Syria General Information

Capital City: Damascus
Economy: Industry, mining, oil, agriculture."
Language Description: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian and French.
Passport/Visa U.S.: Passports and visas are needed by citizens of Canada and the U.S. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival. Entry is denied to visitors with Israel entry or exit stamps in their passports, as well as to people born in Gaza or of Gazan descent. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
Population: 16,728,808
Religion: Sunni Muslim, Alawite, Druze, Christian.
Telephone Codes: 963, country code; 11, Damascus city code; 21, Aleppo city code
Time Zone: 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed April 1-October 1
Tipping Overview: Tip 10% for most services. When in doubt, tip.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts

GEOGRAPHY

Cities:
Capital--Damascus (pop. 4 million). Other cities--Aleppo (1.5 million), Homs (400,000).
Terrain:
Narrow coastal plain with a double mountain belt in the west; large, semiarid and desert plateau to the east.
Climate:
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 hits Damascus
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey