Syria Lebanon Jordan Cyprus Palestinian territories Israel map (China-foreign comparison)

Author: Zhou Min, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Syria: Area of 185,180 square kilometers (including the Golan Heights). Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in western Asia. It borders Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Lebanon and the Palestinian territories to the southwest. It faces Cyprus across the Mediterranean to the west. The coastline is 183 kilometers long. Most of the territory is a highland sloping from northwest to southeast. It is mainly divided into four zones: western mountains and intermontane valleys; the Mediterranean coastal plain; the inland plain; and the southeastern Syrian Desert. The Sheikhan Mountains in the southwest are the highest peak in the country. The Euphrates River flows through the east, into Iraq, and then into the Persian Gulf. The Asi River runs through the west, into Turkey, and then into the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal and northern regions have a subtropical Mediterranean climate, while the southern regions have a tropical desert climate. The seasons are distinct, with less rainfall in winter in the desert areas and dry, hot summers. Population: 18.392 million (2002). Over 80% are Arabs, with other ethnic groups including Kurds, Armenians, Turkmen, and Circassians. Arabic is the official language, with English and French widely spoken. 85% of the population are Muslim, and 14% are Christian. Among Muslims, Sunni Muslims constitute 80% (approximately 68% of the national population), while Shia Muslims make up 20%. Within the Shia, the Alawite sect accounts for 75% (approximately 11.5% of the national population).