Syria: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Syria

Syria is in Western Asia, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, between Türkiye and Iraq. It has a green coastal strip, mountains, fertile river valleys along the Euphrates and a large desert in the east. It is known for its very old cities, historic castles and markets.

About Damascus

Damascus is in southwestern Syria, beside the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, at an oasis fed by the Barada River. It is thought to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, and its old city, with the Umayyad Mosque and covered markets, is a UNESCO site.

Fun facts about Syria

1. Damascus is thought to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
2. Clay tablets found at the ancient city of Ugarit show one of the earliest known alphabets, about 3,400 years old.
3. Krak des Chevaliers is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Damask, a fabric woven with fancy reversible patterns, is named after the city of Damascus.
5. Aleppo soap, made with olive oil and laurel oil, has been produced in the same way for centuries.
6. Giant wooden water wheels called norias have lifted water from the Orontes River in Hama for hundreds of years.