Official Name: Syrian Arab Republic Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey. Capital: Damascus Area: total: 185,180 sq km land: 184,050 sq km water: 1,130 sq km Lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m. Highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m.

Takiyyeh As-Sulaymaniyyeh Mosque, Built By Sinan (1553), Damascus, Syria More pictures Purchase this poster

Population: 19,314,747 (July 2007 est.) Nationality: Syrian(s) Ethnic groups: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%. Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo). Languages: Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood.

Mostly desert. Hot dry sunny summers from June to August and mild rainy winters from December to February along the coast. Cold weather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus

Government type: Republic under military regime since March 1963 Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) National holiday: Independence Day, 17 April (1946)

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