As Suwayda' Governorate
Encyclopedia
As-Suwayda is the southernmost of Syria
's 14 governorates
. It has an area of 5,550 km² and forms part of the historic Hawran region. Its capital and major city is As-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 Ash Shamah
.
It is the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze
majority. There is also a sizable Eastern Orthodox
minority and a small Muslim
community.
Most of the inhabitants live in the western parts of the governorate, especially on the western slopes of Jabal ad-Duruz. While only nomadic Bedouin
tribes live in the barren region of Harrat Ash Shamah.
These are further divided into 9 sub-districts (nawahi).
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
's 14 governorates
Governorates of Syria
Syria has fourteen governorates, or muhafazat . The governorates are divided into sixty districts, or manatiq , which are further divided into subdistricts, or nawahi...
. It has an area of 5,550 km² and forms part of the historic Hawran region. Its capital and major city is As-Suwayda
As-Suwayda
As Suwayda , also spelt Sweida, is a mainly Druze city located in southwestern Syria, close to the border with Jordan.It is the capital of Muhafazat as Suwayda, one of Syria's 14 governorates, bordering Jordan in the South and the governorates of Daraa in the West and Rif Dimashq in the North and...
.
Geographically the governorate comprises almost all of Jabal al-Druze, the eastern part of Lejah
Argob
Argob , a region located east of the Jordan River, on an island of rock which was approximately by , and rose 20 or above the table-land of Bashan. An extremely rugged region, sixty walled cities were on the island, which was ruled over by Og. In the New Testament, it is called Trachonitis...
, and a part of the arid eastern steppe of Harrat Ash Shamah
Harrat Ash Shamah
The Harrat Ash Shamah is a volcanic field covering a total area of some . This massive alkaline volcanic field extends from southern Syria, across Jordan and into northwestern Saudi Arabia....
.
Demographics and population
The governorate has a population of about 364,000 inhabitants (est. 2010).It is the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
majority. There is also a sizable Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
minority and a small Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community.
Most of the inhabitants live in the western parts of the governorate, especially on the western slopes of Jabal ad-Duruz. While only nomadic Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
tribes live in the barren region of Harrat Ash Shamah.
Divisions
The governorate is divided into 3 districts (manatiq):- As-SuwaydaAs-Suwayda DistrictAs-Suwayda is a Syrian district administratively belonging to As-Suwayda Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 180,907. Its administrative centre is the city of As-Suwayda....
- SalkhadSalkhad DistrictSalkhad is a Syrian district administratively belonging to As-Suwayda Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 60,375. Its administrative centre is the city of Salkhad....
- Shahba'Shahba DistrictShahba' District is a Syrian district administratively belonging to As-Suwayda Governorate. It is located in the south-west of the country and in the north of the As-Suwayda Governorate. At the 2004 Census it had a population of 71,949. Its administrative centre is the city of Shahba....
These are further divided into 9 sub-districts (nawahi).