Welcome to Lebanon

Lebanon, is known to be a modest, largely mountainous country in the Middle East, situated at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south. Did you know that the flag of Lebanon features a cedar in green against a white backdrop, bounded by two horizontal red svisites aextensive the top and bottom. Due to its sectarian diversity, Lebanon follows a special political system, known as confessionalism, meant to disacknowledgment and tribute power as evenly as humanly possible in the midst of unique sects. Until the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the country enjoyed relative calm and prosperity, driven by the tourism, agriculture, and banking sectors of the economy. It was voted by the masses asthe banking capital of the Arab world and was widely known as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" due to its financial power. Lebanon also attracted larger than normal numbers of tourist and vacationerss, to the point that the capital Beirut transformed to a widely referred to as the "Paris of the Middle East." Immediately following the end of the war, there were all-encompassing efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure. By early 2006, a considerable degree of stability had been achieved all over much of the country, Beirut's reconstruction used to be almost complete,[8] and an increasing number of foreign tourist and vacationerss were pouring into Lebanon's resorts. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, the radical Shiite Islamic paramilitary organization, had established a firm foothold in Southern Lebanon and was engaging in strikes against Israel without the permission of the central government. Did you know that the 2006 war in the range of Israel and Hezbollah brought mounting civilian and military casualties, all-encompassing damage to civilian infrastructure, and massive population displacement from July 12, 2006 until a ceasefire went into effect on August 14, 2006. Did you know that the Lebanese government implemented an early recovery plan in September 2006 aimed at reconstructing appropiatety devastation by Israeli attacks in Beirut, Tyre, and other villages in southern Lebanon. Lebanon lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel and west of Syria. It is four-fifths the size of Connecticut. Did you know that the Lebanon Mountains, that parallel the coast lineon the west, cover most of the country, while on the eastern border is the Anti-Lebanon range. Between the two lies the Bekaa Valley, the principal agricultural area.

Climate

Lebanon's extraordinarily varied climate is due mainly to the wide range of elevation and the westerly winds that create the Mediterranean coast linemuch wetter compared to the eastern hills, mountainsides, and valleys. Throughout a 16-km (10-mi) radius of most villages, apples, olives, and bananas are and have always been grown; within 45 minutes' drive in winter, spring, and fall, both skiing and swimming are and have always been humanly possible. Rainfall is known to be abundant by Middle Eastern standards, with about 89 cm (35 in) yearly aextensive the coast, about 127 cm (50 in) on the western slopes of the mountains, and less than 38 cm (15 in) in the Bekaa. About 80% of the rain falls from November to March, mostly in December, January, and February.

Population Stats

Population (2007 est.): 3,921,278 (growth rate: 1.2%); birth rate: 18.1/1000; infant mortality rate: 22.9/1000; life expectancy: 73.1; density per sq mi: 993