Bloudan
| Bloudan بلودان | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
[[File: | |
  Bloudan | |
| Coordinates: 33°44′N 36°08′E / 33.733°N 36.133°E | |
| Country |
 Syria |
| Governorate | Rif Dimashq Governorate |
| District | Zabadani District |
| Nahiyah | Al-Zabadani |
| Elevation | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) |
| Population (2004)[1] | |
| • Total | 3,101 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+3) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+2) |
| Area code(s) | 13 |
Bloudan (Arabic: بلودان) is a Syrian town located 51 kilometers north-west of the Damascus Governorate, in the Rif Dimashq Governorate; it has an altitude of about 1500 meters. In the 2004 census by the Central Bureau of Statistics it had a population of 3,101.[1] Its inhabitants are predominantly Christian.[2]
Bloudan is situated on top of a hill that overlooks the Zabadani plain and is surrounded by mountain forests. Its moderate temperature and low humidity in summer attracts many visitors from Damascus and throughout Syria; as a major tourist destination, it is visited by thousands every year, mainly Arabs from Lebanon and the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. In winter, Bloudan is usually snowy and draws many skiers. Bloudan has many restaurants and hotels, of which the most famous is the Great Bloudan Hotel which hosted the first pan-Arab Bloudan Conference to discuss the Palestinian issue in 1937. Bloudan is also famous for its many parks and springs, such as the Abuzad, Qas'a, and Hazir springs.
Climate
Bloudan has a relatively cool cool-summer Mediterranean type of climate [Csb] with mean year average less than 11 degrees Celsius and abundant annual precipitations [both in form of snow and rain] averaging 690 mm. Being about 1000 metres higher than city centre of Damascus means that Bloudan and other settlements in its vicinity are sought-after by those who wants to escape arid and hot climate of the capital city. Summers there are long, dry, and cool while winter season is three-month long and heavily rainy and snowy.
| Climate data for Buqayn | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 5.7 (42.3) |
6.2 (43.2) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
22.3 (72.1) |
24.3 (75.7) |
25.0 (77) |
23.6 (74.5) |
19.0 (66.2) |
13.1 (55.6) |
6.8 (44.2) |
15.6 (60.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.9 (35.4) |
2.3 (36.1) |
5.1 (41.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
12.8 (55) |
16.9 (62.4) |
18.7 (65.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
17.6 (63.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
8.8 (47.8) |
3.4 (38.1) |
10.8 (51.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −1.9 (28.6) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
0.7 (33.3) |
4.2 (39.6) |
7.4 (45.3) |
11.5 (52.7) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.9 (57) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.1 (46.6) |
4.6 (40.3) |
0.0 (32) |
6.0 (42.8) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 153 (6.02) |
127 (5) |
105 (4.13) |
46 (1.81) |
23 (0.91) |
1 (0.04) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2 (0.08) |
27 (1.06) |
71 (2.8) |
135 (5.31) |
690 (27.17) |
| Source: Climate-Data.ORG | |||||||||||||
Etymology
The current name, Bloudan, is derived from the Aramaic name Bil-dan, which means the place of the god Bil or Ba'al. Bloudan is also called the land of almond, because its forests are dominated by almond trees.
History
Bloudan is a very ancient town whose history goes back to the Roman era, as is evident by the paintings and carvings found in southern Bloudan. Remains of an ancient Greek Orthodox monastery and the St. George church are also found in the mountains of eastern Bloudan. The historic St. Elias valley is an ancient part of the town, with buildings that are hundreds of years old.
Modern Bloudan, constructed of rendered concrete, has largely replaced the Greek Orthodox and Catholic village built in the 18th and 19th centuries and continues to grow today.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 General Census of Population and Housing 2004. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Rif Dimashq Governorate. (Arabic)
- ↑ Aoun: Christian town calls for help against rebel attacks. The Daily Star. 2013-09-10.
- ↑ Syria & Lebanon (Footprint Travel Guide) 2001:135.
- Information, Syrian Tours. Retrieved on 1 December 2006.
- بلودان, Syria Atlas. Retrieved on 1 December 2006.
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