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By: Anna Miller. The Land. Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey. Syria is a flat desert plateau dissected by mountains. A narrow coastal plain fronts the Mediterranean Sea. Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates,
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The Land • Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey • Syria is a flat desert plateau dissected by • mountains. • A narrow coastal plain fronts the Mediterranean Sea. • Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Water Systems • The Euphrates and Khabur are the major rivers. • Dozens of much smaller rivers flow down into the central valleys.
*Mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) *Mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; *Cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus Climate Vegetation • woody vegetation
Wildlife • The mammalian wildlife of Syria includes the antelope, deer, wildcat, porcupine, squirrel, and hare. • Birds native to the country include the flamingo, pelican, bustard, ostrich, eagle, and falcon. • Lizards and chameleons are found in the desert.
Government Some Political Leaders • Population 18,448,800 Ali Habib, 66, chief of staff of the armed forces Maher Assad, 37, head of the Presidential Guard. • *Life expectancy • 70.9 years Assef Shawqat, 55, head of Military Intelligence Bashar al-Assad, 40, president **Government type: republic under military regime
History & Current Events • Syria became independent on Sept. 29, 1961, following a revolution. • Syria joined Egypt in attacking Israel in Oct. 1973 in the fourth Arab-Israeli War. • Current Event *US-Syria relations still mired in mistrust Mar 19, 2009 9:55 AM* • Under the Bush administration the relationship between the US and Syria was bad. Washington described Damascus as an outcast, imposed economic sanctions on the country, and recalled its ambassador. Now President Barack Obama wants to change this.
Culture • Clothing- Men traditionally wear long gowns called kaftans, and women wear long robes that leave only their hands and feet exposed. Both men and women wear head wraps. • Food -Wheat is the main crop and one of the staple foods. Vegetables, fruits, and dairy products are also eaten. Lamb is popular, but most people cannot afford to eat meat on a regular basis. Popular fruits that are grown in the region include dates, figs, plums, and watermelons. • Arabic is the official language
Culture cont… • Architecture- Houses are small, usually with one to three rooms, and are built around an enclosed central courtyard. Traditional rural houses in the northwest are mud structures that are shaped like beehives. In the south and east, most houses are made of stone. The nomadic Bedouin, who live mainly in the south and east, sleep in tents that are easily transportable. • Religion- 74% of the population is Sunni Muslim. 16% belong to Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects, and 10% is Christian.
Places to Visit The Dead Cities The Omayyad Mosque was constructed on the site of what has always been a place of worship: first, a temple for the Aramean god of the ancient Syrians three thousand years ago; then, a pagan temple during the Roman era. It was later turned into a church called John the Baptist when Christianity spread in the fourth century. The Dead Cities are a group of 700 abandoned settlements in northwest Syria between Aleppo and Hama. They date back to before the fifth century B.C and contain many remains of Christian Byzantine architecture.
Economy • Industry: Types--mining, manufacturing (textiles, food processing), construction, petroleum • Major Exports-: petroleum, textiles, phosphates, antiquities, • fruits and vegetables, cotton. • Literacy Rate:92.5% • The basic unit of currency is the Syrian pound
Anna Miller • Syria PowerPoint Questions • 1) What is the life expectancy in Syria? • a) 52 • b) 68 • c) 70.9 • 2) What is the main crop in Syria? • a) wheat • b) corn • c) beans • 3) The official language is… • a) Spanish • b) Arabic • c) Chinese • 4) What is a major river in Syria? • a) Euphrates • b) Nile • c) Mississippi • 5) What kind of vegetation do they have? • a) fruity • b) veggie • c) woody
Works Cited http://www.arab.de/arabinfo/syria.htm 2-26-09 http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/sy.htm 2-26-09 http://www.traveladventures.org/continents/asia/omayyad.shtml 3-18-09 http://www.ask.com/bar?q=what+are+traditional+clothing+in+syria%3F&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everyculture.com%2FSa-Th%2FSyria.html 3-20-09 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7949480.stm 3-20-09