Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
185,180 sq km
country comparison to the world: 89
land:
183,630 sq km
water:
1,550 sq km
note:
includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area comparison map:
total:
2,253 km
border countries:
Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
193 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
More Climate Details
primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
lowest point:
unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point:
Mount Hermon 2,814 m
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
arable land:
24.9%
permanent crops:
5.69%
other:
69.41% (2011)
13,410 sq km (2010)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
16.8 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
16.76 cu km/yr (9%/4%/88%)
per capita:
867.4 cu m/yr (2005)
dust storms, sandstorms
volcanism:
Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the Turkish border have not erupted in centuries
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Environmental Modification
the capital of Damascus - located at an oasis fed by the Barada River - is thought to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities; there are 41 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (2010 est.)