SYRIA: The tenth Syrian Spring Festival takes place in the city of Hama

Record ID: 279763

  • Title: SYRIA: The tenth Syrian Spring Festival takes place in the city of Hama
  • Date: 20th April 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF WATER WHEELS
  • Embargoed: 5th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA6Z5O916BJVU1IYIWRH5NUTS9L
  • Story Text: The tenth Syrian spring festival is underway in the city of Hama and organisers hope it will strengthen the country's tourist industry by highlighting Syria's historic and touristic sites.

    In an effort to revive Syrian tourism, cities from all over Syria have, in a joint effort, organised the tenth Syrian Spring Festival.
    Beginning on Wednesday (April 18), the 15 day festival aims to highlight the traditions, historical and touristic sites of many of the country's cities.
    Salam Sankar, one of the organisers, said that the aim was to draw attention to the historical and touristic sites which the festival highlights.
    "To focus attention on the historical and touristic sites in the 10th Hama Spring Festival and those of previous years," she said.
    The festivities will include activities such as conferences, artistic concerts and electing 'Miss Spring'.
    Hama is situated 47 Km north of Homs and 140 km south of Aleppo.
    The city is situated on the Orontes River, and is considered to be one of the most picturesque cities in Syria. One of its chief attractions are its water wheels.
    The event provides people with the opportunity of leaving their cares and worries behind and spend a day enjoying themselves, according to Syrian actor Salim Kallas.
    "It is a nice idea, it allows people to set aside the political and depressing atmosphere and to see something beautiful," he said.
    Hama is the centre of an agricultural area that produces cereals, grain, fruit and vegetables as well as cotton, wool and silk fabrics.
    The water wheels, a prominent feature of the city, measure between 10 and 22 metres in diameter, are built of wood and have origins dating back to the 14th century.
    Despite no longer serving their original purpose of providing water for drinking and irrigation, they are still well kept by the local authorities and remain a great tourist attraction.
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