Al-Bayda البيضا | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Al-Bayda Location in Syria | |
| Coordinates:35°02′17″N36°20′14″E / 35.03806°N 36.33722°E /35.03806; 36.33722 | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Hama |
| District | Masyaf |
| Subdistrict | Masyaf |
| Elevation | 510 m (1,670 ft) |
| Population (2004)[1] | |
• Total | 1,173 |
Al-Bayda (Arabic:البيضا) is a village in northwesternSyria located west ofHama, 95 km (59 mi) southeast of the port city ofLatakia, and 210 km (130 mi) north ofDamascus. It is administratively part of theHama Governorate. Nearby localities includeMasyaf 2 kilometers to the north,al-Suwaydah to the southeast,Ayn Halaqim to the south, andWadi al-Oyun to the southwest. According to theSyria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), al-Bayda had a population of 1,173 in the 2004 census.[1] Its inhabitants are almost exclusivelyGreek OrthodoxChristians.[2]
Al-Bayda was founded by Ibrahim Bolous Ghanemeh in about 1730. The town is home to the St. Gawargeos church, which was built in 1814.
Most of Al-Bayda's residents work in agriculture,tourism, or for the government.
