Hama

Hama (Arabic: حَمَاة Ḥamāh, [ħaˈmaː]; Syriac: ܚܡܳܬ, romanized: ħ(ə)mɑθ, lit.'fortress'; Biblical Hebrew: חֲמָת, romanized: Ḥămāṯ) is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria. It is located 213 km (132 mi) north of Damascus and 46 kilometres (29 mi) north of Homs. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. With a population of 996,000 (2023 census), Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria after Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.

Hama
حَمَاة
City
Clockwise from top:
Hama skyline, Norias of Hama, Azem Palace, Al-Hassanein Mosque, Nur al-Din Mosque, Khan Rustem Pasha
Nicknames: 
Mother of Norias (أم النواعير)
City of Abulfeda (مدينة أبي الفداء)
Hama
Location in Syria
Hama
Hama (Eastern Mediterranean)
Hama
Hama (Asia)
Coordinates: 35°08′N 36°45′E
Country Syria
GovernorateHama Governorate
DistrictHama District
SubdistrictHama Subdistrict
First settled1500 BC
Government
  GovernorMahmoud Zanubua
Elevation
305 m (1,001 ft)
Population
 (2023 census)
  Total996,000
  Ethnicities
Syrians
  Religions
Sunni Islam
Syriac Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
Demonym(s)Arabic: حموي, romanized: Ḥamwi
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Area code(s)Country code: 963
City code: 33
GeocodeC2987
ClimateBSk
Websitewww.ehama.sy

The city is renowned for its seventeen norias used for watering the gardens, which are locally claimed to date back to 1100 BC. Though historically used for purpose of irrigation, the norias exist today as an almost entirely aesthetic traditional show.

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