Syria is a country in the Middle East, bordered by Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel, with a short coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. It is known for its extraordinary ancient history, lying at the crossroads of some of the world's earliest civilizations. Syria is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ancient city of Palmyra and the old city of Aleppo.
- Capital
- Damascus
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Western Asia
- Area
- 185,180 km²
- Coordinates
- 35° N, 38° E
Country facts
- Arabic is the official language of Syria, with Kurdish, Armenian, and Aramaic also spoken by minority communities.
- The Euphrates River flows through northeastern Syria and has supported human settlement in the region for thousands of years.
- Syria was part of the Roman Empire and retains impressive Roman ruins, including the ancient theater at Bosra.
- The Syrian pound is the country's official currency.
- Syrians are known for a rich culinary tradition that includes dishes such as kibbeh, fattoush, and baklava, which have influenced food across the Middle East.
Capital facts
- Damascus is widely regarded as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of settlement dating back thousands of years.
- The Umayyad Mosque, built in the early 8th century, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world and stands at the heart of the old city.
- The Souq al-Hamidiyya is a famous covered marketplace in Damascus that has been a center of trade for centuries.
- Damascus sits in an oasis called the Ghouta, fed by the Barada River, which helped sustain the city through antiquity.
- The old city of Damascus was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 in recognition of its outstanding historical architecture and urban fabric.