Syria

Middle East
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey.

35 00 N, 38 00 E

President Bashar al-Assad	Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari

Capital
Damascus

Government
Presidential single party republic

Religion
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo).

Population
22,198,110

Ethnic group
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%.

National Language                   
Arabic
          
National Day
17 April 1946 (from French)

Anthem
Homat el Diyar (Guardians of the Land)

Currency
Syrian pound (SYP)

Attractions
Aleppo Citadel,  Bosra Amphitheatre,  Damascus Old City & Umayyad,  Hama Water Wheels,  Ma'aloula Mountain Town,   Roman Ruins,  Palmyra 

Website 

Art & Cultural

The ICON

The Umayyad Mosque The Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus , located in the old city of Damascus, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. It is considered the fourth-holiest place in Islam. After the Arab conquest of Damascus in 634, the mosque was built on the site of a Christian basilica dedicated to John the Baptist (Yahya) since the time of the Roman emperor Constantine I. The mosque holds a shrine which today may still contain the head of John the Baptist, honored as a prophet by both Christians and Muslims alike. There are also many important landmarks within the mosque for the Shī‘ah, among them the place where the head of Husayn (the grandson of Muhammad) was kept on display by Yazīd I. The tomb of Saladin stands in a small garden adjoining the north wall of the mosque.