Lebanon

Government:
Lebanon is a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government and a cabinet headed by a prime minister. Its constitution is based on the separation of executive, legislative and judicial power, with a president elected for a six-year term. The 128 members of parliament are elected by universal adult suffrage for a four- year term.
The Lebanese Republic is divided into six regional administrative districts, or Mohafazaat: Beirut, North Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, the Beqaa and Nabatiyeh

Passports & Visas:
Visitors to Lebanon must have a valid passport and a Lebanese visa. Visas are issued by Lebanese diplomatic missions abroad.
Tourists from the US and many Arab and European countries can obtain visas at the airport or any Lebanese border upon arrival.
For more information, please visit: www.general-security.gov.lb

Customs:
Examination of travelers' luggage is carried out rapidly and courteously. All ordinary personal effects are exempt from customs duty.

Getting there:
All the world's great cities are linked by air with Beirut. The Beirut International Airport is located 9Km from the city center in the southern suburbs of beirute (7 km from Beirut), is served by many international airlines plus the national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA). In addition, several steamship lines connect the ports of Beirut, Jounieh and Tripoli with the rest of the world

Skiing:
Lebanon is one of the few winter sports centers in the Middle East and certainly the most extensive. The season begins in December and continues until April in a winter landscape surprising in its variety and beauty.
The largest resorts have hotels, chalets and other facilities, including good ski lifts. There are six winter resorts: The Cedars (2,300 meters), Laklouk (1,740 meters), Faqra (1,750 meters), Qanat Bakiche (1,990 meters) and Zaarour (1,990 meters).

Traditional Culinary Art:
Lebanon’s traditional culinary art combined with the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables makes eating out a pleasurable experience. Restaurants specializing in Lebanese food are found everywhere and in all of them you will be invited to try the famous hors-d’oeuvres known as mezzeh. A good mezzeh has 30 or 40 dishes, but feasts with as many as 100 dishes have been recorded. It’s wise to dedicate an entire afternoon to the authentic Lebanese lunch. Some delicacies are always present in a mezze, including the internationally known tabbouleh- a salad. You will also find hommos-a chickpea purée with sesame paste and Baba Ganouj -a dip made of roasted eggplant, sesame paste, lemon and garlic.Kibbeh Nayeh - fresh raw lamb pounded with ground wheat and seasoned with onion, mint, and pepper and salt is also a favorite.

The mezzeh is usually served without cutlery, for the traditional flat round Arab bread serves as both fork and spoon. This substantial appetizer course is often accompanied by Arak, a local alcoholic beverage but Lebanon also produces some excellent beers and wines that go just as well.
For the main course one can try Farrouj Meshwi - chicken broiled over charcoal and served with a garlic sauce, Kafta Meshwiyye, minced lamb mixed with finely chopped onion and parsley and broiled on skewers over charcoal or Shawarma - slices of highly seasoned lamb cooked on a slow revolving spit. Mehshi - vegetables such as small squash, cabbage leaves, grape leaves, and peppers stuffed with chopped meat, rice and pine nuts is another favorite.
By the seashore you can get excellent grilled fish, while cool riverside restaurants in the mountains often specialize in fresh trout.
Pastries in Lebanon are flavored with honey, butter, pistachio nuts or almonds.

Coastline:
From the Mediterranean coast to its snowcapped mountains and standing at the crossroads of three major continents, Lebanon is unlike any other country in the Middle East. The country’s 250km of Mediterranean coastline and two ranges of lofty mountains leave little room for stereotypes. The only sand you see is along its golden beaches and although only 50 km wide, Lebanon is packed with history, archaeology, natural beauty and a handsome population of fun-loving people whose hospitality and warmth extends to the length and breadth of the country.

Although the country was for long embroiled in a protracted civil war, Lebanon has for almost a decade now, enjoyed a period of peace and stability and efforts have long begun to restore the country to its once held status as Paris of the Middle East. Throughout the country you thus find an eagerness to embrace the new, coupled with a powerful sense of tradition.

The Lebanese coast still proudly carries the names of its ancient Phoenician cities which, today, are modern metropolises housing the majority of the country’s almost 4mn people. But the ancient temples, residencies and theatres of these once powerful city states are not buried in the past: they stand, in-situ, as proud and majestic as they did during their Phoenician, Persian, Greek and Roman eras.

Eighty-five per cent of the population lives in and around the major centers of Bieurt,Tripoli, Sidon, Jounieh, Zahle and Tyre. If you look beyond these urban centers, however, you’ll find that most share a spectacular mountain backdrop. From Beirut you see Mount Sannine and Mount Kanisseh. Beyond Byblos are the mountains on whose slopes grow the descendants of the cedars mentioned in the Bible. Beyond Tripoli are the famous cedars of Bsharreh and Lebanon’s oldest ski resort.

There is always something entertaining to do in Lebanon. Traditional dances such as the Dabki and sword dances are immensely popular and they perpetuate costumes of the distant past. Every sport can be enjoyed in Lebanon including water skiing, snow skiing, yachting, golf and tennis. The Beirut race course, set in its pine woods, is a favorite among race goers. Only in Lebanon can you swim in the sea in winter as well as spring and an hour later ski at 1,900 meters. Lebanon is thus one of the few winter sports centers in the Middle East. The coastline between Tripoli and Sidon is punctuated by all kinds of leisure facilities from well equipped swim resorts and family run fish restaurants to luxurious condominiums.

The Lebanese are a multi-religious, multi-ethnic people. Arabic is the official language, but English and French are also widely spoken. The two main religions are Islam and Christianity. At home or abroad the Lebanese are known for their kindness and hospitality and these qualities make visitors feel both welcome and at ease.

TRIPOLI:
Known as the capital of the North, Tripoli (Trablos in Arabic), is located 85 kilometers north of Beirut and has a special character of its own. Founded by the three cities of Sidon, Tyre and Arados Island during the Persian era, it became the centre of a confederation, where Phoenicians met to debate their important affairs. Since its foundation, probably in the 9th century BC, until the end of the Crusaders period, Tripoli was situated around the Al-Mina port district. After its destruction by the Mamlukes in 1289, however, it was replaced by a new town near the hill of the Crusader Castle of Raymond de Saint-Gilles, founder of the County of Tripoli.


The castle has been renovated and changed many times during its history, most recently in the early 19th century..
Modern Tripoli, which has a population of about 500,000, is divided into two parts: El-Mina (the port area and site of the ancient city) and the town of Tripoli proper. The medieval city at the foot of the Crusader castle is where most of the historical sites are located. Surrounding this is a modern metropolis which is popular for commerce, banking and recreation. The area known as "At-Tall", dominated by an Ottoman clock tower (built in 1901/2) in the heart of down-town Tripoli, is the transportation centre and terminus for most taxi routes. Thanks to its historical wealth, relaxed lifestyle and thriving business climate, this is a city where modern and medieval blend easily into a lively and hospitable metropolis.
When shopping in the old souqs (markets) or downtown area, remember that gold is a good buy. Other popular items are Tripoli's famous sweets and traditional olive-oil based soap, water pipes and brass work. Al-Mina is a good place to find seafood restaurants and fish markets. The city's most comfortable hotels and Western-style restaurants can be found in the beach resorts south of the city.


There are many historical places of interest in Tripoli. Forty-five buildings in the city, many dating from the 14th century, have been registered as historical sites. Twelve mosques from Mamluke and Ottoman times have survived along with an equal number of Madrassas or theological schools. Secular buildings include the Hammam or bathing-house which followed the classical pattern of Roman Byzantine baths and the khans and caravansary. The souqs, together with the khans, form an agglomeration of various trades where tailors, jewelers, perfumers, tanners and soap-makers work in surroundings that have changed very little over the last 500 years.

Overlooking the sea is the imposing Citadel of Tripoli known as Qal'at Sinjil (Saint Gillers) which has been renovated and changed many times during its history. Of further interest is The Great Mosque that was completed in 1315. Its large courtyard is surrounded by porticos and a domed and vaulted prayer hall. Inside one can still see elements of Western architecture from the old church. Other interesting buildings include the beautiful 14th century Burtasiyat Madrassa-Mosque, Hamman Al-Abed, Tripoli's only functioning bathing-house and Khan Al-Khayyatin or Tailor's Khan, one of the oldest in Tripoli.


Around Tripoli:
Just offshore is a string of small islands. The largest, known as the Island of Palm Trees or Rabbit's Island, is now a nature reserve for green turtles and rare birds. Declared a protected area by UNESCO in 1992, camping, fire building or other depredation is forbidden. This island also holds Roman and Crusader remains. Qalamoun, south of Tripoli is known for its brass industry. The roadside is lined with small workshops and showrooms where brass bowls, candlesticks and other objects are hammered out in the old tradition.


Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Palestine and Syria
Geographic coordinates:
33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
Total: 10,400 sq km
Land: 10,230 sq km
Water: 170 sq km
Area - comparative:
About 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
Total: 454 km
border countries:
Palestine 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline:
225 km
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain:
Narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Qurnat as Sawda 3,088 m
Natural resources:
Limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land
Geography :
Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity
Population:
3,874,050 (July 2006 est.)
Nationality:
Lebanese (singular and plural)
Ethnic groups:
Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians
Religions:
Muslim 59.7% (Shi’a, Sunni, Druze, Isma’ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3%
note: 17 religious sects recognized
Languages:
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Country name:
Conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
Conventional short form: Lebanon
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Local short form: Lubnan
Former: Greater Lebanon

Government type:
Republic
Capital:
Beirut
Administrative divisions:
8 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Aakar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beyrouth, Beqaa, Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye
Independence:
22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Currency:
Lebanese pound (LBP)
Exchange rates:
Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2006), 1,507.5 (2005), 1,507.5 (2004), 1,507.5 (2003), 1,507.5 (2002).

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