Damascus is the capital of the Syrian Arab Republic. It is a country with an area of 185,188 km2. Syria's neighbors; Cyprus by sea, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey are neighbors. It is one of the Middle Eastern countries. In southwest Asia, it is the heart of the Middle East.
Syria is a country of physical differences and contrasts. One third of the country is covered by desert or bare mountains, one third is unfavorable meadows and the remaining one is arable land. Syria is generally very poor in terms of natural resources. Petroleum is the most important underground source. Gypsum and basalt (volcanic stone, black marble) are also obtained. The other minerals found are: phosphate, lead and copper. The coastal areas of Syria are covered with greenery and trees. The mountainous regions are generally bare and some of them are covered with undersized weeds.
Syria's climate is; It is damp and extremely hot in the summer. In winter, there are frequent fog events and the region receives plenty of rainfall.
Syria's Currency: Syrian Pound.
Syria's Telephone Code: +963
Important Cities of Syria
The largest and most developed city is Damascus. Other important cities are Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Latakia.
Economy of Syria
Syria's economy is based on agriculture. Forests, mines and vegetation are relatively low, so they are economically backward. The main agricultural products are; Barley, wheat, oats, millet, corn, vegetables, fruits, tobacco and sugarcane. In some regions, cotton and olive cultivation are also carried out. Also camels, sheep, goats and cattle are grown.
Syria is the second developed country after Egypt in the Arab world. Major industry branches are; cotton and silk fabrics, woolen fabrics, cement, edible oils, tobacco, inlaid and embroidered furniture articles, silverware, oil industry, textile, glassware, sugar and brass instruments.
In the mine, phosphate is removed. Its oil is limited. It also earns income from oil pipelines flowing from Iraq to the Mediterranean. Imports are mostly from Iraq, Italy, Germany and France.
The country's exports are only half of its imports. Syria usually sells its products to Italy and Romania.
In the last years, Syria's foreign trade is mostly directed towards communist countries. Thus, countries such as Cuba and China have also participated in the countries of import and export. There are also commercial relations with Syria, Turkey and Japan.
The main export products of
Syria are crude oil, cotton, textile products, live animals, animal products and cereals. Spice Seeds, Pure Olive Oil, Apples and Pears, Raw Cotton.
The major import products of Syria include
Textile products, solid fuels, machinery, construction materials, metals, chemicals, motor vehicles and tobacco. Raw Sugar, Seed Oils, Cars, Flours of Wheat.
Countries Exported by Syria
Italy, Romania, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia
Countries Imported by Syria
Cuba, China, South Korea, Egypt, Japan, Iraq, Italy, Germany and France.
Nations Living in Syria
Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, Circassians, Syrians and Turkmen. The largest group is the Kurds, except for the Arabs.
Languages spoken in Syria
The mother tongues are Arabic, Kurdish, Syriac, Turkmen and small ethnic groups.
The Official Language of Syria is Arabic.