Geography & environment — Syria
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Syria: Middle East
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Middle East
- Geographic Coordinates
35 00 N, 38 00 E
- Total Area
71,498 Square Miles 185,180 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
70,900 Square Miles 183,630 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
598 Square Miles 1,550 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
1,400 Miles 2,253 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
- Coastline
120 Miles 193 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
- primarily semiarid and desert plateau
- narrow coastal plain
- mountains in west
- Highest Point
2,814 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Mount Hermon 2,814 m
- Lowest Point
-200 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
- Natural Resources
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
- Irrigated Land
5,178 Square Miles 13,410 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
The Syrian Arab Republic comprises several distinct climatic conditions. The western coastal plain is the most humid area of the country, with milder winters and summers than the rest of the country. East of the Orontes Valley begins the desert region. In general the climate is mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along the coast There are four seasons in Damascus, with spring, winter, and fall generally lasting 8 to 12 weeks apiece. Summers can be long, dry, and hot. Short winters can be cold and rainy, with occasional snow. Annual rainfall in Damascus averages 81.6 millimeters (3.21 inches.) Temperatures in Damascus range from lows 0 °C (32 °F) at night to highs of 20 °C (68 °F during the day in the winter, and in the summer from 16 °C (60 °F) to 38 °C (100 °F). Though snow falls infrequently in Damascus, it does snow in the mountains near the city, and some roads are impassible during these storms.
- Terrain
- primarily semiarid and desert plateau
- narrow coastal plain
- mountains in west
- Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
- Total Area
71,498 Square Miles 185,180 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
deforestation
overgrazing
soil erosion
desertification
water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes
inadequate potable water
- Environment - International Agreements
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
