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| About Lebanon |
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- Beirut
- Festivals
- Food
- Hotspots
- Lebanese Diaspora
- Modern History
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- Religion (coming soon)
- Sports (coming soon)
- The Lebanese Flag (coming soon)
- The Cedars (coming soon)
- Tourism Sections (coming soon) |
Traveling to Lebanon is a remarkable experience. As the plane crosses into Lebanese airspace, the vision from the window is extraordinary. Presented in one picture frame is a cocktail of snowy mountains, emerald green forests, daunting deep valleys, sparkling clear lakes, fertile plains, gushing rivers, cosmopolitan cities, red-roofed village houses, skyscraping mosque minarets, majestic churches, goliath archaeological ruins and a calm sapphire blue coastline.
Lebanon is the land of eternal beauty and captivating natural phenomena. It is the only place on the planet where it is possible to ski and swim within a very short time frame, due to the close proximity of the stunning snow-capped Lebanon Mountains to the glorious coastline, as well as the dramatic climate change between the two locations. The country is also abundant in refreshing rivers, springs and lakes as well as exhilarating waterfalls, most notably the falls at Jezzine, Afqa and Kfarhelda. In addition, Lebanon is known for its fascinating caves. The Jeita Grotto is one of the most visited and astounding caves on the planet, famous for its magnificent display of stalactite and stalagmite formations and the river that runs through it. Perhaps the most awesome natural feature of Lebanon is the majestic Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus Libani) that appears on the national flag. Scattered at high altitudes, the Cedars may tower well over 30 metres in height. They are mentioned frequently in the Bible and are the world’s most significant tree species.
Lebanon’s history is an integral component of world history. Its archaeological sites are amongst the most important on the planet. No other place on Earth is so densely populated with historical ruins. Crusader castles litter the country and include the mammoth castle of St. Giles in Tripoli, as well as the alluring sea castle of Sidon. The most prominent Arab ruins are those in Anjar, while Phoenician ruins are evident in Tyre and Eshmoun. Byzantine and Roman ruins are also plentiful. Lebanon’s most significant historical artifacts are the Roman ruins of Baalback. These are the world’s best preserved Roman ruins and amongst the largest archaeological sites on the planet. They also contain the heaviest rocks ever moved by man. Such an abundance of archaeological sites are a reflection of the country’s rich history. For example, the city of Byblos in Lebanon is believed to be one of the oldest continually inhabited cities on the globe. It is also the birthplace of the alphabet and the place that the Bible is named after. Home to the world’s first law school, Lebanon’s history stretches back over 7000 years. Its first inhabitants and ancestors of the Lebanese today were the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians made many significant contributions to mankind, such as their invention of the alphabet and their navigation abilities that allowed them to reach far away lands where no one in the known world had ever treaded. Following the Phoenicians, Lebanon experienced the rule of almost twenty different civilizations. Amazingly, each left their marks with inscriptions carved in stone, all at the banks of Nahr El-Kalb. This is an incredible example of history carved in stone.
Culturally, Lebanon is rich in heritage and home to a fascinatingly diverse society. At the crossroads of three continents, it is recognized as the gateway between East and West. This is mirrored by Lebanon’s melting pot of 18 different religious communities. To further enrich this cultural bastion, the Lebanese people are well-known for competently speaking Arabic, French and English. Lebanese folklore is internationally renowned and admired. Lebanon’s national dance is the dabke. Meaning ‘stomping of the feet’, dabke is a spectacular display of tradition and energy. Dance groups such as Caracalla have enthralled the world for decades with their entertaining and vibrant exhibitions. Lebanese dance would not be so dazzling without the famous Lebanese music. This very music perfectly demonstrates Lebanon’s compatibility with East and West. Such a characteristic is also reflected in the works of Lebanese writers, poets and artists and has allowed the music of the Rahbani brothers, the songs of Fairouz and the works of Gibran Khalil Gibran to flourish all over the globe. A further Lebanese entity that has flourished internationally is Lebanese cuisine. A meal usually starts with ‘mezza’, a selection of dips and salads such as hommus and tabboule. Common mains include kebbe, rez 3a djej (chicken with rice) and samke harra (garlic fish). Meals are generally accompanied by arak, a powerful Lebanese aniseed liquor that turns to a milky white colour when mixed with water. Desserts include many variations of sweets such as baklawa, knefe and maamoul.
Lebanon’s extravaganza of affluent culture, pleasant climate, rich history, breathtaking beauty, exquisite food and enchanting music portray it as one of the most interesting places on the planet. It is astonishing that so much can be found in an area of just 10452km2. Where else can one find a church sandwiched in between a mosque and a 2000-year old Roman ruin that is across the road from a nightclub and a TGI Friday? Only in Lebanon. |
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