City
in Syria with 1,7 million
inhabitants (estimate 1999).
Commercial
and cultural centre of northern Syria. Aleppo is situated on an arid plateau
at an elevation of 430 metres above sea level.
Ancient
Aleppo was known as Beroea, and it dates back to at least 1000 BC.
Aleppo's
economy is based on trading of agricultural products; on carpet factories,
output of silk, cotton, wool textiles, embroidery, silver and gold artefacts;
and leather goods.
Aleppo has a university,
which was founded in 1960. The city's architecture is a nice mixture between
the modern and the traditional. Most famous of Aleppo's sights is the
citadel, from where all of the city can be seen. Other sights, like the
Mosque of Zacharias, is said to be the situated on the location of the tomb
of John the Baptist's father.