Homs

Homs is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is 501 meters (1,644 ft) above sea level and is located 162 kilometers (101 mi) north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is also the central link between the interior cities and the Mediterranean coast. Before the Syrian Civil War, Homs was a major industrial center, and with a population of at least 652,609 people in 2004, it was the third-largest city in Syria after Aleppo to the north and the capital Damascus to the south. Its population reflected Syria’s general religious diversity, composed of Sunni and Alawite Muslims, and Christians. There are several historic mosques and churches in the city, and it is close to the Krak des Chevaliers castle, a World Heritage Site.