Syria Lebanon Jordan Cyprus Palestine Israel

Author: Zhou Min
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-04-01
Features: Syria: Area 185,180 square kilometers (including the Golan Heights). Located on the western continent, along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Lebanon and Palestine to the southwest. Cyprus is visible 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 Sheik Mountains in the southwest are the highest peak in the country. The Euphrates River flows through the east, into Iraq and the Persian Gulf, while the Asi River runs through the west, into Turkey and 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 national language, with English and French widely spoken. 85% of the population are Muslim, and 14% are Christian. Among Muslims, Sunni Muslims account for 80% (approximately 68% of the national population), while Shia Muslims account for 20%. Within the Shia, Alawites make up 75% (approximately 11.5% of the national population).