Tartus Governorate

Tartus Governorate, also transliterated as Tartous Governorate, (Arabic: مُحافظة طرطوس‎ / ALA-LC: Muḥāfaẓat Ṭarṭūs) is one of the 14 governorates of Syria. It is situated in western Syria, bordering Latakia Governorate to the north, Homs and Hama Governorates to the east, Lebanon to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. It is one of the few governorates in Syria that has an Alawite majority. Sources list the area as 1,890 km²[1] or 1,892 km²,[2] with its capital being Tartus.

Tartus Governorate

مُحافظة طرطوس
Governorate
Map of Syria with Tartus highlighted
Coordinates (Tartus): 35°N 36°E / 35; 36
Country Syria
CapitalTartus
Manatiq (Districts)5
Government
 • GovernorSafwan Abu Sa'adi
Area
 • Total1,892 km2 (731 sq mi)
 Estimates range between 1,890 km² and 1,892 km²
Population
 (2011)
 • Total797,000
 • Density420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 codeSY-TA
Main language(s)Arabic

History

The governorate was historically part of the Alawite State, which existed from 1920–1936.[3]

It was formerly part of Latakia governorate, but was split off circa 1972.[1]

The region has been relatively peaceful during the Syrian civil war, being a generally pro-Assad region that had remained under government control. However in 2013 massacres against Sunni Muslims occurred in Bayda and Baniyas,[4][5] and a suicide bombing claimed by Islamic State occurred in Tartus in May 2016.[6] Tartus is home to a major Russian naval base.[7]

Archeological sites

Geography

Tartus comprises roughly half of Syria's Mediterranean coastline; offshore lie five small islands, the largest of which is Arwad.[8] Inland the terrain is mountainous, comprising a section of the Syrian Coastal Mountain Range (Nusayriyah Mountains).[9] The Nahr al-Kabir river forms the border with Lebanon to the south.[10]

Settlements

Tartus is the regional capital; other major settlements include Al-Hamidiyah, Al Qadmus, Al-Sawda, Ayn ash Shams, Baniyas, Qusaybah and Safita.

Districts

The governorate is divided into five districts (manatiq):

These are further divided into 27 sub-districts (nawahi).

Demographics

As per the 2004 Syrian census the population was 701,400.[1] A 2011 UNOCHA estimate put the population at 797,000, though this has likely changed since the start of the war.[11]

The majority at 67% are Alawites, 13% Sunni Muslim, 8% Ismaili, 7% Christian and 5% Shi'ite Muslim,[12] though according to recent estimations by Dr. Michael Izady Christians form 11.8% of the population in the governorate.[13] There is a small Cretan Greek community concentrated in Al-Hamidiyah, the descendants of refugees who fled the Greco-Turkish War of 1897.[14]

  • Map of Tartus governorate
  • Safita
  • Mountains near Kaff al-Jaa
  • Margat Castle
  • Al Kafrun
  • Arwad Castle

References
  1. "Syria Provinces". www.statoids.com.
  2. "Syria: Governorates, Major Cities & Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de.
  3. Longrigg, Stephen Hemsley. "Syria and Lebanon Under French Mandate." London: Oxford University Press, 1958.
  4. Peter Beaumont. "The Guardian, 4 May 2013". Guardian. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  5. Nebehay, Stephanie (2013-09-11). "Syrian forces responsible for Banias massacres: U.N. report". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  6. "Syria bombings claimed by ISIS kill 148 at hospital, bus station". 23 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  7. "Russia Seeks Several Military Bases Abroad – Defense Minister". Sputnik. February 26, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  8. "Arwad, Fortress at Sea". Aramco World. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  9. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress (2005) "Country Profile: Syria" page 5
  10. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia et al., "Nahr el Kabir Basin", Inventory of Shared Water Resources in Western Asia 8 PDF
  11. Syrian Arab Republic - Governorates profile (PDF), UNOCHA, June 2014, retrieved 20 March 2020
  12. Hussain Ibrahim Qutrib (2016), "Useful Syria" and Demographic Changes in Syria (PDF), King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, retrieved 20 March 2020
  13. http://gulf2000.columbia.edu/images/maps/Christians_Middle_East_2014_lg.png
  14. Greek-Speaking Enclaves of Lebanon and Syria by Roula Tsokalidou. Proceedings II Simposio Internacional Bilingüismo. Retrieved 4 December 2006
  • etartus The First Complete website for Tartus news and services
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