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Tripoli : The second largest city in Lebanon , Tripoli is a city for those who and live the past and old times in our country ,  the friendly inhabitants welcome you to join them for a cup of  coffee in their old-fashioned restaurant-cafes and a lovely stroll  into the old markets and streets. The city of Tripoli holds the famous  Citadel , a fort ruin dating from the era of the Crusaders. In addition , Tripoli is the second most populous city in Lebanon ,  and has an extremely busy harbor , which receives cargo ships ,  and transits most of foreign shipments by land to several  neighboring countries such as Iraq , Jordan , and Syria because of  their lack of harbors

Sidon : Known to be the fishing center of Lebanon , Sidon is an old fashioned city just like Tripoli , and is very popular for the cultivation of most of  our fruits including bananas , mangoes , apples , and other fruits not  found anywhere else in Lebanon. In addition , Sidon serves as a very  importantly strategic oil pipeline terminal that extends from Iraq and  Saudi Arabia to other recipient countries.Sidon’s nightlife is dominantly  spirited up with Arabic music , dancing , and traditional entertainment. What makes Sidon special is that it is home to many delightful , mouth- watering Arabic sweets stores , which make up most of the markets.

Tyre : is located in the southern most areas of Lebanon and is a host to one of our many touristic sites and the main producer of the many  to severe damages caused by the Arab-Israeli wars of 1982 , but was  and still is going through a phase of reconstruction and restoration  inorder to bring this once gorgeous city back to life , and to eradicate  all signs of the cruel wars , and to make Tyre into what it really was in  the past.

The city of Zahleh is a place for those who like mountainous areas. Zahleh is a place where you can sit back and enjoy a good  hubbly-bubbly (Narjilleh) , and a taste of Lebanese Mezza and other  traditional delights.Neighboring Zahleh are the vast and fertile  plantation lands of the Bekaa Valley , which is the dominating  productive land of nearly all the vegetables in Lebanon , ranging from  lettuce , potato , sweet potato , sugar beets , to any other vegetable that  comes to your mind. Moreover , Zahleh’s neighboring fertile lands are  famous for their vineyards and home to the local wine producers , Kefraya.

Facts About Lebanon Capital: Beirut Population: Approximately 4 million Monetary Unit: The Lebanese Pound Area: 10,452 square kilometers    Economy:       Lebanon capitalizes on the initiative of its people and its geographical location to make up for a lack of natural resources. Traditionally, a substantial percentage of the country's income derives from remittances sent by the millions of Lebanese residing overseas. A service-based   Raouché economy, its trading, banking and financial facilities as well as its free currency market made Lebanon the region's commercial and tourist center before the war. With peace established and reconstruction underway, Lebanon is once again serving as a commercial and touristic capital in the area.     About 38% of the country is under cultivation, with wheat, vegetables, fruit, tobacco and olives the main crop categories. There is considerable livestock farming as well. Industry ranges from cement and cables to textiles, clothing, furniture, canned goods and light metals. Tourism, one of the mainstays of the pre-war economy, is being revived.     To help strengthen the economy, the authorities have initiated a low income tax schedule to provide investment incentive, increase disposable income and expand the tax base.   Currency and Banking     Movement of currency into and out of the country and all exchange transactions are completely free of any kind of control. Gold and silver coins may be freely exchanged, imported and exported. The monetary unit is the Lebanese pound issued in L.L.50, L.L.100, L.L.250, L.L.500, L.L.1000, L.L.5000,L.L.10000,L.L.20000,L.L.50000 and L.L.100000 notes. Banking is a major industry in Lebanon with strict banking secrecy one of its important features. More than 80 banks operate in the country and transactions are performed efficiently and at low cost.   Baalbeck 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 powers, 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, South Lebanon, The Beqaa and Nabatiyeh.   Geography and Climate     Although a small country, Lebanon's varied geographical areas fall into four features. First there is the narrow coastal plain where five of Lebanon's great historical cities developed: Tripoli, Byblos, Beirut, Sidon and Tyre. The 220 kilometers-long coastline is marked by indentations and rocky outcrops wherever the sub-coastal range joins the sea.      The second geographical feature is a   Sour north-south mountain range known as Mount Lebanon. Appearing at times to rise abruptly from the sea, Mount Lebanon covers more than a third of the country. Its western slopes are well wooded and are frequently broken by wild valleys. The mountain rise gradually over a distance of some 30 kilometers to the highest peaks of Sannine (2,628 meters) and Qornet es Sawda (3,069 meters).     It is Mount Lebanon, or Jabel Lubnan in Arabic, that gave the name to the country. In fact Lebanon owes its geographical unity to this mountainous range which is almost entirely contained within its frontiers.     The next of Lebanon's four areas is the Beqaa valley between 8 to 15 kilometers wide and about 120 kilometers long from north to south. A fertile plain east of the Mount Lebanon range between 800 and 1,250 meters in elevation, the Beqaa valley was known as the breadbasket of the Roman Empire in ancient times.     Still the major agricultural zone of Lebanon, the central area, is the most fertile while the southern past is less cultivated, being swampy and full of rocks. It is through the Beqaa that the 140 kilometer-long Litani River, the longest in the Lebanon, turns to meet the Mediterranean between Sidon and Tyre.     On the eastern side of the Beqaa, the Anti-Lebanon mountains and Mount Hermon rise. A chain of rocky, almost treeless mountains running parallel to the Lebanon range, the Anti-Lebanon is lower but more complete than Mount Lebanon. These mountains form the frontier between Lebanon and Syria.     Lebanon enjoys an essentially Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and long summers which are warm and humid.     The spring months sometimes witness the so-called Khamseen, a hot, dry wind, but these winds are usually short-lived.   The Cedars   Snow Ski and Water Ski     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), Faraya/Ouyoun es Siman (1,890 meters), Laklouk (1,740 meters), Faqra (1,750 meters), Qanat Bakiche (1,900 meters) and Zaarour (1,900 meters).     Lebanon's long varied coastline and its Mediterranean climate make it an ideal place for water sports. Numerous resort complexes, beaches and swimming clubs have aquatic amusements and sports on offer, including water skiing, surfing, underwater fishing, sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling. Equipment for water skiing and scuba diving can be rented from clubs and shops. As tempting as the seaside is, many more sports opportunities await the visitor. Tennis, squash and football are all popular. There are fitness clubs where it is possible to work out, as well as groups interested in judo, karate, yoga, gymnastics, parasailing, golf, cycling, canoeing, mountain climbing and potholing.   Museums to Visit AUB ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM in Beirut has an extensive collection of artifacts from Lebanon and the Near East. The NATIONAL MUSEUM in Beirut whose collections of archaeological artifacts are the most extensive in the country. The SURSOCK MUSEUM in Beirut has regular art shows and a permanent exhibition. The PALACE OF BEITEDDINE in the Shouf houses an important collection of mosaics and other artifacts. The WAX MUSEUM in Byblos features scenes from Lebanon's ancient to recent past. The GIBRAN MUSEUM located in a mountain monastery in Bsharreh, displays a large collection of manuscripts and paintings by the great Lebanese poet.   Jounieh : Located 25 km. on the coast area away from Beirut , Jounieh is a host of the many nightclubs , pubs , beach hotels , and sea-side  restaurants serving the best dishes , drinks , and desserts of your  choice.People who would like to have a great time , with a cool  breeze of the sea and nice music , must pass by Jounieh ,  especially  the coast of Maalmeltein , better known as “Color City” , and enjoy  the great view. What’s more important is that Jounieh is the location  of our lustrious Casino Du Liban , the largest and most luxurious  casino in the Middle East . It recently received Prince Albert of  Monaco , and many other important government figures. You can  also have a wonderful meal while you’re enjoying the sky view of the  coast of Maameltein at the Casino’s Terrace.

Lebanon Miscellaneous Pictures

Lebanon offers important archeological and historical settings as well as marvelous natural sites that attract the visitor for the richness of their natural beauty and one of those beauties are Jeïta Grottoes…