Latakia Governorate
| Latakia Governorate مُحافظة اللاذقية | |
|---|---|
| Governorate | |
.svg.png) Map of Syria with Latakia highlighted | |
| Coordinates (Latakia): 35°36′N 36°00′E / 35.6°N 36°ECoordinates: 35°36′N 36°00′E / 35.6°N 36°E | |
| Country |
 Syria |
| Capital | Latakia |
| Manatiq (Districts) | 4 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,297 km2 (887 sq mi) |
| Estimates range between 2,297 km² and 2,437 km² | |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 1,890,000 |
| • Density | 820/km2 (2,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| ISO 3166 code | SY-LA |
| Main language(s) | Arabic, Turkmen, Kurdish |
Latakia Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة اللاذقية / ALA-LC: Muḥāfaẓat al-Lādhiqīyah) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in western Syria, bordering Turkey. Its reported area varies in different sources from 2,297 km²[1] to 2,437 km².[2] The Governorate has a population of 991,000 (2010 estimate). Most of the inhabitants are mainly from the Alawite Sect who form a majority in all parts of the Governorate while Sunni Arabs and Turkmen form a significant minority in the North East. The Capital Latakia by 2010 estimates had 400,000 people, 50% of whom were Alawites, 30% Sunni and 20% Christian [3][4]
History
The governorate was historically part of the Alawite State, which existed from 1920–1936. The city of Latakia was the capital of the state.
The region has been relatively peaceful during the Syrian civil war that started in 2011 to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad, aside from a small but persistent rebel presence in the northeast of the province centred on Rabia.
Districts
The governorate is divided into four districts (manatiq):
These are further divided into 22 sub-districts (nawahi).
Geography
Latakia is traversed (twice) by the northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude.
References
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