Syrian Desert

Syrian Desert

The Syrian Desert ( _ar. بادية الشام, badiyah ash sham), also known as the Syro-Arabian desert, is a combination of steppe and true desert that is located in parts of the nations of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. Its border on the west is the Orontes Valley, and its border on the east is the Euphrates. In the north, the desert gives way to the more fertile areas of north-central Syria. In the south, it runs into the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. Many oases exist in the Syrian Desert such as Palmyra. Damascus is also located on an oasis. The desert's remarkable landscape was formed by lava flows from the volcanic region of the Jebel Druze in southern Syria. The desert was historically inhabited by bedouin tribes, and many tribes still remain in the region, their members living mainly in towns and settlements built near oases. Some bedouin still maintain their traditional way of life in the desert.The Syrian Desert is the area where the common hamster the 'syrian hamster' was found.

Safaitic inscriptions, proto-Arabic texts written by literate bedouin, are found throughout the Syrian Desert. These date approximately from the 1st century B.C. to the 4th century A.D.

Iraq War

During the war in Iraq the desert served as a major supply line for the Iraqi insurgents, with the Iraq portion of the desert becoming a primary stronghold of the Sunni insurgents operating in the Al Anbar Governorate. Particularly after the Coalition capture of Fallujah during Operation Phantom Fury. A series of Coalition military operations were relatively ineffective at removing the insurgent presence in the Desert. However as the insurgents began to gain control of the surrounding areas the importance of the Syrian desert as a center of operations was believed to have lessened. By September 2006 insurgents had gained control of virtually all of the Anbar Governorate and had moved most of their forces equipment and leaders further east to insurgent controlled cities near the Euphrates river, nevertheless the Syrian Desert remains one of the primary routes for smuggling equipment due to its location near the Syrian border. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15362568/] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/29/AR2006052901172_pf.html] [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13039231/] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/10/AR2006091001204.html?nav=rss_email/components] [http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=20468]

See also

*List of deserts by area


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Syrian Desert — noun a desert of northern Arabia occupying western Iraq, southern Syria, eastern Jordan, and northern Saudi Arabia • Instance Hypernyms: ↑desert • Part Holonyms: ↑Iraq, ↑Republic of Iraq, ↑Al Iraq, ↑Irak, ↑Syria, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Syrian Desert — a desert in N Saudi Arabia, SE Syria, W Iraq, and NE Jordan. ab. 125,000 sq. mi. (323,750 sq. km). * * * Arid wasteland, Middle East. It extends over much of northern Saudi Arabia, eastern Jordan, southern Syria, and western Iraq. Largely covered …   Universalium

  • Syrian Desert — geographical name desert W Asia between Mediterranean coast & the Euphrates covering N Saudi Arabia, NE Jordan, SE Syria, & W Iraq …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Syrian Desert — Syr′ian Des′ert n. geg a desert in N Saudi Arabia, SE Syria, W Iraq, and NE Jordan. ab. 125,000 sq. mi. (323,750 sq. km) …   From formal English to slang

  • Syrian Armed Forces — Armed Forces of Ba ath Party Coat of Arms of the Syrian Arab Republic Founded 1946 Service branches …   Wikipedia

  • Desert — Not to be confused with dessert. This article is about dry terrain. For the act of abandoning or withdrawing support, see desertion. For other uses, see Desert (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

  • desert — desert1 desertic /di zerr tik/, adj. desertlike, adj. /dez euhrt/, n. 1. a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all: The Sahara is a vast sandy desert. 2. any area …   Universalium

  • Syrian Arab Republic — noun an Asian republic in the Middle East at the east end of the Mediterranean; site of some of the world s most ancient centers of civilization • Syn: ↑Syria • Derivationally related forms: ↑Syrian (for: ↑Syria) • Members of this Region: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Desert exploration — is the deliberate and scientific exploration of deserts, the arid regions of the earth. It is only incidentally concerned with the culture and livelihood of native desert dwellers. The nature of deserts ensures that the story of their exploration …   Wikipedia

  • Syrian Monastery — The Syrian Monastery, also known as Suryan Monastery, is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in the Nitrian Desert. It is located about 500 meters northwest of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy. Ecclesiastically, the monastery is dedicated to the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”