Time Zone |
Asia/Damascus |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+3 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+3 |
Time Zone |
Africa/Malabo |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Hama is an important city in western Syria, located on the banks of the Orontes River and is the capital of Hama Province. Dating back to the Bronze Age, the historic city was known in ancient times as "Hamat" and was once a trading hub on the Silk Road. Famous for its spectacular Norias waterwheels, these 2,000-year-old wooden waterwheels are a symbol of Hama and were declared a World Heritage Site in 2011. Historically, Hama was a fusion of Assyrian, Roman and Arab civilizations, and boasts monuments such as the Great Mosque. An agricultural center that produces cotton, olives, and grains, Hama is rebuilding itself to its former vitality after the 2011 Syrian crisis, which saw intense conflict and damage to the city's facilities.
Bata is Equatorial Guinea's largest port city and the economic center of the continental region, located along the Gulf of Guinea in west-central Africa. As the capital of Littoral Province, the city is an important hub for commerce and trade in the country, with one of the country's busiest deep-water harbors, and is a major exporter of agricultural products such as timber, coffee and cocoa.
The city of Bata is characterized by a blend of modern architecture and colonial style, with the coastal boulevard and sandy beaches being a prominent feature of the landscape. The city's infrastructure has improved significantly in recent years with the development of the oil economy, an international airport and a modern highway network. It is home to most of the country's manufacturing industry and is an important gateway to the rainforest regions of the interior.
The city is surrounded by tropical rainforests and pristine beaches with unique biodiversity. The local population speaks mainly Fang and Spanish and retains a culture of traditional music and dance. The annual Bata International Cultural Festival attracts artistic groups from the West African region and features a mix of Central African and Spanish cultures.