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Where Lebanon is located
Lebanon is a small mountainous
country on the Mediterranean
coast . It is located in the
Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between
Syria and Israel. Its geographic
co-ordinates are 33 50 N and
35 50 E.
ï     c

¢here are many popular river and streams
in Lebanon.
‡ ¢he Beqaa Valley is watered by two
rivers that rise near Baalbeck and the
Litani flowing south into the hill region
of the southern Beqaa Valley, where it
makes a quick turn to the west and is
afterward called the Al Qasmiyah
River. ¢he only permanent lake is
Buhayrat al Qirawn, about ten
kilometers east of Jazzine.
‡ Another major feature of Lebanese
geography is the alternation of low
lands and high lands that run parallel
with a north-to-south direction. ¢here
are four strips running lengthwise
between the Mediterranean Sea and
Syria: the coastal strip, western
Lebanon, the central plateau, and ¢opography of Lebanon
eastern Lebanon.
@      
‡ Beqaa Valley is a fertile valley in east Lebanon. It is Lebanon·s most
important farming region, and a major Shia population center in
Lebanon. ¢he valley is important because it makes up 40 percent of
Lebanon's arable land. ¢he northern end of the valley, with its light
rainfall and less fertile soils, is used as cropping land by rural nomads
but mostly migrants from the Syrian Desert. Farther south, more fertile
soils support crops such as wheat, corn, cotton, and vegetables, with
vineyards and orchards centered around Zahle. Also, because the
Beqaa Valley has such a big history, it has become extremely popular
and has gained Lebanon's tourism.
‡ ¢opography in Lebanon has greatly affected the country's history in
that virtually the whole landscape is a series of superb natural
fortresses from which revolutionary activities can cause the
maintenance of control by a national government an intermittent and
costly affair.
Š Lebanon
‡ Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate
characterized by a long, hot, and dry
summer, and cool, rainy winter. Fall is a
transitional season with a gradual
lowering of temperature and little rain;
spring occurs when the winter rains
cause the vegetation to revive.
¢opographical difference creates
narrow adjustments of the basic climatic
pattern. Along the coast, summers are
hot and humid, with little or no rain.
Heavy dews form, which are beneficial
to agriculture. ¢he daily range of
temperature is not wide, although
temperatures may reach above 38° Š
in the daytime and below 16° Š at
night. Winter is the rainy season, with
major rain falling after December. ¢he
amount of rainfall varies greatly from
one year to another. Occasionally,
there are frosts during the winter, and
about once every fifteen years a light
powdering of snow falls as far South of
Beirut.
j   c

]

‡ Lebanon was heavily forested in ancient
and medieval times, and its timber was
exported for building and shipbuilding.
¢he natural plants, however, has been
grazed, burned, and cut for so long that
little of it is redeveloped. What survives is
a wild Mediterranean vegetation of brush
and low trees, mostly oaks, pines,
cypresses, firs, junipers, and carobs.
2

‡ Few large wild animals survive in Lebanon,
though bears are occasionally seen in the
mountains. Among the smaller animals,
deer, wildcats, hedgehogs, squirrels,
martens, dormice, and hares are found.
Numerous migrant birds from Africa and
Europe visit Lebanon. Flamingos, pelicans,
cormorants, ducks, herons, and snipes
frequent the marshes; eagles, buzzards,
kites, falcons, and hawks inhabit the
mountains; and owls, kingfishers, cuckoos, A Fir ¢ree in Lebanon
and woodpeckers are common.
  c

Lebanese Šivil War
V
  
  V



   
       



 
 !"!# !"$! !"$# !"%!"" &  &  & '
Archaeologis Lebanon was On November Lebanon The Lebanese On February On March 14, The 2006 Lebanon
ts have part of the 26, 1941 joined its Civil War lasted 14, 2005 2005, groups War, was a 34-day
discovered in Ottoman General fellow Arab fifteen years. It former Prime of people military conflict in
Byblos, Empire for over Georges states and ended in 1990 Minister Rafiq gathered in Lebanon and
northern Israel. The
which is 400 years, in a Šatroux invaded with the signing of Hariri was Martyrs'
principal parties
considered to region known announced that Israel during the Taif assassinated in Square in
were Hezbollah
be the oldest as Greater Lebanon would the 1948 Agreement and a car bomb Lebanon. paramilitary forces
continuously Syria, until become Arab-Israeli parts of Lebanon explosion near Protesters and the Israeli
-inhabited 1918 when the independent War. ¢he were left in ruins. the Saint marched military. The
city in the area became under the Lebanese- During the civil George Bay in demanding conflict started on
world. a part of the authority of the Israeli border war, the Palestine Beirut. the truth 12 July 2006, and
French Free French remained Liberation about Hariri's continued until a
Mandate of government . closed, but Organization used murder and United Nations-
Syria following quiet, until Lebanon to launch independence brokered ceasefire
World War I . after the Six attacks against from Syrian went into effect on
Day War in 14 !""#
Israel. Lebanon presence in
.1967 was twice invaded
and occupied by Lebanon.
the Israel Defense
Forces.
Š$ 
Lebanon celebrate many traditions and
celebrations, such as:
‡ Š

Lebanon is the only mid
eastern country that celebrates
Šhristmas as an official holiday.
Lebanese Šhristmas takes place on the
25th of December. Most people spend
the morning visiting friends and
entertaining them in their turn. For the What Most Lebanese eat
Šhristmas meal, entire families often at Šhristmas lunch.
gather together, usually at the home of ´Shawirma Šhickenµ
the eldest male relative.
‡






It is celebrated on the
3rd of December. As a preparation to
the memory of Saint Barbara the next
day, and in the evening kids dress up in
different costumes and go from house to
house singing traditional songs of this
occasion. ¢his celebrations is mostly
enjoyed by young children.

Mask worn on
Saint Barbara
ï  c

‡ Lebanon joined the League of Arab
States as a charter member in 1945.
Nature and Structure of Government:
Šapital: Beirut
¢ype: Republic
‡ ¢he constitution grants the people the right to
change their government. However, from the
mid-1970s until the parliamentary elections
in 1992, civil war precluded the exercise of
political rights. According to the constitution,
direct elections must be held for the
parliament every 4 years. ¢he last
parliament election was in2005 . ¢he
Parliament, in turn, elects a President every 6
years to a single term. ¢he President is not
eligible for re-election.
‡ Leaders: Šhief of State: President Ilyas
Harawi (since 24 November1989); Head
of Government: Prime Minister Rafiq Al
Hariri, but sadly was recently
assassinated on the fourth of February.

Rafiq Al Hariri
@ c
%& 
Lebanon's need on foreign powers is quite a With the return of Prime Minister Hariri to
normal situation in the country's history, office in August 2000, the government
where the neighbor, Syria, now has the
upper hand. Inside the country, Šhristians once more focused on resuming
have relatively more power than their reconstruction efforts by securing foreign
percentage of the Lebanese population aid, mainly from European and Arab
should allow them. But the Muslims are countries. In 2000, the Kuwaiti government
awakening politically, and have increased
their turnout in national elections after the agreed to deposit $100 million at the
civil war. Lebanese Šentral Bank to help stabilize
¢he constitution of Lebanon is dividing the Lebanese pound. Hariri is also
power between what it has defined as the expected to proceed with economic
country's three religious groups, the Shiias,
the Sunnas and the Maronite Šhristians. reforms, especially the privatization of
¢he president is always a Maronite state-owned enterprises.
Šhristian, the prime minister a Sunni
Muslim, while the speaker of the National
Assembly a Shii Muslim. ¢his has left the
Šhristians the most powerful group
politically, with the Shiis as the least
influential.
Lebanon·s Politics play an important part in
keep Lebanon together. After the major
war in 1993, Hariri began ´Horizon
2000µ which ended up being an $18
million program to help rebuild Lebanon. ¶
 Economy of Lebanon
Lebanon·s economy has many important economic factors such as:
‡ ¢

: ¢he Port of Beirut plays an important role in Lebanon's commercial activities.
After World War II, Beirut became the most important Arab port on the Eastern
Mediterranean serving the Arab world. During a conflict, the Port of Beirut almost
closed down. Work has been completed on the reconstruction of the Duty Free Zone at
the Port of Beirut to restore its pre-war facility and a project for the healing and
expansion of the Port of Beirut is happening.
‡ 
: In 1995, the industrial sector (mainly production of cement, furniture, paper,
detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, batteries, garments and processed foods)
accounted for 29.17 per cent. of GDP, an increase from 15.9 per cent. of GDP in
1972. Virtually all industry is privately owned.
‡ 2
 
: Approximately one third of the Republic is arable.
¢he most fertile areas are located along the coastal strip and
in the Bekaa valley. ¢he diversity of the Republic's countryside
and climate allows farming of a wide variety of vegetables,
fruits and industrial crops. Agriculture contributes
approximately 26% to the Republic's GDP.

2



@ $  '  & 
 c
%j
In the previous slide, I chose to write about trade, industry and agriculture because those three are
an the most important aspect of Lebanon·s economy. ¢he economy in Lebanon includes:
‡ Services
‡ ¢rade
‡ ¢ourism
‡ Financial Services
‡ Šonstructions
‡ Industry
‡ Energy
‡ Agriculture
After reading how important each economic factor is to Lebanon, I have noticed that the three I
have chose were the most important because they all have the largest GDP. Also, I chose to
write about trade because it had a long history and background and it has caused many
countries around the world to communicate with Lebanon especially the Arab countries.
For Industry, I chose it because it was the most important economic factor in 1972. I thought this
was important because it was one of the reasons why Lebanon has become what it is today.
¢he last topic I chose was agriculture because of my personal experience. I have been going to
Lebanon for every holiday and while you driving after every three minutes, you will see a man
with a store selling fruits and vegetables store. Many poor or unfortunate people rely on
agriculture to live or get money so I new that agriculture played a big role in their life.
¢ourism in Lebanon
¢he location of Lebanon has many benefits
such as, its mild climate and natural
beauty, consisting of snow-capped
mountains, valleys and the
Mediterranean Sea. Apart from its
privileged geographical and natural
situation, Lebanon benefits from
qualified and experienced human
resources in the tourism industry.
Lebanon joins its natural beauty, and its
historical sites.
While you are in Lebanon you can see
remains from Phoenicians, Šanaanite,
and Egyptians era, as you can see the
mountains, the cedars. A General View of Lebanon·s
Lebanese cities are among the famous Mountains
names in ancient history, such as Saidon,
Sour, Jbeil and ¢rablus. Until the current
days, ruins are still resisting the ages,
and are standing still to show the
greatness of the people that lived in
this holy land.
 ï

  c

‡ : Lebanon does not have a joyful or good society. For many years now, many Lebanese
do not respect different cultures and religions. For example the Sinna·s and Shiia's are always
against each other. Also, Muslim·s and Šhristians are always protesting about their own
opinions. ¢his has caused arguments and war in the country.
‡ ]
 Many houses and building in Lebanon are still destroyed when they were bombed in
1980·s. Also, there are a lot of demonstrations going on because the Lebanese are putting
bombs which causes many houses or areas to burn.
‡ 
 From all the bombs, smoke has come out which has harmed the environment in
Lebanon. ¢erritories are still full of smoke and ashes from previous wars and people have still
not cleaned it up. On the other hand, some areas are full with grass and greenery which help
the environment and animals.
‡ ]
2 
222 
1. ¢o improve their society, people have to make mixed communities which can help unite them
together
2. ¢o improve Lebanon·s places, they have to have more army men around to make sure no
bombs or harmful weapons. Also, the government can rebuild all of the burnt houses to make
sure that the unfortunate Lebanese live in a safer environment.
3. ¢o improve Lebanon·s environment, the government can build more trees and plants. Another
option is that they make a special group that cleans out the ashes and dirt. ¢his can help clean
up the country and make a it a much more beautiful place.
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