Bethlehem

==Geography==
[[File:Bethléem résidence.JPG|thumb|Residence of the [[Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Betharram]], 2008|left]]

Bethlehem is located at an elevation of about {{convert|775|m|ft|sp=us}} [[Metres above sea level|above sea level]], {{convert|30|m|ft|sp=us}} higher than nearby [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pnic.gov.ps/english/tourism/tour7.html#file2|title=Tourism In Bethlehem Governorate|website=Palestinian National Information Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230045307/http://www.pnic.gov.ps/english/tourism/tour7.html |archive-date=December 30, 2007}}</ref> Bethlehem is situated on the [[Judaean Mountains|Judean Mountains]].

The city is located {{convert|73|km|mi|sp=us}} northeast of [[Gaza City]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]], {{convert|75|km|mi|sp=us}} west of [[Amman]], [[Jordan]], {{convert|59|km|mi|sp=us}} southeast of [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]] and {{convert|10|km|mi|0|sp=us}} south of Jerusalem.<ref>[http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/distanceresult.html?p1=1048&p2=676 Distance from Bethlehem to Tel Aviv] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106234136/https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/distanceresult.html?p1=1048&p2=676 |date=November 6, 2018}}, [http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/distanceresult.html?p1=1048&p2=702 Distance from Bethlehem to Gaza] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106234310/https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/distanceresult.html?p1=1048&p2=702 |date=November 6, 2018}} Time and Date AS / Steffen Thorsen.</ref> Nearby cities and towns include [[Beit Safafa]] and Jerusalem to the north, [[Beit Jala]] to the northwest, [[Husan]] to the west, [[Al-Khader|al-Khadr]] and [[Artas, Bethlehem|Artas]] to the southwest, and [[Beit Sahour]] to the east. Beit Jala and the latter form an [[Urban agglomeration|agglomeration]] with Bethlehem. The [[Aida Camp|Aida]] and [['Azza|Azza]] refugee camps are located within the city limits.<ref>[[:File:Thameenmap3.jpg|Detailed map of the West Bank]].</ref>

In the center of Bethlehem is its old city. The old city consists of eight quarters, laid out in a mosaic style, forming the area around the Manger Square. The quarters include the Christian an-Najajreh, al-Farahiyeh, al-Anatreh, al-Tarajmeh, al-Qawawsa and Hreizat quarters and al-Fawaghreh—the only Muslim quarter.<ref name="BPS">[http://www.bethlehem.ps/cultural_sites/towns_in_bethlehem/7.php Bethlehem's Quarters]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation {{dead link|date=May 2014}}</ref> Most of the Christian quarters are named after the Arab [[Ghassanids|Ghassanid]] clans that settled there.<ref>[http://www.med-voices.org/pages/showresource.aspx?id=1206&lang=0 Clans −2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019123102/http://www.med-voices.org/pages/showresource.aspx?id=1206&lang=0 |date=October 19, 2013}} Mediterranean Voices: [[Oral history|Oral History]] and Cultural Practice in Mediterranean Cities</ref> Al-Qawawsa Quarter was formed by [[Arab Christians|Arab Christian]] emigrants from the nearby town of [[Tuqu']] in the 18th century.<ref name="Zeiter">[http://www.bethlehem.ps/cultural_sites/natural_heritage/tqoa.php Tqoa' area]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} Zeiter, Leila. Centre for Preservation of Culture and History. {{dead link|date=May 2014}}</ref> There is also a [[Assyrian people|Syriac]] quarter outside of the old city,<ref name="BPS" /> whose inhabitants originate from [[Midyat]] and [[Ömerli, Mardin|Ma'asarte]] in [[Turkey]].<ref>[http://www.stern-von-bethlehem.de/english/bato_eng.html Short Overview of the Bato Family] BatoFamily.com {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The total population of the old city is about 5,000.<ref name="BPS" />

===Climate===
Bethlehem has a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Csa''), with hot and dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Winter temperatures (mid-December to mid-March) can be cool and rainy. January is the coldest month, with temperatures ranging from 1&nbsp;to&nbsp;13&nbsp;degree Celsius (33–55&nbsp;°F). From May through September, the weather is warm and sunny. August is the hottest month, with a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86&nbsp;°F). Bethlehem receives an average of {{convert|700|mm|in|sp=us}} of rainfall annually, 70% between November and January.<ref name="BMC">{{cite web
|url=http://www.bethlehem-city.org/English/City/GeneralInfo/index.php
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128015913/http://www.bethlehem-city.org/English/City/GeneralInfo/index.php
|archive-date=November 28, 2007
|title=Bethlehem City: Climate
|website=Bethlehem Municipality}}</ref>

Bethlehem's average annual relative [[humidity]] is 60% and reaches its highest rates between January and February. Humidity levels are at their lowest in May. Night dew may occur in up to 180 days per year. The city is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea breeze that occurs around mid-day. However, Bethlehem is affected also by annual waves of hot, dry, sandy and dust ''Khamaseen'' winds from the [[Arabian Desert]], during April, May and mid-June.<ref name="BMC"/>

{{Weather box
|location = Bethlehem
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 12
|Feb high C = 13
|Mar high C = 16
|Apr high C = 22
|May high C = 26
|Jun high C = 28
|Jul high C = 30
|Aug high C = 30
|Sep high C = 28
|Oct high C = 26
|Nov high C = 20
|Dec high C = 14
|Year high C =
|Jan low C = 5
|Feb low C = 5
|Mar low C = 7
|Apr low C = 10
|May low C = 14
|Jun low C = 17
|Jul low C = 19
|Aug low C = 19
|Sep low C = 17
|Oct low C = 15
|Nov low C = 11
|Dec low C = 7
|Year low C =
|Jan rain days = 12
|Feb rain days = 11
|Mar rain days = 9
|Apr rain days = 4
|May rain days = 2
|Jun rain days = 0
|Jul rain days = 0
|Aug rain days = 0
|Sep rain days = 0
|Oct rain days = 3
|Nov rain days = 7
|Dec rain days = 11
|Jan snow days = 1
|Feb snow days = 1
|Mar snow days = 0
|Apr snow days = 0
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 1
|source 1 = myweather2.com<ref name="weather2">{{cite web|url=http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/Israel/Bethlehem/climate-profile.aspx?month=1 |title=January Climate History for Bethlehem &#124; Local &#124; Israel |publisher=Myweather2.com |access-date=February 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205154501/http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/Israel/Bethlehem/climate-profile.aspx?month=1|archive-date=December 5, 2013}}</ref>
|date=February 2012
}}