Lebanon and Beirut
Lebanon is a small coastal country that has historically been a melting pot of civilizations. An ancient land, Lebanon features in the writings of Homer and in the Old Testament. Its cities were major outposts and seaports in Phoenician and Roman times, just two of the great civilizations that touched this important Middle Eastern crossroads. The cosmopolitan flair of modern-day Beirut, the gastronomic renown of the country's food and wine, and an educated and outward-looking population complement a country that is both traditional and progressive in outlook. For all the flavors of its storied past and rugged natural beauty, Lebanon is a well-kept tourist secret that begs exploration
Geography
Lebanon lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel and west of Syria. The Lebanon Mountains, which parallel the coast on the west, cover most of the country, while the Anti-Lebanon Range crisscrosses along the Eastern Border. Between the two lies the Bekaa Valley, a principal agricultural area.
There are four main geographic regions in Lebanon, differentiated by topography and climate. From west to east, they include: the coastal plain, the Mount Lebanon Range, the Békaa Valley, and the Anti-Lebanon Range.
The Anti-Lebanon Range is a stretch of arid mountains that rise to the east of the Békaa Valley and form part of the country's eastern border with Syria.
The Lebanese coast is framed by the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Mount Lebanon Range to the east, its temperate climate bringing in sunny, hot summers and cool, rainy winters. The daytime temperature in the summer, which averages 30°C (86°F), encourages people to head to the beach or to the higher, altitude-cooled mountain slopes. In the coastal cities of Saida (Sidon) and Jbail (Byblos), tourists can enjoy the rare opportunity to snorkel amongst long-submerged Phoenician ruins, while excellent hiking spots are a mere hour away in the Chouf region of the Mount Lebanon Range.
The Mount Lebanon Range includes numerous rivers and caves that once served as hideouts to those fleeing persecution, and also Lebanon's highest summit, Qornet Es-Saouda (3,090m) (roughly translated: The Black Horn). In winter, the high peaks are covered with snow, lending Lebanon its name, Lubnan, the Phoenician and Aramaic word for “white.” Lebanon boasts a number of world-class ski resorts, and as such it is one of only a handful of Middle Eastern countries where skiing is an option. The ski season runs from December until April.
|
The Békaa Valley which is located on a high plateau between the country's two mountain ranges, the river-fed Békaa supports the production of tomatoes, potatoes, wheat, olives, and grapes, even despite summers that are hot and dry.
The Békaa's major attraction is the ruins at Baalbek.
Flag
The Lebanese flag is divided into three wide horizontal stripes, with red on the top and bottom and a wider white stripe in the middle. In the center of the white stripe is a cedar, historically the Lebanese national tree. The red part symbolizes the bloody pursuit of liberation, the white symbolizes peace, purity, and the snow covering the Lebanese mountain ranges, while the cedar stands for strength and immortality.
Monetary unit: Lebanese pound ( 1US dollar = 1500 L.L )
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Ethnicities: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 60% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite/Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite, Melkite, Syrian, Armenian, and Roman Catholic; Greek, Armenian, and Syrian Orthodox; Chaldean; Assyrian; Copt; Protestant), other 1%
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's coastline with the Mediterranean sea, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport. The first mention of this metropolis is found in the ancient Egyptian Tell el Amarna letters, dating to the 15th century BC, and the city has been continuously inhabited over the centuries since.
Beirut holds Lebanon's seat of government and plays a central role in the Lebanese economy with its Downtown, Hamra, Verdun, and Ashrafieh based corporate firms and banks. The city is also the focal point of the region's cultural life, renowned for its press, theaters and cultural activities. After the destructive Lebanese civil war, Beirut underwent major reconstruction, and the redesigned historic city center, marina, pubs and nightlife districts have once again rendered it a popular tourist attraction.
|
