Harim Mountains

Ḥārim Mountains (Arabic: جبال حارم‎ [d͡ʒiˈbæːl ˈħaːrim]) are highlands in the north of Idlib Governorate in northwestern Syria. The mountains are located in the Ḥārim and Jisr Shuġūr districts of Idlib Governorate.

Location and description

Ḥārim highlands are located between 36◦22′–36◦40′ E and 35◦46′–36◦14′ N on the westernmost part of the Aleppo plateau. They cover about 600 km². The Orontes river valley forms the western boundary. The Rouj Plain is located to the south. The Rouj Plain and the northern Idlib plain run along the eastern boundary. The Dāna plain (part of the northern Idlib plain) separates Ḥārim mountains from Mount Simeon to the northwest. The valley of River ʻIfrīn and Lake ʻAmīq surround Ḥārim mountains from north.

The mountains include three masses. Mount Ḥalqa (Arabic: جبل حلقة‎) and Mount Bārīshā (Arabic: جبل باريشا‎) form the first mass from the east. Mount Ḥalqa (meaning "circle mountain") refers to low rocky plateaus that surround the Dāna plain. Mount Bārīshā, which lies west of Ḥalqa, covers about 230 km² and averages 500–600 m in elevation; the highest point is 657 m.

The second mass is Mount Aʻlā (Arabic: جبل الأعلى‎) (also called Mount Sumāq جبل السماق). This mountain is separated from Mount Bārīshā by the Shalf plain. The highest point in Mount Aʻlā reaches 819 m. This mountain has a Druze population.

The third mountain is Mount Wasṭānī (Arabic: جبل الوسطاني‎). This mountain extends for 40 km from Salqīn in the north between the Orontes valley and the Rouj Plain. The mountain includes two masses; the northern mass is sometimes considered a separate mountain called Mount Dwēli (Arabic: جبل الدويلة‎). The highest point in Mount Wasṭānī is Mount Ḥanash (Arabic: جبل الحنش‎) (847 m).

Olive and oak trees are abundant on Ḥārim mountains. The mountains also have numerous archaeological sites.