Mediterranean Sea: o Syria is located eastern to Mediterranean Sea o The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land. o Covers an area of about 2,500,000 km2 o Average depth of 1,500 m and the deepest recorded point is 5,109 m o The water temperatures are mild in winter and warm in summer Max. temperature 28 °C. Min. temperature 12 °C. o Water volume 3,750,000 km3 Orontes (Asi) River: o The Orontes rises in the springs near Labweh in Lebanon on the east side of the Beqaa Valley and runs north, falling 600 metres (2,000 ft) through a gorge to leave the valley. o Main Springs: The Ain Ezzarqa, Al Ghab, Al Rouj, and Al-Azraq o Major Cities on the river: Homs, Hamah, Idlib.. o Length 571 km Citadel of Aleppo: o A large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, northern Syria. o One of the oldest and largest castles in the world. o Built of limestones. o Built: 3rd millennium BC. o Internal sites: Entrance block, Ayyubid Palace and Hammam, Satura, Hellenistic Well, and underground passages. Ebla Kingdom: o Ebla was one of the earliest kingdoms in Syria. o Located about 55 km southwest of Aleppo near the village of Mardikh in Idlib. o The word "Ebla" means "white rock", referring to the limestone outcrop on which the city was built. o The first Eblaite kingdom has been described as the first recorded world power. o Established: 3000 bc Mount Hermon "Jabal al-Shayk”: o is constituting the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range at the border between Syria and Lebanon. o At 2,814 m above sea level, is the highest point in Syria. o The southern slopes of Mount Hermon extend to the Golan Heights. o Qasr Antar: the highest temple of the ancient world, made of hewn blocks of stone on the summit of Mount Hermon.