Syria is located in South part of west Asia and Jordan, Iraq, and Israel are its neighboring countries. Its geographic coordinates lies between the latitude 35o 00' North and longitude 38o 00' East respectively. It is inhabited for thousands of years and has a rich cultural history. Most Syrians are Arab Muslims, with small Kurdish minority. Only one-third of the land is cultivated. The main cash crop is cotton and other crops include barley, wheat, vegetables, and fruits. Goats and sheep's are mainly raised for their milk and meat. Damascus, the capital city on the River Barada is the world's oldest inhabited city. It has small shops selling fresh fruits grown in the orchards outside the city. The staple food of Syria is rice and flat bread and the meats included in the main meals are lamb, chicken, and fish. Mint and parsley are the main herbs in their salads.