Jabal al-Druze ( Arabic : جبل الدروز , romanized : jabal al-durūz , lit. 'Mountain of the Druze'), is an elevated volcanic region in the As-Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria . Most of the inhabitants of this region are Druze , and there are also significant Christian communities. Safaitic inscriptions were first found in this area. The State of Jabal Druze was an autonomous area in the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon from 1921 to 1936. In the past, the name Jabal al-Druze was used for a different area, located in Mount Lebanon .
11-609: In Syria, most Druze reside in the As-Suwayda Governorate , which encompasses almost all of Jabal al-Druze. This governorate is unique in Syria as it has a Druze majority. Additionally, it has integrated Christian communities that have long coexisted harmoniously with the Druze in these mountain. In the 1980s Druze made up 87.6% of the population, Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox ) 11% and Sunni Muslims 2%. In 2010,
22-423: A governorate, a district and a subdistrict. Parts of Quneitra Governorate have been under Israeli occupation since 1967 (see Golan Heights ). - a newly created district since 2010, formerly belonging to Homs District - includes Aleppo City - a newly created district since 2008, formerly belonging to Mount Simeon District - a newly created district since 2009, formerly belonging to Al-Bab District -
33-527: A small Muslim refugee community from mainly Daraa Governorate as well as other parts of Syria. In the 1980s Druze made up 87.6% of the population, Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox ) 11% and Sunni Muslims 2%. In 2010, the As-Suwayda governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants, Druze made up 90%, Christians 7% and Sunni Muslims 3%. Due to low birth and high emigration rates , Christians proportion in As-Suwayda had declined. Most of
44-477: Is 1800m-high Jabal al-Druze (also known variously as Jabal ad Duruz, Djebel Al-Arab, Jabal Druze, Djebel ed Drouz). The alkaline volcanic field consists of a group of 118 basaltic volcanoes active from the lower-Pleistocene to the Holocene (2.6 million years ago to present). The large SW Plateau depression is filled by basaltic lava flows from volcanoes aligned in a NW-SE direction. This volcanic field lies within
55-440: Is home to numerous archaeological sites. This governorate is unique in Syria as it has a Druze majority. Additionally, it has integrated Christian communities that have long coexisted harmoniously with the Druze in these mountain. The governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants (est. 2011). It is the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze majority. There is also a sizable Eastern Orthodox minority, and
66-558: Is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria . It is the southernmost governorate, covering an area of 5,550 km², and is part of the historic Hawran region. The capital and largest city of the governorate is al-Suwayda . Geographically the governorate comprises almost all of Jabal al-Druze , the eastern part of Lejah , and a part of the arid eastern steppe of Harrat al-Shamah . Most inhabitants of As-Suwayda are employed in agriculture, cultivating crops such as grapes, apples, olives, and wheat. Additionally, As-Suwayda
77-547: The Arab League [REDACTED] Asia portal [REDACTED] History portal The 14 governorates of Syria , or muhafazat (sing. muhafazah ), are divided into 65 districts, or manatiq (sing. mintaqah ), including the city of Damascus . The districts are further divided into 281 subdistricts, or nawahi (sing. nahiya ). Each district bears the same name as its district capital. Districts and subdistricts are administered by officials appointed by
88-544: The As-Suwayda governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants, Druze made up 90%, Christians 7% and Sunni Muslims 3%. Due to low birth and high emigration rates , Christians proportion in As-Suwayda had declined. The Jabal al-Druze volcanic field, the southernmost in Syria, lies in the Haurun-Druze Plateau in SW Syria near the border with Jordan. The most prominent feature of this volcanic field
99-441: The governor, subject to the approval of the minister of the interior. These officials work with elected district councils to attend to assorted local needs, and serve as intermediaries between central government authority and traditional local leaders, such as village chiefs, clan leaders, and councils of elders. The 65 districts are listed below by governorate (with capital districts in bold text). The city of Damascus functions as
110-470: The inhabitants live in the western parts of the governorate, especially on the western slopes of Jabal ad-Duruz. Only nomadic Bedouin tribes live in the barren region of Harrat al-Shamah. The governorate is divided into three districts ( manatiq ). The districts are further divided into 12 sub-districts ( nawahi ): The governorate contains 3 cities, 124 towns/villages, and 36 hamlets. Districts of Syria [REDACTED] Member State of
121-570: The northern part of the massive alkaline Harrat al-Sham (also known as Harrat al-Shaam) volcanic field that extends from southern Syria to Saudi Arabia. In Arabic , the word " tell " means "mound" or "hill", but in Jabal al-Druze it rather refers to a volcanic cone . 32°40′N 36°44′E / 32.667°N 36.733°E / 32.667; 36.733 As-Suwayda Governorate As-Suwayda or Al-Suwayda Governorate ( Arabic : مُحافظة السويداء / ALA-LC : Muḥāfaẓat as-Suwaydā’ )
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