors can get a glimpse of the grandeur of Baal Milla from the remains of ancient buildings. Two rows of colonnades with a total length of 1600 meters are located on both sides of the main street, and various patterns are carved on the stone pillars.

Knight of Fort Clark

Fort Clark Knight is located on the top of the volcanic rock Clark at an altitude of 750 meters, commanding and controlling the passage from the Mediterranean Sea to the Buga Plain. The terrain is dangerous, although there is some damage inside. But the original appearance is roughly there. It has a history of 900 years. Built in the Crusader era, this bunker, which can accommodate 2,000 people, was later expanded between 1 150~ 1250, and it was almost intact. Clark Knight Castle is an Arabian Crusader Castle, dating back to12nd century. After the Crusaders occupied the castle, it was renamed Clark Castle.

The castle experienced three earthquakes, but it was quickly restored after each earthquake. This castle can accommodate 2000 knights, horses and armory. Between castles, lights serve as signals to communicate with nearby castles. There are 265,438+0 pools for collecting rainwater in the basement of the castle, and there are aqueducts to take water from nearby water sources. During the Ottoman Turkish Empire, due to the invention of guns. The castle has lost its defensive function and is no longer important. Some residents here live in it. During the French rule, the army was stationed in the camp. 1946 Syria became an important tourist attraction after its independence.