Guide Note

A combination of steppe and true desert, the Syrian Desert of the northern Arabian Peninsula covers northern Saudi Arabia, northeastern Jordan, southeastern Syria, and western Iraq. It borders the Orontes Valley to the west and the Euphrates River to the east. Referred to as the Syro-Arabian desert, it is the northwestern part of the Arabian Desert. The south-central part of the desert is called Al-Hamad. The deserts unique landscape is composed of volcanic lava and basalt to the north, and sandstone and granite to the south. The desert is the historic home to the Bedouin tribes, desert-dwelling Arab nomadic or previously nomadic pastoralist. There are oil pipelines located there that connect the oil fields of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Fast Facts

It is 200,000 square miles
5 inches of rainfall annually
Not a sand desert but comprises rock and gravel steppe
Major cities are Palmyra and Damascus
Has more than 2,000 species of plants
A 100,000 year old giant Camel was found there

Categories

Geography | Travel | Deserts

View Note History

Syrian Desert

The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Syrian Desert
Damascus Online: Syrian Desert
Palestine Exploration Fund: The Syrian Desert
Earth Observatory NASA: Syrian Desert
Gianluca Serra: Intensive Fauna Surveys Of Central Syrian Desert
Al-Hakawati.net: Syrian Desert
YouTube Video: Syrian Desert (Time: 2:09)

Syrian Desert News

Google News: Syrian Desert
The New York Times: "Ancient Giant Camel Found in Syrian Desert" (October 8, 2006)
FoxNews.com: "Lost City Uncovered Under Syrian Desert" (December 20, 2005)
The Independent: "Prehistoric Syrian Giant Evolved into Modern-Day Camel" (October 9, 2006)

Syrian Desert History and Background

University of Leicester: Pompeii of the Syrian Desert
Quantara.de: Mar Musa Monastery, Syria - Muslims and Christians Sharing Spirituality
Islamonline.net: Syrian Monastery Revitalizes Desert

Syrian Desert Travel

Syrian Desert Travel Packages

Travel Wizard: 21 Days Middle Eastern Treasures Tour Package
AffordableTours.com: Ancient Roads of Syria and Jordan
United Travel Management Services: Winter Camping Syria Desert/Mountains

Syrian Desert Activities

World Arabian Horse Organization: A Syrian Adventure (September 5, 2007 (1.51 MB)
Irish Balloning Association: Over the Syrian Desert
UR Travel and Tourism: Syrian Desert Area

Syrian Desert Photos and Videos

Google Image Search: Syrian Desert
Yahoo! Image Search: Syrian Desert
YouTube and Google Video Search: Syrian Desert
Yahoo! Video Search: Syrian Desert
NASA Visible Earth: Syrian Desert
MSN Encarta World Atlas: Map of Syrian Desert

Syrian Desert Blogs and Forums

Travbuddy.com: "The Syrian Desert Roads" (July 4, 2007)
KBCD BlogSpot: "Mirage, Syrian Desert and Zenobia’s Zeitgeist" (January 19, 2008)
Babblefest: "One Day in the Syrian Desert" (September 13, 2007)
Jat Airways: "The Syrian Desert’s Ancient Rose" (June, 2006)

Syrian Desert Books and Merchandise

Google Product Search: Syrian Desert Merchandise
Yahoo! Product Search: Syrian Desert Merchandise
Amazon.com: Syrian Desert Merchandise
Barnes & Noble: Syrian Desert Books

Related Searches

Syria | Iraq | Saudi Arabia | Jordan | Egypt | Baghdad | Iran | Palmyra | Damascus | Gobi Desert | Arabian Desert