Hama

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/hama

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Hama?West-central Syria, situated on the Orontes River
2. How many people live in Hama?996,000 (2023 census), making it one of Syria's four largest cities
3. What is the capital of?Hama Governorate, notable for having no international land borders
4. What is the renowned for?Traditional cheese-making, exemplified by the dessert Halawet el Jibn
5. What are the norias in Hama?The norias are giant wooden water wheels that have been turning for thousands of years. They scoop water from the Orontes River and use it to irrigate gardens.
6. Why are the norias in Hama special?Some of the norias date back to 1100 BC, making them among the oldest working or preserved water wheels in the world. They show how ancient people used clever engineering.

Orontes River: A major river in Western Asia, flowing through Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, historically vital for agriculture and settlement.
Norias: Large, traditional wooden water wheels, historically employed in Hama and other regions for lifting water for irrigation and urban supply.
Halawet el Jibn: A sweet cheese-based dessert originating from Hama, Syria, characterized by its soft texture and sweet syrup coating.
Governorate: An administrative division or province in several countries, including Syria, similar to a state or region.