Often people wonder where Syria is. Just open the map and carefully search. Syria is a country located in West Asia, bordering Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Israel. Its western part is washed by the Mediterranean Sea. The territory of the state rises above sea level by 200-700 meters. Coordinates: 35 ° 18′00 ″ s. w. and 38 ° 38′00 ″ in. d.
Brief characteristics of Syria
The area of the country is 185.2 thousand km, the population is 18.5 million people (according to 2015), of which 90% are Syrians (Arabs), 9% are Kurds living in rural areas and leading a nomadic way of life, 1% - Armenians living mainly in the city of Aleppo. For people who find out where Syria is located, their specific way of life immediately becomes clear. At the head of state is the president, elected for 7 years. Arabic is the official language. The main religion is Islam, the number of believers is 90% of all living in this country.
The population of Syria is mainly concentrated near the Mediterranean coast. The climate here is closely related to the location of the state. It is Mediterranean, subtropical, with prevailing evergreen vegetation. There are many beaches throughout the coast. Their coverage, as a rule, is pebble or sand. Especially beautiful is the beach of Wadi al-Kandil with volcanic black sand. The eastern part of the country has a very arid climate. Steppes and deserts prevail here, the annual amount of precipitation does not exceed 150 mm, and the summer temperature is usually about 40 degrees. The western and eastern parts of the country are divided by Mount Ansaria.
History
The country of Syria has been known since the most distant times. The history of the birth of the state dates back to BC. And its capital - the city of Damascus - is one of the oldest cities in the world, which is famous for the manufacture of the world famous damask steel. In Syria, one of the oldest types of writing was born - the Phoenician. On the territory of the country there are a large number of cultural and historical sites, for example, the Basilica of St. Zachariah, located in Damascus or the largest ancient theater in the city of Bosra.
Syrian science and art at one time made a huge contribution to the development of not only Arab, but also Byzantine and Roman culture. The state is divided into 14 administrative districts, which are called governorates. One of them, Kuneitra, has been under Israeli occupation since 1973. In this regard, it is forbidden to appear on the streets of Syria with symbols and things related to the invading country.
Kitchen
Constant questions about where Syria is located are also related to their excellent cuisine. Everyone wants to come here to taste the most delicious dishes. The population adheres to the Arab, Caucasian and Aramaic traditions. A distinctive feature in cooking is the use of a large number of spices, olive oil, dairy products. Syrians do not eat pork and alcohol, as this prohibits Islam. To the most common dishes is the Hobz flat cake, which has a fresh taste and is used with almost all dishes. The most popular dessert is baklava.
Lifestyle Features
When finding out where Syria is located, it is necessary to remember that the state has a very strange way of life, which seems traditional to the local population of the country. That is why visitors from Europe should be very careful and study in advance all the necessary rules of behavior:
- The country is completely banned from smoking, and this even applies to traditional hookahs.
- Women should not walk down the street in short skirts and dresses; in the country there are many places where young ladies are strictly forbidden.
- It is forbidden to go around the praying person in front.
However, despite such harsh concepts, the Syrians are distinguished by hospitality. This is mainly due to the location of the state. After all, to survive in a harsh desert without mutual assistance is simply impossible.