Country Information on Lebanon 

Terrain

Lebanon's landscape has a narrow coastal strip and two mountain ranges running parallel to the coast: the steep Lebanon Mountains with the country's highest peak, Qurnet as-Sawda (3,088 m), and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains. The Litani River, Lebanon's largest river and only waterway, flows through the Bekaa Valley that is located between the two mountain ranges.

Climate

Lebanon's climate varies with altitude. The coastal areas and the Bekaa Valley have a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and mild, but rainy winters. In the mountainous areas, however, it is quite cold and there is snow and frost. Temperatures in the lowland areas range between 10°C and 27°C according to season, with significantly lower temperatures in the mountains.

Fauna/Flora

Lebanon is the most densely forested country in the Middle East, even though a large area has already fallen victim to deforestation.

Many varieties of pine, oak, cypress and cedar trees are found in the mountains, which are home to birds of prey, such as golden eagles, imperial eagles, Bonelli's eagles, buzzards, red kites and Scop's owls, to be found in the nature reserve near Ehden. Marine birds, both resident and migratory, can be seen in the Palm Islands Park off the coast of Tripoli. Green turtles and Mediterranean monk seals are also found there.

History/Politics

The Canaanite occupied the area of present-day Lebanon in ancient times. As the centuries went by, Phoenicia was conquered by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Seleucids, and finally fell to Rome in 64 BC. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the area became part of the eastern Christian empire and was then conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century AD. Crusaders came to the region in the 11th century to liberate the Holy Land from Muslim rule and founded the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The Mamluks defeated them in the 13th century, took control of the region and turned it into an important centre for trade. The Ottomans conquered the region in the 16th century and governed it until the middle of the 19th century. European powers supported the religious conflicts which broke out between the Maronites and Druze in 1840 and which ended in the country being divided into two autonomous regions. Social, political, religious and economic tensions between the two groups (aggravated by foreign interests) led to the outbreak of civil war in 1850, which was won by the Druze.

Order was re-established and a government was installed that remained in power until the outbreak of World War I. During the war, Lebanon lost its status as a semi-autonomous territory and was ruled by the Minister of the Navy of the Ottoman Empire.

The Lebanese people suffered from starvation, illnesses and devastation during those years, until it was occupied by British forces in 1918. In 1920, the Allies gave France the mandate over Greater Syria which included Lebanon.

During World War II, in 1940, the Vichy government took on the administration of Syria, but soon afterwards had to retreat as a result of the advance of French and British forces. The Maronites and Muslim groups signed the National Pact in 1943, in which they agreed to distribute power so as to govern Lebanon in peace and politically separate from Syria.

However, internal and external factors as well as discontent of the Shiite Muslims led to the outbreak of civil war in 1975 which left thousands dead and wounded and forced many Lebanese to flee the country. Syria brought an end to the conflict in 1976, however, in 1981 a new conflict broke out with Israel which was sparked off by a Palestinian resistance which was organised in Lebanese territory. During the conflict, half of Lebanon was occupied by Israel, there were many civilian casualties, and the Centre for Palestinian Studies was looted.

Israel formally retreated from Lebanon in 1985 on condition that the Muslim population moved out of the south of the country. Political life over the years that followed was marked by internal conflicts, attacks and assassinations, until Christian militias, Shiites and Druze finally succeeded in forming a new government of national unity in 1990. This did not, however, bring an end to the conflict. Émile Lahoud was elected president in 1998. The years that followed were characterised by continual protests, demonstrations, conflicts with Israel, and the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon. Syrian troops finally left Lebanon in April 2005.

Economy

Until the outbreak of civil war in 1975, Lebanon had one of the strongest and most developed economies in the region with an important banking and commercial sector and a growing industrial sector. The war, the Israeli invasion in 1982 and subsequent internal conflicts led to the destruction of many factories and companies, the collapse of foreign investment, as well as a rise in inflation and unemployment. The agricultural and industrial sectors were, however, able to survive, despite the high cost of reconstructing Lebanon. In 2003, the unemployment rate was 18% and inflation was 2.5%.

Culture

Lebanon has a rich traditional and contemporary cultural life. The national dance, the Dabke, is an energetic folk dance. Belly dancing also still plays an important role, especially during wedding festivities. The most famous Lebanese writer is Khalil Gibran, who explored Christian mysticism in his most famous book "The Prophet". Some of the most well-known contemporary writers are Amin Maalouf, Emily Nasrallah and Hanan Al-Shaykh.