The geography of Lebanon

Lebanon is a small, mountainous country in the Levant region of Western Asia, situated on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Covering 10,452 square kilometers, it features a narrow coastal plain, two parallel mountain ranges (Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon), and the fertile Bekaa Valley. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Cyprus lies a short distance from the coastline.

Capital and largest city – Beirut.

Topography & Regions

•The country is exceptionally rugged and vertically diverse, divided into four distinct parallel zones spanning from west to east.

•The Coastal Plain: a narrow, discontinuous strip of land that is mostly fertile and home to major cities.

•Mount Lebanon Range: Runs along the middle of the country, peaking at Qurnat as-Sawda' (3,088 meters). This is home to the iconic cedar forests.

•The Bekaa Valley: A high, fertile agricultural valley located between the two mountain ranges. It is the source of the Litani River, Lebanon's largest wholly internal river.

•Anti-Lebanon Range: Runs parallel to the Lebanon Mountains, forming the natural border with Syria.

Climate

Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate characterized by a long, hot, and dry summer, and a cool, rainy winter. Fall is a transitional season with a lowering of temperature and little rain; spring occurs when the winter rains cause the vegetation to revive. Topographical variation creates local modifications of the basic climatic pattern. Along the coast, summers are warm and humid, with little or no rain. Heavy dews form, which are beneficial to agriculture. The daily range of temperature is not wide. A west wind provides relief during the afternoon and evening; at night the wind direction is reversed, blowing from the land out to sea. Winter is the rainy season.

Main rivers

Litani River: Longest (~140 km), flows entirely within Lebanon, crucial for agriculture

Orontes (Nahr al-Asi): Rises in the Beqaa, flows north into Syria & Turkey

Ibrahim River (Nahr Ibrahim):

ancient "Adonis River," cuts through the Mount Lebanon range

Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve

Interesting facts

•Can experience all four seasons in one day by traveling from coast to mountains

•The cedar tree on the national flag symbolizes resilience, longevity, and ancient heritage

•The Beqaa Valley was a major grain supplier for the Roman Empire

•Hosts over 2,600 plant species, with ~10% endemic to the region