Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria. It is located 213 kilometres (132 mi) north of Damascus and 46 km (29 mi) north of Homs. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate, which is the only governorate that has no land borders with any foreign countries. With a population of 996,000 (2023 census), Hama is one of the four largest cities in Syria, alongside Damascus, Aleppo and Homs. Hama is known for its cheesemaking tradition, notably reflected in a signature local dessert Halawet el Jibn.
The city is renowned for its seventeen norias, which are claimed to date back to 1100 BC. Though historically used for irrigation, the norias are used purely for show today and function solely as a tourist attraction and a symbol of the city.
