Syria lies between latitudes 32° and 38° N, and longitudes 35° and 43° E. It consists mostly of arid plateau, although the northwest part of the country bordering the Mediterranean is fairly green. The Northeast of the country “Al Jazira” and the South “Hawran” are important agricultural areas. The Euphrates, Syria’s most important river, crosses the country in the east. It is considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called “Cradle of civilization”.
The climate in Syria is dry and hot, and winters are mild. Because of the country’s elevation, snowfall does occasionally occur during winter. Petroleum in commercial quantities was first discovered in the northeast in 1956. The most important oil fields are those of Suwaydiyah, Qaratshui, Rumayian, and Tayyem, near Dayr az–Zawr. The fields are a natural extension of the Iraqi fields of Mosul and Kirkuk. Petroleum became Syria’s leading natural resource and chief export after 1974. Natural gas was discovered at the field of Jbessa in 1940
Syria is the Middle Eastern country with Damascus being its capital. Syria has many cities which have a great cultural and historical significance. Syria tourist destinations include a number of places which make Syria still a historic country.
Damascus is the capital of Syrian Arab Republic and is also known to be the world’s oldest inhabited city. The Ummayyad Mosque describes the history of Damascus. The Al-Hamidiyah Bazaar and the Tikiyeh Mosque built in mid 16th century are important places to visit. Some other places of attractions are; the Sayyida Zainab and the Al Azem Palace built in 18th century. Damascus is one of the major Syria tourist destinations, famous among its travelers.
Syria is formally a unitary republic. The constitution adopted in 2012 effectively transformed Syria into a semi-presidential republic due to the constitutional right for individuals to be elected which do not form part of the National Progressive Front. The President is Head of State and the Prime Minister is Head of Government. The Peoples Council is the Syria’s legislature responsible for passing laws, approving government appropriations and debating policy. In the event of a vote of no confidence by a simple majority, the Prime Minister is required to tender the resignation of their government to the President.
The executive branch consists of the president, two vice presidents, the prime minister, and the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The constitution requires the president to be a Muslim but does not make Islam the state religion.
The constitution gives the president the right to appoint ministers, to declare war and state of emergency, to issue laws (which, except in the case of emergency, require ratification by the People’s Council), to declare amnesty, to amend the constitution, and to appoint civil servants and military personnel. According to the 2012 constitution, the president is elected by Syrian citizens in a direct election.
Krak des Chevaliers located near Homs is also known as the ‘Castle of the Knights’. It is basically known as the archetypal crusader castle, which is very admirable and is most well-preserved. This site is 750 meters above sea level and is isolated. Aleppo, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its Islamic Arab military architecture. It is known to be the industrial and commercial center of Syria. It has a market which is ten miles of low corridors with shops and many activities. The public baths known as hammams, which are well-preserved, the archaeological museum, with fine artifacts are some of its major attractions.
Lattakia is a Syrian city which is known since the times of the Ancient Greeks and is home to sandy beaches, diverse landscapes and green mountains. It is also a major commercial port of Syria. Located 37 kilometers away from Lattakia is the Saladin’s Castle. The major feature of this tourist spot is the ditch which was cut through a living rock, and is 28 meters deep. The covered area of the walls is about 24 square meters and the thickness of these walls is five meters.
Syria’s legislative branch is the unicameral People’s Council. Under the previous constitution, Syria did not hold multi-party elections for the legislature, with two thirds of the seats automatically allocated to the ruling coalition. On 7 May 2012, Syria held its first elections in which parties outside the ruling coalition could take part. Seven new political parties took part in the elections, of which Popular Front for Change and Liberation was the largest opposition party. The armed anti-government rebels, however, chose not to field candidates and called on their supporters to boycott the elections.