Interesting facts about the peoples of Asia. Interesting facts about Asian countries

Asia has influenced the Western world in many ways, but for all the enormous advantages we have received, we have hardly even scratched the surface of the cultural layer of the East.

Asia has influenced the Western world in many ways, but for all the great benefits we have received from the East, we have hardly even scratched the surface of the cultural layer of this diverse continent. From centuries-old traditions and modern trends, we have collected 10 unusual facts about Asia that leave you perplexed.

Vietnamese New Year - Every Vietnamese's birthday

Vietnamese New Year, or Tet, is celebrated annually around the end of winter and lasts three weeks.

The holiday begins on the first lunar day of the first lunar month, which usually occurs in early February or late January.

Among the many traditions of Tet - New Year in Vietnam, it is also considered a birthday celebration day for all Vietnamese people.

Along with the Koreans, the Vietnamese count their age based on the number of Tet they have lived, so a child will be officially considered one year old, even if he was born a few days before the event.

Songkran - New Year in Thailand

Continuing the theme of New Year's traditions, Thai New Year is celebrated over several days according to the lunar calendar during the hottest month in Thailand - April.

The Songkran festival is a Thai “astrological transition”, the main attraction of which is pouring water from head to toe on everyone you meet and sprinkling talcum powder on passers-by is also not forbidden.

Initially, the celebration had spiritual connotations - water was poured on Buddha statues and people collected the water that flowed down to sprinkle it on their loved ones for good luck.

Now the rhythm of the holiday is more intense and provocative - there are large-scale fights with water pistols, which are sold on every corner, and people standing along the roads douse everyone who passes or drives by.

The largest shopping center in a ghost town

In 2005, Chinese billionaire Alex Hu Guirong began construction of the world's largest shopping mall in Dongguan, China.

Spread over more than 2.5 million square meters, the New South China Mall has a capacity of 2,350 stores, not to mention a full-size indoor slide, a 1.5-kilometer canal with gondolas and a replica of the Arc de Triomphe.

But there is one problem - no one wants to open their own store there.

Since 2005, 99% of the retail space has never been used - ever, it's just collecting dust under the baize of the roof, and the only people who really work are the security guards of this strange super center.

There is only one explanation for why the mall is unprofitable - the city where it is built - Dongguan has a population of only 10 million, the majority of whose residents are poor factory workers and take several hours to get to the mall.

North Korea celebrates its version of Christmas

In North Korea, citizens do not celebrate Christmas. Christmas in North Korea is still more an act of war than a holiday.

So, instead of joining in the Christmas festivities, North Koreans celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong Il's mother, who was born on December 24th.

Government North Korea maintains strict power over religious groups within its borders.

They continue to demonize Western influence with their patriotic Christmas cards.

In addition to Kim Jong's birthday, North Koreans celebrate Constitution Day on December 27, and on New Year's Day they hold marches in front of the Kim Il Sung Mausoleum.

Feeling of Chinese unity in the same time zone

China is approximately 5,200 km wide - a fairly wide area that can cover 5 time zones.

Despite this, China has only had one national time zone since civil war in China in 1949.

The reason for this decision is Chinese policy - after the civil war they wanted to instill a sense of unity in people.

Unfortunately, in reality it looks something like this: while Beijing residents watch the sunrise at 6 a.m., the western regions of Xinjiang will not see the sun for two hours.

This system is still relevant today, although Xinjiang has taken a stand and created its own unofficial time zone, which has a two-hour difference with China's national time.

The Chinese government does not recognize this step.

Japanese law prohibiting excess weight

Japan is currently the leanest industrially developed country in the world and there are good reasons for this - the law prohibits being fat.

Japanese law stipulates that men over 40 cannot have a waist larger than 85 cm; women are given a little more freedom - a waist of up to 90 cm.

Why? Official reasoning is that thin people are healthier, their blood pressure and cholesterol levels are normal.

People who fall outside the legal waist measurements should undergo counseling and start a government-approved diet.

Companies that have large numbers of overweight employees will have to pay a fine, which goes toward the healthcare of older Japanese people.

India and China make up a third of the world's population

It is well known that China has large numbers population, but the actual number of its inhabitants is simply staggering.

The population of Sichuan Province alone is equal to that of Greece, Portugal, Holland, Guatemala, Austria, Malaysia, New Zealand, Austria and Canada combined. And this is not the largest province, but only the fourth largest.

In fact, India and China together make up more than a third of the population globe as of 2012 - 2,500,000,000 people. And all these people fit into an area slightly larger than the United States.

Indian ritual that bestows good luck, courage and health to a baby

At the Solapur mountain temple in India, newborns are put through a ritual that is supposed to make the baby happy, strong and healthy.

Apart from hotels or restaurants that cater to Western visitors, in fact, in the whole of India it is difficult to find a bathroom that will have a roll of toilet paper - why use paper when you have a good left hand, right?

And not only eating, but also doing anything with the left hand is considered offensive, for example, passing money with the left hand or shaking hands with each other as a sign of greeting.

Chinese children are named after an important event

Russians will not be surprised by this fact; in our history and literature there is the “Heart of a Dog” and the names Vilor or Vladlen. In the 100 years since the revolution, admiration for the leaders has faded and everything has fallen into place. It is in Russia.

In 1992, China applied to host the 2000 Olympic Games. That same year, 680 Chinese named their children Aoyun, which literally translates to "Olympic Games". More than 4,000 people continued to give this name to their children over the next 15 years.

Another surge occurred when it was announced that China would host the Games in 2008.

It is not too strange for the Chinese to name their children after political events or movements. These are just a couple of ways to choose a baby name, but there are many others.

For example, according to the Chinese registry, common names are "Defend China" or "Build the Nation".

Some children are simply called: "Space Travel", with the name "Civilization" almost 300,000 Chinese now live in the country. For comparison, this is if the Russians named their daughter " Russian Federation" or "International Space Station".

Asia occupies one of the largest parts of the globe. Moreover, this is where almost the bulk of the population lives. The power and influence of Asian countries in the world is only growing every year. This is where the world's leading manufacturers strive to locate their production plants because of the low cost work force. Asia has everything for a comfortable life and recreation. People come here for work, leisure and study. Therefore, we suggest further reading more interesting and mysterious facts about Asia.

1. Asia is considered the largest continent on the planet in terms of population and area.

2. More than 4 billion people make up the population of Asia, in percentage terms this is 60% of the total population of the Earth.

3. Lives in India and China greatest number population of Asia.

4. In the west, the borders of Asia extend from Ural mountains to the Suez Canal.

5. In the south, Asia is washed by the Black and Caspian Seas.

6. The Indian Ocean washes Asia in the south.

7. In the east, Asia borders the Pacific Ocean.

8. The Arctic Ocean washes the shores of Asia in the north.

9. Asia can be roughly divided into seven subcontinents.

10. India, Japan and China are considered among the leading economic countries in Asia.

11. Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo are the three dominant financial centers.

12. Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism are the main religions of Asia.

13. Asia is more than 8527 km wide.

14. Mount Everest is the highest mountain, which is located in Asia.

15. The Dead Sea, which is located in Asia, is the lowest point above ground level.

16. Asia is considered the cradle of human civilization.

17. Asia has more than ten of the longest rivers.

18. Asia has a huge number of the highest mountains.

19. The shallow inland sea of ​​the Indian Ocean is called the Persian Gulf.

20. 85% of the territory of Siberia is permafrost.

21. Tejen most long river Asia.

22. On the Angara River there is the largest reservoir in the world.

23. Bamboo is the tallest plant on Earth.

24. The Indian rattan palm is the longest plant in the world.

25. Plants grow in the Indian mountains at the highest point in the world.

26. Similar natural conditions have two neighboring islands, Sumatra and Java.

27. People of Asian countries are not afraid to settle at the foot of active volcanoes.

28. The New Year is considered the birthday of every Vietnamese.

29. New Year in Thailand is called Songkran.

31. B Chinese city Dongguan is home to the largest shopping center.

32. North Korea celebrates its version of Christmas.

34. The territory of modern China can cover five time zones.

35. There is a sense of Chinese unity in the same time zone.

36. Excess weight is prohibited by Japanese law.

37. A third of the world's population is made up of India and China.

38. More than 500 years of Muslim traditions.

39. Eating only with your right hand is an exotic custom in India.

40. Children in China are named in honor of important events.

41. Analytical and individual thinking is more typical for residents of Eastern cultures.

42. Residents of Asian countries are susceptible to the collectivist-holistic trend.

43. Some Asian countries do not have separate designations for green and blue.

44. In Asian countries, various herbs and spices are worth their weight in gold.

45. A large garbage pit is located in the Pacific Ocean Square.

46. ​​Residents of Asia can easily carry objects of different weights on their heads.

47. India's population is larger than South and North America.

48. It is in Asia that will be located in the future tense The largest city peace.

49. Istanbul is the most unusual city Asia.

50. The famous Bosphorus Bay crosses the Asian expanse.

51. Eastern women are distinguished by modesty and purity.

52. The cow is considered a sacred animal in most Asian countries.

53. Snake spelling is considered a fairly ancient profession.

54. The famous dish “sushi” originated in South Asia.

55. Uzbekistan ranks fourth in the world in terms of gold reserves.

56. The Asian country of Uzbekistan is one of the five world cotton producers.

57. The seventh place in the world is occupied by Asian countries in terms of the amount of uranium.

58. Asia is among the top ten countries in the world for copper production.

59. The Tashkent TV Tower is considered the largest television tower in Asia.

60. Almost all of Mercedes buses are public transport in Tashkent.

61. Mirzachul melons are considered the most delicious in the world.

62. At night you can see the clear starry sky in Tashkent.

63. It is in Asia that you can find fresh and natural fruits.

64. India is considered the great Asian paradise.

65. A unique combination of Western and eastern traditions Türkiye is famous.

66. The Philippine Islands consist of more than 7,000 islands.

67. Today, Singapore is considered a developed city-state.

68. Indonesia is considered one of the most popular places in the world.

69. The goddess girl can be found in Nepal.

70. One of ancient civilizations China is considered.

71. South Korea is famous for its rich heritage and culture.

72. In industrial terms, Taiwan is considered the most industrialized country.

73. In “Nippon” the Japanese call their country.

74. Asia is considered the fastest growing continent.

75. The territory of South Asia is considered contrasting and unique.

76. Southeast Asia is considered the most densely populated part of the world.

77. More than 600 dialects can be found in Asian countries.

78. Tourists consider Nepal to be the kingdom of spirits and mystics.

79. The country of monks is Myanmar.

80. Best resort Asia is Thailand.

81. The island of Bali will delight guests with exotic nature and optimal climate.

82. You can observe the life of orangutans on Sepilok Island.

83. The Komodo dragon lives on Komodo Island.

84. The largest marine aquarium is located in Singapore.

85. Rainforests and the mountains occupy the most most Asia.

86. Asia is considered the place of love and romance.

87. The Philippines is the only Christian country in Asia.

88. Vietnam has the cheapest diving in the world.

89. Malaysia is a great place for servers.

90. The dirtiest and thermal springs located in Sri Lanka.

91. The beaches of Bali are considered the best for surfing.

92. The islands of Sumatra, Taiwan and Borneo are the most populated islands in Asia.

93. Largest river world passes through Asia.

94. Some of the best minerals in the world are found in Asia.

95. Once upon a time, part of Asia was considered under the control of the USSR.

96. The Silk Road once passed through the former part of Asia.

97. There is a rare endangered species of tigers in Asia.

98. There are more than a hundred exotic species of pandas in Asia.

99. The peoples of Asia were once ruled by the Taliban.

100. Japan is considered the most developed country in Asia.

Asia has a great influence on the Western world. Amazing discoveries, innovative ideas, philosophy and much more, all of this has a number of advantages for the West. However, with all this influence we are only barely able to touch the slightest surface of the Asian cultural layer. We have selected a dozen unusual facts about Asia, some of which may be puzzling.

Vietnamese people celebrate New Year according to the lunar calendar, otherwise it is called Tet. The duration of the holiday is three whole weeks. Interestingly, in addition to the New Year itself, these numbers lunar calendar are the birthday of all Vietnamese people. The Vietnamese count the number of Tet, that is, if a baby was born one week before the New Year, then he will already be 1 year old. It is curious that the Vietnamese documents still record the date, month, and year of birth.

Shopping center in a ghost town

- a billionaire from China planned in 2005 to build a huge shopping mall, the likes of which cannot be found in all of Asia. The city of Dongguan was chosen as the location for the development, and as it turned out, this was not the best choice.

A huge amount of money was spent on construction New Soth China Mall, which can accommodate 2,350 stores. A copy of the Arc de Triomphe is installed in the center, and a half-kilometer canal with boats is made. Amazingly, 97% of the shopping center territory has never been rented. Now the only workers in this place are security guards.

Why did this happen? Dongguan city has a population of 10 million people, but the vast majority of residents are peasants and factory workers. They simply do not have the money to not only buy goods in the shopping center, but even to get to it, because it is located some distance from the residential areas of the city and closer to industrial zones. This is how the unfortunate choice of location played a cruel joke on the Chinese billionaire.

North Koreans don't celebrate Christmas like the rest of the world. As you know, December 24 is the date of Catholic Christmas and it is celebrated in many parts of the world. Many Asian countries do not disdain this, even those where Buddhism is considered the official religion.

The North Korean authorities have strict control over the population, and the emergence of religious groups is immediately cut down in the bud. By the way, the last such group of Christians was discredited in the 80s. But December 24th is still a date, and Koreans have their own Christmas here. They are celebrating the birthday of Kim Jong Il's mother, who coincidentally was born on December 24th.

Japan is considered the slimmer country in the world and this is no coincidence. In the country Rising Sun There is a law according to which citizens cannot be overweight. There are certain regulations - men cannot have a waist larger than 85 centimeters, women - 90 cm. The Japanese say that slender people are healthier.

Those who are unable to control their weight undergo consultations with psychologists and nutritionists. They undertake to undergo a state diet, which is agreed upon by the best doctors in the country. Sanctions are also imposed on companies with a large number of overweight employees. Companies pay large fines, which then go towards healthcare for elderly Japanese.

A third of the world's population

2.5 billion people live in China and India - this is a third of the inhabitants of the entire globe. Amazingly, the numbers continue to grow. For example, Russia, the largest country in the world, has a population of 143 million people. The province of Sichuan alone, in China, has a larger population than Greece or Canada.

In words, countries say they are struggling with such demographics, but in reality they are timid attempts to stop the growing population.

Indian ritual

In the mountain temple Solapur that in India, they perform an unusual ritual. He assumes that a baby who has undergone this action is doomed to a happy life.

So, according to tradition, you need to climb with the baby to a 15-meter height, then push him from there. But of course not on earth, what happiness will there be there? Downstairs they stretch out white sheets and wait for the child to land. Despite the claims of various organizations, the Hindus of this land continue to perform the ritual. According to the locals, not a single injury has been recorded in 500 years.

It is curious that the Chinese like to name their children in honor of some significant events. For example, the Olympic Games were recently held in China, and 4,000 names were recorded in the country.” Ayun", which in translation means - " Olympic Games" This practice is normal in China, and choosing a name only provides a few options due to events in the country.

It's funny, but the more popular names are " Defend your homeland», « Nation building" Yes, yes, this is how the Chinese choose names. 400,000 people now live in China with the name " Civilization", of course this is in our language. “Conquest of space”, “Sputnik launch”, “Space travel” are the norm. Just imagine if in Russia they gave the names “Space Station” or “Constitution Day”.

One time for everyone

The length of China is more than five thousand kilometers, which covers as many as five time zones. However, time flows the same for every province in China. The fact is that in 1949 the authorities decided to unite and unite the nation. A time zone was included in this plan, and the authorities made the time uniform for all provinces. It’s interesting that when the sun rises in Beijing, residents of the western provinces wait another two hours for it, although the hands on the clock show 6:00. They even tried to resist the will of the party and created their own internal time, but the authorities do not approve of this step, but they do not interfere much either.

Malaysia loves to eat

Food is sacred to the Malays. The meal break must be respected and respected by the whole country. For example, a bus driver can interrupt his route and go to a cafe to have a snack, and this is treated very respectfully, and many go to the cafe with the driver. Imagine if this happens in the Moscow metro.

This is just an isolated case; there is also a very interesting example of the Malays’ love for food. At universities it is not only allowed, but even approved, to eat during lectures. That is, while the teacher explains another example from mathematical analysis on the blackboard, the Malays calmly listen to him and gobble up lunch. People from Western world It’s hard to understand such traditions; it’s crazy for them to stop work in broad daylight, while affecting the time of others. Although in Britain there is time for lunch, and in Spain there is siesta.

Many people believe that the Vietnamese are Buddhists. However, this is a misconception. In fact, only 9% of the country’s population is Buddhist; most of them have their own religion. A kind of cult of ancestral customs, based on a philosophical understanding of nature and the environment. This is very interesting, because throughout its history, Vietnam has more than once been subjected to the arrival of strangers with their own foundations and rules, but it has retained its religion.

Many people in Vietnam hang a mirror on the front door from the street side, as the Vietnamese assure that the evil spirit, seeing itself in the mirror, immediately leaves. Also, if you look closely, you can see many interesting figures in the courtyards, on window sills, and at doors.

Geographic data.

Türkiye is located in the eastern hemisphere. Its area is 779,452 square meters. km. Part of Turkey's territory - 97% - is located in Asia and 3% in Europe. Geographical feature Turkey is located at the crossroads of important routes connecting Europe with Asia since ancient times. Nowadays, highways and railway lines, connecting Europe with many Asian countries.

On three sides it is washed by seas: in the north - the Black Sea, in the west - the Aegean, in the south - the Mediterranean. In the southern part of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn Bay there is one of the most beautiful cities peace and most Big city Turkey - Istanbul (formerly Constantinople).

Minerals.

There are more than 100 types of minerals in Turkey. The country has many types of ore, mining, chemical, fuel and energy raw materials. First of all, we should mention tungsten, copper ores, borates, marble, coal, etc. Turkey accounts for 25% of the world's mercury reserves.

Climate.

Türkiye is a predominantly mountainous country. In this regard, the country's climate is on average mountainous in nature and features continental climate. Summers in Turkey are universally hot and dry, winters are snowy and cold.

Population.

The main population of the country is Turks. The country has never conducted a population census based on ethnic composition.

More than half a million Arabs live compactly in the southeast of Turkey. In large cities, especially in Istanbul, Assyrians are also numerous. The Jews of Turkey, who make up approximately 0.1% of the population in Turkey and live in large cities, consider themselves Turks who profess Judaism. Greeks, Albanians, Georgians, Azerbaijanis and representatives of many other nations live throughout the country, mainly in Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara and other large cities. Several thousand Russians permanently live in Turkey.

By religion, Turks are Muslims.

Ankara is the capital of Turkey.

Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Turkey and administrative center province of the same name. The second largest city and an important political and economic center of the country.

Mausoleum of Atotürk.

Of course, the Ataturk Mausoleum is the most visited and attractive attraction in Ankara. Located on the territory of a carefully protected huge park. The best craftsmen from Egypt, Spain, Italy and Germany worked on its creation.

The features of ancient Egyptian tombs are clearly visible in the architectural details and decorative design of this structure. The viewing platforms of the Mausoleum offer a magnificent all-round panorama of the central part of Ankara. In the halls of the Mausoleum, in addition to the tomb with the ashes of Ataturk, there are several museum exhibitions, including cars that the beloved leader of the Turkish people liked to ride in.

Ataturk died on November 10, 1938 at the fifty-seventh year of his life. Founder Turkish Republic, The great leader of the Turkish War of Liberation and the man who implemented great reforms, Ataturk spent his life fighting for the independence of the Turkish people and for Turkey to reach the level of progressive countries. It was under his leadership that Türkiye with its state system reached the level of modern civilization. The idea arose of building a mausoleum that would emphasize the greatness of this man with its entire appearance, reflecting his principles and ideas aimed at the development of the country. This was the desire of the Turkish people, mourning the loss of the Great Leader.

Iran

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a state in southwest Asia. The capital is the city of Tehran. Iran is one of the oldest states in the world. Iran is one of the most technologically developed countries in the region.

Iran has an arid climate. Along the coast of the Caspian Sea - subtropical. In the north of the country, in winter the temperature often drops below 0°, in July it occasionally reaches 30°. In summer, temperatures in deserts can exceed 40°. In the west of Iran, in the Zagros Mountains, winter temperatures are almost always below 0°, with heavy snowfall and strong winds. On the plains along the coast of the Persian Gulf, winters are generally mild and summers are hot and humid.

Main cities.

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran and one of the largest cities Asia. Political, economic, transport, trade and financial and Cultural Center countries.

Mashhemd is a city in northeastern Iran, the administrative center of the Razavi Khorasan province. Population: more than 2.5 million people.

Keremj is a city in northern Iran, a suburb of Tehran, located at the foot of the Elbrus Mountains. Population - 1223 thousand inhabitants. Keredj is an important transport center through which all cargo heading to Tehran from the Caspian Sea passes.

Isfahamn is a city in Iran on the banks of the Zayandeh River, located 340 km south of Tehran. The administrative center of Isfahan province, the third largest city in Iran. Population - 1583 thousand people

Tabriz is a city of 1.4 million people near Lake Uremia in Iran, the administrative center of the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan.

Shiraz is a city in southern Iran, the administrative center of Fars province. Shiraz is located in the valley of the small Khoshk River in the Zagros Mountains at an altitude of more than 1500 meters above sea level.

Qom is a city in Iran. Population: more than a million inhabitants. Qom is the holy city of the Shiites and the city is growing rapidly. The school of Muslim theology in Qom is considered the second most important among Shiites after the school in Najaf.

Ahvaz is a city in western Iran, the administrative center of Khuzestan. Located on the banks of the Karun River. Population - about 841 thousand. An important center of the metallurgical industry.

Iraq

The Republic of Iraq is a state in the Middle East, in the Mesopotamian lowland, in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Iraq has large oil and natural gas reserves.

The climate in Iraq is continental, with dry, hot summers and relatively rainy, cool winters, subtropical in the north, tropical in the south. Average January temperatures increase from north to south from 7 to 12?C, average July temperatures are 34?C everywhere. Annual precipitation is 50-150 mm on the plains and up to 1500 mm in the mountains. Dust storms are common in the south in summer.

Capital Baghdad.

Baghdad is located almost in the center of Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris River, not far from the mouth of the Diyala River. Natural vegetation is represented mainly by comb grass, date palm, and in the coastal zone - salt marsh grasses, reeds, reeds, and willow. The population of Baghdad before the start of hostilities with the United States was over 5 million people. However, as a result of the death of some of the city’s residents, as well as the emigration of Baghdad residents to other cities of the country and beyond, the number of the urban population has decreased significantly; there is currently no exact data. National composition The city's population is represented mainly by Arabs, as well as Kurds, Turks, Assyrians, Armenians, Jews, etc. State language Arabic is a widely spoken language, and Kurdish has received official status.

Syria

The Syrian Arab Republic is a state in the Middle East. The population of Syria is 20 million people. The capital is Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

The climate is generally arid. The average annual precipitation does not exceed 100 mm. average temperature in January - 7°, in July - 26.

Capital Damascus.

Damascus is the capital of Syria. One of the oldest cities in the world.

Sights of Damascus:

Sayida Zeinab Mosque

Sayida Rakaya Mosque

Umayyad Mosque - the largest mosque in Syria

Damascus Cathedral

Cathedral of the Virgin Mary

House of Saint Ananias

St. Paul's Chapel

Roman Catholic Cathedral

St. John's Church

Lavra of St. Paul

Sanctuary of St. George

Old houses

Azem Palace

Bayt al-Akkad

Maktab Anbar

Bayt al-Mamluk

Lebanon

Lebanon is a small mountainous state in the Middle East. The population of Lebanon is about 4 million people. The republic stands out in the Arab world for its extreme religious diversity.

Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate. In coastal regions, winters tend to be cool and summers are humid and hot. In winter, in the mountains the temperature drops below 0°, and snow is possible. Although the average annual rainfall in Lebanon is much higher than in neighboring countries, in the northeast, an arid climate prevails, as the mountains block the flow of moist air from the sea. Sand and dust storms occur frequently.

In ancient Lebanon, forests of Lebanese cedar grew in huge quantities, which became a symbol of the country. For centuries, trees were cut down without replanting as the main material in shipbuilding. This led to the fact that by the 20th century, only isolated islands of greenery remained in place of the richest forests.

Capital Beirut.

Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, a large sea ​​port. Beirut is the most important financial and banking center of the entire Middle East. In addition, many international organizations. The population is 70% Muslim and 30% Christian.

Currently, the city center has been largely restored, and city architects are building a new Beirut with high-rise buildings, commercial complexes and cultural centers.

Jordan

Jordan is an Arab state in the Middle East. About 90% is desert and semi-desert.

Tourists visiting Jordan can visit the beaches and coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba, where undersea world You can see the beauty of the Dead Sea and ancient monuments almost from the shore. But the largest number of tourists is attracted by one of the new seven wonders of the world - Petra.

Museums and libraries.

The national heritage is preserved in three small museums in Amman: Archaeological Museum, located in the city's citadel, the Folklore Museum, located in the lower galleries of the Roman amphitheater in the city center, and the National Art Museum, which houses the work of local artists. In Madaba, the museum, which occupies several old city buildings, houses a collection of late Byzantine mosaics.

Pemtra - ancient city. Located on the territory of modern Jordan, at an altitude of more than 900 m above sea level and 660 m above the surrounding area, the Arava Valley, in the narrow Siq canyon. The territory of Petra occupies a large area. From the center, where the ruins of numerous buildings are well preserved, no longer rock-built, but built in the traditional way, from stone, it extends for several kilometers.

Capital Amman

Ammamn is the capital of Jordan and the largest city in the country. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Population: 2.5 million people.

Geography.

The city is located 65 km east of Jerusalem, on seven hills, which are represented on the Jordanian flag by a seven-pointed star.

Kingdom of Bahrain - Island state on the archipelago of the same name in the Persian Gulf in South-West Asia, the smallest Arab state. Capital Manama.

Geography

Area - 620 km?.

Coastline: 161 km.

Bahrain occupies three relatively large and many small islands 16 km east of the coast of Saudi Arabia and is connected to this country by a road bridge.

Qatar is a state in southwest asia, located on the Qatar Peninsula in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

Population.

40% of the population are Arabs. There are also people from Pakistan, India, Iran, and other countries. The official language is Arabic, English is widely spoken. The state religion is Sunni Islam, Iranians are Shiites.

Almost the entire territory of the country is desert. In the north there is a low sandy plain with rare oases, covered with moving sands; in the middle part of the peninsula there is a rocky desert with areas of salt marshes; in the south there are high sandy hills. The climate is continental tropical, dry. In summer, temperatures often rise to 50 °C. The peninsula is poor in water. There are no permanent rivers; most of the water has to be obtained through sea desalination. Underground springs fresh water and oases are located mainly in the north of the country. Animal world poor, dominated by reptiles and rodents.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a state in southwest Asia in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

Geography.

The United Arab Emirates occupies an area shaped like a rhinoceros horn that protrudes into the Persian Gulf from the northeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The UAE borders Saudi Arabia in the south and west, and with Oman in the east.

The climate of the country is tropical desert. There are often sandstorms. The temperature in summer is 35-40 degrees C, often reaching 50, and in winter in the daytime it is 20-23 degrees, colder at night, but frosts are extremely rare, precipitation is irregular.

Population.

Population of the United United Arab Emirates is approximately 4.5 million people, of whom ethnic Arabs make up only a third and indigenous people 11%. The rest are from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries south asia who immigrated to the UAE as temporary workers. 85% of people living in the country are not its citizens. Arab immigrants are represented mainly by Palestinian refugees.

Oman is a state in Southwest Asia, in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula.

Geographic data.

In the northeast of the country, along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, a narrow strip stretches the coastal plain of Al Batinah, the most developed and densely populated part of the country. A vast area to the west of this plain is occupied by the El-Hajar-el-Gharbi mountains. Some peaks reach 3000 m ( highest point- 3353 m). In the middle part of the country there is a low plateau, largely covered with sand. Its average height is 500 m. In the southern part of the country, Dhofar, mountains rise, the highest along the southern coast - up to 1678 m. There are no permanent rivers in Oman. All rivers have only periodic flow, mainly in winter.

Vegetation is poor. There are groves of tamarisk, fig, plane and oak in the mountains, but total area there are few of them. There are savannas in the foothills. In the northern and south coast there are palm groves.

In the middle part of Oman there is a desert; there are areas completely devoid of any vegetation.

The fauna is quite diverse. Lots of sand gazelles and rodents. Predators live here: striped hyena, jackal, fox. Lots of birds. There are very numerous reptiles - agamas, foot-and-mouth disease, geckos, chameleons, as well as arachnids - phalanges, scorpions.

Capital Muscat.

Muscat is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Oman. The territory of Muscat with its suburbs covers an area of ​​about 1500 km². Since Oman's modernization began in 1970, Muscat has experienced rapid infrastructure development and urbanization, and, as is common in other cities around the world, neighboring towns have gradually merged into the metropolis.

Attractions.

Sultan Qaboos Mosque - In 1992, Sultan Qaboos decreed that his country of Oman should have its own Grand Mosque. A competition was held in 1993, construction began in 1995. Construction work took six years and four months.

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