Geography and Climate

When discussing Lebanon’s geography, it is important to first note where the country is located. Lebanon sits on the Levant region of the Mediterranean, bordering Syria and Israel, respectively. The map on the right-hand side gives a detailed visual, and one can clearly see that Syria commands a much larger border with Lebanon (375 km, according to the CIA World Factbook) than the border between Israel and Lebanon (79 km). Lebanon is not what one might consider a large country; on the contrary, it is only about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut, USA.

Do not believe that just because the country is small that its geographical diversity is lacking! For starters, the beauty of Lebanon’s Mediterranean coastline cannot fully be captured in photographs. Its sandy beaches and crystal waters make it a dream destination for tourists and natives, alike. Running parallel to the water is a narrow coastal plain, where the land quickly rises to form numerous ridges, developing into mountains. The highest point of elevation is known as Qurnet as-Sauda (3,088 m), and El Beqaa—or the Bekaa Valley—separates the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains. Additionally, the Lebanon Mountains produce large springs at high altitudes, which work to water and cultivate the surrounding region in the summer (during the winter, the mountain ranges experience heavy snows). These springs are an important natural resource for Lebanon, along with the highly-valued limestone, iron ore, salt and arable land. Just over 16% of Lebanon’s land is arable, while only about 14% of the land is used for permanent crops. The hot, dry summers and the cool, wet winters may account for the lack of crop production in the country. Rainfall is quite heavy while it lasts (from October to April) with an extremely arid summer afterward. The summer also provides for high humidity over the coastal region, which would make a dip in the Mediterranean Sea an even more refreshing experience!