2020 Travel the World - Week 49

I started a Travel the World Series last year. (It should be noted that I did a similar thing in 2018, only it was the 50 states.) For 50 weeks in 2019, I visited a different country (virtually) and shared facts about that country. I then selected one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. Fifty weeks; fifty countries... BUT there are 195 countries in the world so that was just a little over 25% of them. Of course I couldn't stop, so this year I'm continuing with fifty more countries, one per week.

This week's country is...

Syria

Situated  in Western Asia and lying at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, Syria is bordered by Lebanon and Israel on the west, Turkey on the north, Iraq on the east, and Jordan on the south.

The official name of Syria is “Syrian Arab Republic” and the official language is Syriais Arabic. The other languages spoken are Aramaic, Armenian, Kurdish, Circassian and French.

Syria is slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania.

Syrian climate is mostly desert, hot, dry, sunny summers from June to August and mild rainy winters from December to February. Snow or sleet may be experienced periodically in Damascus.

Damascus, the capital city of Syria, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It was first mentioned in an Egyptian document that dated from 1500 B.C., and carbon dating suggests the site has been occupied as far back as 6300 B.C.

Damascus is famous for its steel worldwide. The unique patterns in the Damascus Steel, make it quite alluring. Damascus Steel is mostly used for making knives, swords and other such weapons.

A Syrian plateau called Golan Heights overlooks 4 countries- Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Syria. The valley has gained its name- The Shouting Valley because the separated families of these 4 countries often gather on each side and shout across to communicate with their families.

Approximately 60% of Syrians are jobless. 

The largest lake in Syria, Lake Assad, is actually man-made and has only existed since 1968.

The Norias, or the waterwheels of Hama, were built in 1361 and are still used.

The Assyrian New Year falls on April 1st. Celebrated with the arrival of spring.

Syria has been under the grip of a brutal Civil War since the 2011.

Present day Syria is a battleground of the whole world, with troops from nearly 34 countries fighting a complex web of wars. Their main enemy is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria/Levant.

Since the beginning of Syria’s civil war in 2011, life expectancy has fallen by 20 years.

Syria was once a tourist hotspot for its religious and historical wonders, but the war caused a 75% decline in the tourism industry.

Syria has become the world’s deadliest country for journalists, primarily because of its ongoing civil war. In 2014, at least 17 journalists were killed.

As of 2016, Syrians are the largest refugee population in the world. More than half of all Syrian refugees are under the age of 18.

Located in Damascus, the Umayyad Mosque is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. It is home to the mausoleum containing the tomb of King Saladin, as well as the Shrine of John the Baptist.

In May 2001, Pope John Paul II visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus city of Syria and became the first Pope ever to visit a mosque.

As of 2016, 60% of all the hospitals in Syria are closed or minimally operating.

The ancient city of Bosra in Syria houses an incredibly well preserved Roman theater, complete with tall stage buildings. Built in the 2nd century AD, the theater can seat up to 15,000 people.

One of the earliest libraries in the world was located in Syria.

One of the best-preserved medieval castles can be found in Syria. During the Middle Ages, the Knights Hospitaliers used the Crac des Chevaliers Castle as a base during their crusades against the Muslims, with evidence of this dating back to 1271.

Syria is also home to the oldest surviving Byzantine church. The Church of Saint Simeon Stylites is the oldest surviving Byzantine church in the world and it dates back to the 5th century. It’s dedicated to a hermit who lived atop a pillar so that he would be alone from the world.

Syrian agriculture includes wheat, cotton, barley, lentils and beef. Their economy depends on textiles, petroleum, beverages and food processing.

Syria exports crude oil, fruits and vegetables, petroleum, cotton fiber and clothing and imports machinery and transport equipment, metal and metal products, electric power machinery, food and livestock, chemical products, plastics, yarn and paper.

Syrians have a long history of immigrating to the United States. Celebrities with Syrian roots include Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Jobs, Paula Abdul, F. Murray Abraham (who played Salieri in the 1984 movie Amadeus), and hockey player Brandon Saad.

Syrian has some of the world’s most beautiful railway stations. 

I decided to let this Syria fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Some of Syria’s roads are over 4,000 years old and are still used today.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Sets: Technique Tuesday On Vacation and Unity Retired stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, Gray, and Tan, and SU Misty Moonlight CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Carpool and On the Road and Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch

Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones