Marj al-Saffar or Marj al-Suffar ( ar, مرج الصفر ') is a large plain to the south of
Damascus. Marj al-Saffar is bounded to the north by the right bank of the
al-A'waj river, which flows from
Mount Hermon to the
Sabkhat al-Hijana. In the south the plain is bounded by the lava field of the
Lajat (the largest, geologically recent lava-field in the south of Syria, roughly situated between
Umm al-Qusur and
Ghabaghib mountain). In the south-east, it is disputed whether the volcanic area of the
al-Safa or the village of
Jubb al-Safa that marks the boundary of the plain. Marj al-Saffar is bounded to the west by the village of
Kanakir and in the north-west by the lava flow of
Zakiyah. The railway line from Damascus to
Daraa bounds Marj al-Saffar to the east.
Military history
Because of its good water supply and excellent grazing Marj al-Saffar was a staging area for armies and an area in which many battles was fought. For list of battles see
Battle of Marj al-Saffar.
Bibliography
*
Plains of Syria
Rif Dimashq Governorate
{{Syria-geo-stub