SYR'IA. Traditionally, the region lying be tween the Euphrates River and the Syrian Desert on the east and the Mediterranean on the west, and between the Alma Dagh (the ancient Ama nus) in the north and Egypt in the south. This region now• forms a part of Asiatic Turkey (Map: Turkey in Asia, G 6). .Mesopotamia, o• at least a portion of it, is frequently designated as East Syria. Syria proper is now a distinct part of the Turkish Empire and is divided into six provinces—Jerusalem, Lebanon, Beirut, Aleppo. Syria, and Zo•. It occupies approxi mately the area within the above boundaries. It, therefore, includes Palestine. Its area is 109,509 rtlitare miles.
Syria proper is traversed from north to south by a system of mountains connected with the Taurus in the north and in the south with Mont Sinai as well as with the important mountain chain of Western Arabia. The loftiest section is the Lebanon district, comprising the range of the Lebanon proper, skirting the middle part of the Mediterranean coast, and the parallel Anti-Li balms. with the valley of C'cele-Syria, between them. The Lebanon reaches an elevation of about 10.000 feet, the highest peak of the Anti-Libanus, Mount Hermon, being about, 9000 feet. Syria is in general a plateau of chalk and Tertiary forma tion, with sandstone in evidence. and varied in places by eruptive stone. The plateau dips steep ly to the Mediterranean. It is traversed north and south by the important and remarkable inte•-mountain depression which, beginning at the Gulf of Akabah (of the Red Sea) in the south, extends under the name of Wadi el _baba to the Dead Sea, thence north through the region of the Jordan to its sources, and beyond this through the Lebanon region. becoming narrower but widening again farther north. and finally reaches the sea at Antioch. This depression is over 400 miles long. and generally averages about 12 miles in width. It divides Syria (except in the north and northeast ) into two long comparatively narrow stretches of tableland the eastern and western. For the full description of the western, adjacent to the 'Mediterranean, see PALESTINE. The eastern strip merges into the Syrian desert, and is sandy and bare, its elevated levels being dominated by the basaltic .1,110
Ilauran (6000 feet) situated east of Lake Tiberias. The Nahr-el-Asi (ancient Orontes), the Litany (Leontes), and many short streams flow into the sea on the west. The ;Jordan is the main feeder of the Dead Sea, whosv surface is nearly 1300 feet below• that of the ocean. The principal affluents of the Jordan are the Yarmuk and Jabbok. In the east are a number of streams that die in the sands of the desert. There Ore several lakes besides the Dead Sea, the best known being Lake Tiberias (Gennesaret). The climate is that of the Mediterranean basin. At Beirut the mean annual temperature is 68° F.; at Jerusalem, 6.6° F. The rainfall is scanty, be ing heaviest in the north and west. The springs are short, the summers long, dry, and hot. Snow falls in winter and there is often almost severe cold. The flora is that of the Mediterranean region, the olive being prominent. Forests of conifers clothe portions of the western slope of the Lebanon. But small remnants survive of the famous cedars of Lebanon. In the east and south, however, the plant growth partakes of the scanty desert species. In the extreme north the date palm thrives. Of the wild fauna the lion has nearly disappeared, hyenas exist in some mountainous regions, and jackals abound. Ga zelles are still met with. There are several species of venomous serpents, including the cobra. For merly a land rich and highly produetive, Syria is in modern times of very inferior agricultural and industrial significance. Fruits, grain, and vegetables are grown. The principal ports are Beirut and Jaffa. The Syrian Railroad has afforded an impetus to trade since 1895. The population in 1900 was 3,317,600. It is mainly Semitic in race. Mohammedans predominate, and Arabic is generally spoken. Bedouins and Arabs roam in the south and east. The Turks are few. The Christian population is consider able. the Maronites of the Lebanon region alone numbering over 100,000. There are many Jews, especially in Palestine, where they form agri cultural communities. The Mohammedan sect of the Druses (in the Lebanon region and the Hauran) has been prominent through its fierce hatred of the Maronites. The chief towns are Damascus, Aleppo, Beirut. and .Ie•usalen.