Bloudan ( ar, بلودان, Blūdān) is a

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

n village located 51 kilometers north-west of

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

, in the

Rif Dimashq Governorate Rif Dimashq Governorate ( ar, محافظة ريف دمشق, ', literally, the "Governorate of the Countryside of Damascus", Damascus Suburb) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in the southwestern part of the c ...

; it has an

altitude Altitude or height (also sometimes known as depth) is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context ...

of about 1500 meters. In the 2004 census by the Central Bureau of Statistics it had a population of 3,101.General Census of Population and Housing 2004
Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Rif Dimashq Governorate. The majority of the inhabitants are

Greek Orthodox Christian The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also call ...

s, and a significant minority are

Sunni Muslim Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word ''Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagree ...

s and

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to ...

s. Bloudan is situated on top of a hill that overlooks the Al-Zabadani plain and is surrounded by

mountain forests Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...

. Its moderate temperature and low humidity in summer attracts many visitors from

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

and throughout

; as a major tourist destination, it is visited by thousands every year, mainly

Arab The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, No ...

s from Lebanon and the

Arab States of the Persian Gulf The Arab states of the Persian Gulf refers to a group of Arab states which border the Persian Gulf. There are seven member states of the Arab League in the region: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. ...

. In winter, Bloudan is usually snowy and draws many skiers.Grateful but grieving: Syrian refugee family grapples with uprooting
Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved on 2018-01-23. 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 Palestinians ( ar, الفلسطينيون, ; he, פָלַסְטִינִים, ) or Palestinian people ( ar, الشعب الفلسطيني, label=none, ), also referred to as Palestinian Arabs ( ar, الفلسطينيين العرب, label=non ...

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-summer Mediterranean type of climate sbwith a mean year average less than 11 degrees Celsius and abundant annual precipitation oth in the form of snow and rainaveraging 690 mm. Being about 1000 metres higher than the city centre of Damascus means that Bloudan and other settlements in its vicinity are sought-after by those who want to escape the arid and hot climate of the capital city. Summers in Bloudan are long, dry, and cool while the winter season is three months long with heavy rain and snow.

Etymology

The current name, Bloudan, is derived from the Aramaic name ''Bil-dan'', which means the place of the god ''Bil'' or ''

Ba'al Baal (), or Baal,; phn, , baʿl; hbo, , baʿal, ). ( ''baʿal'') was a title and honorific meaning "owner", "lord" in the Northwest Semitic languages spoken in the Levant during antiquity. From its use among people, it came to be applied to ...

''. Bloudan is also called the land of almond, because its forests are dominated by almond trees.

History

Bloudan is a very ancient village 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 The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also call ...

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

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 village, with buildings that are hundreds of years old. In 1858, the population was noted as being Greek Orthodox, Protestant, and Muslim. Modern Bloudan, constructed of rendered concrete, has largely replaced the Greek Orthodox village built in the 18th and 19th centuries and continues to grow today.''Syria & Lebanon'' (Footprint Travel Guide) 2001:135.

References

Bibliography

External links

Information
Syrian Tours. Retrieved on 1 December 2006.
بلودان
Syria Atlas. Retrieved on 1 December 2006. {{Rif Dimashq Governorate, zabadani Populated places in Al-Zabadani District Eastern Orthodox Christian communities in Syria Ski areas and resorts in Syria