Since ancient times, this desert has served as the most important link in trade communications. Numerous caravans traveling through it to the Mediterranean enriched many oasis cities of this vast desert territory.
General information
The area of the Syrian desert is 1 million square meters. km The territory extends at the junction of the Arabian Peninsula and the Fertile Crescent region (in the areas of Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia). Average heights are 500-800 meters, maximum - 1100 meters.
Mostly Bedouins live in the region, their languages of communication are several dialects of the Arabic language. The closest airports are: Damascus and Palmyra International Airport.
Geography
The Syrian desert (Al-Sham), spreading over a vast territory, partially covers some areas of such states as Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In the west, it borders the Valley of the Orontes, and in the east - with Mount Euphrates.
The vast plateau, the surface of which is covered with deserts and dry steppes, in some places has island mountains towering up to 1100 meters above the desert.
The peculiarity of this area is the alternation of sandy areas with Arabian rocky deserts (hamams). In addition, in the west and north of the desert there are lava fields, and in the south and in the center there are the most lifeless rocky areas.
For the Syrian desert (photo in the article), a decrease in heights from the west and north towards the Euphrates is characteristic. The last river channels lead to the latter, which are only occasionally replenished with precious moisture during rains. The vegetation here is quite rare and it consists mainly of drought-resistant grasses, shrubs and shrubs, as well as lichens.
Geologically, the desert is mainly composed of Paleogene and Cretaceous limestones, as well as marls and flints, sometimes covered by basalt covers.
History
The Syrian desert played an important role in the migration of the ancestors of the modern inhabitants of Syria and in the formation of a person who walks directly. Thanks to numerous archaeological research, it became known that life in this region was boiling in ancient times - about one and a half million years ago. Thanks to ongoing archaeological excavations, scientists are still making sensational discoveries that are increasingly clarifying the history of human development.
It is known that even 12 thousand years ago (during the period of glaciation) the Syrian desert acquired an uninhabited and lifeless appearance and for a rather long time remained so. Subsequently, Bedouin nomads appeared, moving from their native Arabian desert (north) to these Syrian lands. Evidence of this fact are the letters dated from the period I century BC - IV century BC. e.
A trade route through the desert once connected the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. Cities thanks to numerous trade caravans became rich and quickly settled.
Roman Palmyra in the Syrian desert at that time was one of the richest cities. She was called the "bride of the desert." Although the sands approached the city from all sides, it was perfectly equipped and adapted for the life of people. There were reservoirs for collecting rainwater, and the city itself was surrounded by several satellite settlements, providing the population with the necessary food.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, oasis cities began to become impoverished, and some even gradually began to collapse. Palmyra was also among them. Due to the fact that the region continued to retain important strategic importance (especially transport), for many centuries it has become a "bone of contention" for some world powers. And now the situation in this region is not stable, most likely terrible.
The desert of our day
Today, the desert is well developed. Over the past decades, it has been of great transport importance - its roads and routes cross it, and oil pipelines pass through it, connecting numerous Middle Eastern fields with Mediterranean ports. All this plays an important role in the economy of Iraq and Syria. Explored in the desert and hydrocarbon deposits.
The strategic importance of the Syrian desert is determined by the fact that it has always played and plays an important role in many military conflicts. At various times, a variety of political forces seized control of oil facilities or destroyed them to destabilize the situation. In addition, during the war in Iraq, a route for the supply of weapons for Iraqi rebels passed through desert territory.
The war in Syria has not spared the desert. Considerable damage to this region was caused by terrorist acts. In addition to people, priceless architectural monuments have also suffered. Due to such a difficult situation in Syria, many residents of Syrian cities located in the desert have left their homes.
Nature
The Syrian desert is not very different from other deserts in terms of vegetation growing on it (sparse and sparse). Shrubs, grasses, shrubs (ephemeroids and ephemera), desert lichens grow.
Thickets of tamarisk occasionally grow along the channels of the watercourses. Nomadic animal husbandry (sheep, goats, camels) is conducted here.
Climate
In the Syrian desert, the subtropical Mediterranean climate, in some interior areas is dry, continental. In January, the average air temperature is +6.9 ° , in July - +29.2 ° . The average annual rainfall is approximately 100 mm.
Water is supplied through rare wells. The territory of the Syrian desert is closed, only occasionally there are streams with dry channels.
Sights of the region
- The fortress palace of Qasr al-Kheir Al-Sharqi, founded in 728-729.
- Palmyra ruins
- Monastery of St. Moses of Abyssinian, created around the VI century.
- El Kovm is an archaeological site.
- Byzantine fortress - Qasr Ibn-Vardan settlement, founded in the 6th century and built on the border of the Sassanid and Byzantine empires.
- Umayyad ruins Qasr al-Kheir al-Garbi - a fortress built in 727.
Interesting Facts
- For centuries, local Bedouins have been breeding the famous Arabian hardy and frisky horses in the desert. The nomads, as they could, were very protective of horses. It was forbidden to cross them with other breeds, as well as sell in other regions. It was only as a result of the Crusades that Arabian horses came to Europe.
- According to one legend, St. Moses of Abyssin (a monastery was founded in his honor, located 80 kilometers from Damascus), despite the good prospects of gaining power and getting rich, left his family and began to live as a hermit. However, he returned to these parts after long wanderings. This happened at a time when these places were already known thanks to the numerous monks living in the caves.
- In the Syrian desert during the excavations of El-Kovm (2005), the remains of a camel, which was of incredible size, were found. His age was estimated at about 150 thousand years. In size, this animal was comparable to elephants (twice the size of an ordinary camel).
- In 2009, Dr. Robert Mason discovered an unusual stone structure in the Syrian desert, which was lined with rings. The ruins of buildings, presumably serving as tombs, were also found.