Lebanon

The Republic of **Lebanon** is a small country (with 3.7 million inhabitants) within the Middle East region.

Its capital is **Beirut**. It has a long coastline on the eastern shore of the **Mediterranean Sea** and shares a long land border with its much larger neighbour Syria to the north and the east, a much shorter border with Israel to the south.

Problems between its Muslim and Christian people led to a long civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1991. 

Lebanon borders Israel and Syria. Along the Mediterranean coast is a narrow plain. The Lebanon Mountains, which rise to 9,800 feet (3,000 meters), run down the middle of the country. The Anti-Lebanon Mountains form Lebanon's border with Syria. Between the two mountain ranges lies the high, fertile Bekaa Valley. The valley receives water from the Litani, the only river in Lebanon that flows throughout the year.

Lebanon's coast has warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Summers in the Bekaa Valley are hot and dry, and winters are cool. Lebanon receives more rain than most Middle Eastern countries.

Among Lebanon's plants are brush and low trees, including oaks, pines, cypresses, firs, junipers, and carobs. Lebanon is famous for its cedar trees, but today they grow only in protected mountain groves.

Lebanon's animals include deer, wildcats, hedgehogs, squirrels, martens (small weasel-like mammals), and hares. Flamingos, pelicans, cuckoos, and various birds of prey also live there.

__**People**__
Most Lebanese are Arabs. There are small groups of Armenians and Kurds. Arabic is the main language, but many people speak English and French. Muslims make up more than half of the population. Most of the rest of the people are Christians. A smaller number of people are Druze—followers of a religion that combines elements of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths. About 90 percent of Lebanese live in cities, mainly along the coast.

Services, including banking and tourism, are Lebanon's most important economic activities. Manufacturing is also important. Lebanon produces cement, food products, jewelry, clothing, machinery, chemicals, and wood products.

Agriculture is concentrated along the Mediterranean coast and in the Bekaa Valley. Major crops include potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus fruits, onions, grapes, apples, and olives. Goats and sheep are the main livestock.

In early times the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines ruled what is now Lebanon. In 1516 the Turks made the region part of the Ottoman Empire. After World War I (1914–18) France governed Lebanon. The country became independent in 1943.

After independence, tensions grew between Christians and Muslims. In 1970 the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) moved its headquarters to Lebanon. The PLO launched attacks on Israel from Lebanon. Lebanese Muslims allied with the Palestinians against Israel and the Lebanese Christians. The Lebanese Muslims also wanted more power in Lebanon's Christian-dominated government.

In 1975 the conflict escalated into **civil war** **between Muslims and Christians**. The following year Syrian forces entered Lebanon to support the Christians. In 1982 Israeli forces also invaded. The Israelis and an international peacekeeping force helped to force the PLO out of Lebanon. Fighting between Lebanon's religious groups continued, however.

**The civil war ended in 1991**, but violence continued in southern Lebanon, especially between Israeli forces and the radical Muslim group known as Hezbollah. About 300,000 Palestinian refugees also remained in Lebanon.

__**Seasons**__ Autumn and spring are good times to visit, with a bit more rain, but without the tourist crowds attracted in summer, and also with considerable less humidity.

Snow falls for a large part of winter in the mountain regions that form a large portion of the country, and there are numerous ski resorts. However, the coast is still relatively mild, with maximums rarely falling below 13°C (55°F), although it can fall much lower than that and has on many occasions.



__** Time zone **__
Lebanon is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

__** Holidays **__ Lebanon has a number of both Christian and Islamic holidays. Holidays that are observed by the Lebanese Government are indicated in **bold letters**.
 * **New Year's Day** (January 1)
 * St. Valentine's Day (February 14)
 * **St. Maroun's Day** (February 9)- Christian religious observances.
 * **Prophet's Day** (March 9)- Islamic religious observances
 * **Easter** (A Sunday in March or April)- Christian religious observances.
 * **Labor Day** (May 1)- most businesses and schools closed.
 * Liberation of the South (May 25)
 * St. Elias's Day (July 20)- A lot of fireworks and festivals.
 * Assumption Day (August 15)
 * **Ramadan** (variable)-Islamic religious observances
 * **Eid el Fiitr** (variable)-Islamic religious observances
 * **Independence Day** (November 22)- All businesses and schools closed.
 * Eid il-Burbara or Saint Barbara's Day (December 4)- Christian religious observances.
 * **Christmas** (December 25)- Most businesses and restaurants closed the evening before and all day; family gathering, exchanging gifts, Christian religious observances.
 * **New Year's Eve** (December 31)

__**Beirut**__, Lebanon's capitol city, is a vibrant metropolis and one of the Middle East's top tourist destinations. Being perched on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Beirut has a climate that is perfect for year round visits, as it experiences all 4 seasons.  __** Regions **__ Lebanon can be divided into five regions: Regions of Lebanon


 * Beirut
 * Bekaa
 * Mount Lebanon
 * North Lebanon
 * South Lebanon

__** Cities **__ Many cities in Lebanon have English names which are different from their Arabic names.
 * __Beirut__ - the capital and largest city
 * Baalbek - a Phoenician and Roman archaeological site
 * Byblos (Joubeil) - another city with plenty of remains, castles and museums
 * Jezzine - main summer resort and tourist destination of South Lebanon
 * Jounieh - known for its seaside resorts and nightclubs
 * Sidon (Saida) - plenty of medieval remains
 * Tripoli (Trablus) - still unspoilt by mass-tourism
 * Tyre (Sour) - has a number of ancient sites, including its Roman Hippodrome which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * Zahle - capital of Bekaa Valley