Syria Geography

Country Name: Syrian Arab Republic

Capital City: Damascus

Population: 11.9% (2006 est.)

Population Growth: 2.244% (2007 est.)

Currency: Syrian pound (SYP)

Languages: Arabic (official)

Area: 185,180 sq km

Inflation Rate: 8% (2006 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 12.5% (2005)

Domain extension:

GEOGRAPHIC DETAILS OF SYRIA

Location:

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

Geographic Co-ordinates:

35 00 N, 38 00 E

Area - total:

185,180 sq km

Area - total:

185,180 sq km

Area - land:

184,050 sq km

Area - water:

1,130 sq km

Land Boundaries:

2,253 km

Border Countries:

Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km

Terrain:

primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west

Elevation - highest point:

Mount Hermon 2,814 m

Elevation - lowest point:

unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m

Natural Resources:

petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower

Arable Land:

24.80%

Permanent Crops:

4.47%

Other Land Use:

70.73% (2005)

Natural Hazards:

dust storms, sandstorms