Rankous or Rankus ( ar, رنكوس) is a
Syrian town and summer resort in the province's Damascus countryside (
Rif Dimashq) located in Mount Qalamoun (anti-Lebanon) in Syria, 45 km from Damascus, with a total area of 22.277 km ², extends between 1650 and 2150 m. The climate of the town is cool in summer and cold in winter. The rate of rain and snow usually varies between 350 and 650 mm. The mountains surrounding the town are covered with snow in winter. According to the
Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Rankous had a population of 7,717 in the 2004 census.
[General Census of Population and Housing 2004](_blank)
Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Rif Dimashq Governorate.
The town is famous for the cultivation of fruit trees: apples, pears, cherries, almonds, apricots, and vegetables: potatoes, peas, many types of vegetables. There are many types of livestock Rankous, such as sheep, goats, cows, poultry.
History
There are Rankous historical monuments in the vicinity of the town, caves, old cemeteries and tombs carved and engraved in stone.
In 1838, its inhabitants were noted as being predominantly
Sunni Muslim
Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word ''Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagr ...
s.
The town was severely damaged during the clashes between the pro-government forces and the armed opposition during the
Syrian civil war.
People from Rankous
* Cheikh Mahmoud Baayoun (
Mahmoud Al Rankousi)
* The translator and essayist
Mohamed Ali Abdel Jalil
References
Bibliography
*
Populated places in Al-Tall District
Towns in Syria
{{RifDimashqSY-geo-stub