Damascus

Damascus دمشق Dimashq
View of Damascus from Mount Qassioun
Seal
Nickname(s): City of Jasmine
Coordinates: 33°30′47″N 36°17′31″E / 33.51306°N 36.29194°E / 33.51306; 36.29194Coordinates: 33°30′47″N 36°17′31″E / 33.51306°N 36.29194°E / 33.51306; 36.29194
Country	Syria
Governorates	Damascus Governorate, Capital City
Government
• Governor	Bishr Al Sabban
Area
• City	105 km2 (41 sq mi)
• Urban	77 km2 (29.73 sq mi)
Elevation	680 m (2,230 ft)
Population (2009 est.)
• City	1,711,000
• Density	22,220.8/km2 (57,551.3/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	English: Damascene Arabic: دمشقي Dimashqi‎‎
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Area code(s)	Country code: 963, City code: 11
Website	www.damascus.gov.sy
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Ancient City of Damascus
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iii, iv, vi
Designated	1979 (3rd session)
Reference no.	20
State Party	Syria
Region	Arab States

Damascus (Arabic: دمشق‎‎ Dimashq [dɪˈmaʃq], Syrian: [dɪˈmɪʃeʔ]) is the capital and likely the largest city of Syria, following the decline in population of Aleppo due to the ongoing battle for the city. It is commonly known in Syria as ash-Sham (Arabic: الشام‎‎ ash-Shām) and nicknamed as the City of Jasmine (Arabic: مدينة الياسمين‎‎ Madīnat al-Yāsmīn). In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major cultural and religious centre of the Levant. The city has an estimated population of 1,711,000 as of 2009^[update].

Located in south-western Syria, Damascus is the centre of a large metropolitan area of 2.6 million people (2004). Geographically embedded on the eastern foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range 80 kilometres (50 mi) inland from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean on a plateau 680 metres (2,230 ft) above sea level, Damascus experiences a semi-arid climate because of the rain shadow effect. The Barada River flows through Damascus.