Madaya, Syria
Madaya
مضايا | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 33°41′16″N 36°06′3″E / 33.68778°N 36.10083°E | |
| Country | Syria |
| Governorate | Rif Dimashq |
| District | al-Zabadani |
| Subdistrict | Madaya |
| Elevation | 1,344 m (4,409 ft) |
| Population (2004 census) | |
• Total | 9,371 |
Madaya (Arabic: مضايا, romanized: Maḍāyā) is a small mountainous town in Syria, located at an altitude of around 1,300 metres (4,300 ft). It is located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Damascus in the Rif Dimashq Governorate. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Madaya had a population of 9,371 in the 2004 census. Its inhabitants are predominantly Sunni Muslims. Madaya is an important summer resort in Syria, along with the nearby cities of Zabadani and Bloudan. The town's population is estimated at 15,000 in 2015.
The town's farms are famous for growing apples, cherries, and peaches, and the Barada River passes through it. It also has a number of springs and eyes that supply the town's needs, such as the Kawthar Spring and Ain Mayseh, which has made it a destination for many tourists coming from Damascus or from outside the country.