"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٦‎٨] (٧٣٨/٣٤٠)

PHYSICAL SURVEY
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bourhood of Antioch. A prominent peak on this ridge,
rises to an alt. of 3,560 ft., and the craggy height of Mount
Silpius, at the base of which lies Antioch, has an alt. of
1,550 ft., or 1,200 ft. above the town.
Extending southwards from the north-eastern limit of the
ridge and bounded E. by the Orontes valley, is J. Quseir.
The name Quseir is applied locally to the whole mountain
tract as far S. as Esh-Shughr and as far W. as a line running
approximately from Antioch to Esh-Shughr. It is a tame,
rounded and almost treeless tableland falling eastward and is,
in general, fertile and fairly well cultivated. In the part
immediately S. of Antioch, it is well watered by numerous
streams in green valleys bordered with oleanders and
other trees.
Between J. Quseir and the coastal ridge, there is a series of
ridges and deep valleys running southwards to Wadi el-Kebir,
and forming a succession of transverse ridges, deep valleys,
and rocky crags in a wild and almost uninhabited country.
The southward trend of the valleys draining to N. el-Kebir
is a distinct structural feature of this part of the range, which is
geographically detached from the mountains to the south by
the great valley of the N. el-Kebir.
The southward continuation of the range is the part more
particularly known as J. Ansariyeh. It is more uniform,
and presents a rounded outline with a gradual rise from the sea
and is diversified by scrub-covered lower hills and intersected
by deep valleys falling westward. The main ridge runs N. and
S., has an average elevation of about 3,000 ft. and overlooks the
Orontes valley towards which the eastern slopes, intersected
by deep gorges, fall almost precipitously. On the W. the
mountains fall more in terrace formation, steep slopes and rocky
ridges alternating with small plateaux and cultivated areas.
They sweep in circles round the large plain of Ladiqiyeh and
Tartus throwing out spurs which at Qakat el-Marqab,
reach the sea. From here southward for some distance, the
plain is interrupted and, at Dhahr Safra, the mountains com
mence their second great inland sweep leaving a wide plain