Facts about Lebanon
1. Fast Facts about Lebanon, Gods Country on Earth
A lively, cheery and enthusiastic country with rich culture and diversified
heritage is what we call Lebanon. Having more than 18 religions in its lap, varied
ethnic groups and traditions, it is a country actually fitting the preferences and
choices of generations. In recent times, it has also emerged as a banking,
holiday and educational hub. Needless to say the nourishing education and other
infrastructure facilities have made it an attraction for researchers, investors,
entrepreneurs and tourists.
The flourishing banking industry with more than 100 banks confirms it. The
beauty of Lebanon, a natures gift which includes 15 rivers, all of which originate
from the mountains located within the geographical boundaries of Lebanon,
confirms it. Avid tourists come to Lebanon, each year, to savour its rich history
and spectacular spots, making it one of the most visited countries in the Middle
East. On a trip to Beirut, the capital, Lebanon will offer you matchless ecstasy
and fervour in its more than 350 thrilling night clubs.
Fast Facts
Official Name: The Lebanese Republic
Capital: Beirut
Official Language: Arabic
National Language: Arabic
Other Languages: French, English and Armenian
Demonym: Lebanese
Religion: Islam (predominant) and Christianity
Legislature: Unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab (Arabic)
Independence: 22 November 1943
Constitution: 23 May 1926
Area: 10,452 sq km
Population: 4.3 million (UN, 2010)
Currency: Lebanese Pound
National Animal: Striped Hyena
Interesting And Fun Facts About Lebanon
1. The name of the country Lebanon originated from the Semitic root lbn
which means white.
2. Lebanon is the oldest nation/country name in the world, existing for
nearly 4,000 years.
3. Lebanon shares its borders with Syria and Israel.
4. Lebanon became an independent nation in 1943 and adopted unique
political system called confessionalism, which aimed at sharing of power
on the basis of religious groups.
5. Bechara El Khoury, first President and Riad El Solh, first Prime Minister
of independent Lebanon are considered as the founders of the present
day Lebanese Republic.
6. The population of Lebanon has not been officially surveyed since 1932.
The prime reason for the same is political sensitivity over religious
association.
7. The maritime culture of Phoenicians developed in Lebanon nearly 2,500
years ago, where they built and sailed the first boat of the world.
8. Lebanon does not have desert regions. It is the only country with such an
exception in the entire Asian and African continents.
9. Its capital, Beirut, is often compared with phoenix as it was destroyed
and built as much as 7 times.
10. The name of Lebanons famous trees Cedar appears 75 times in the
Old Testament. It is believed that these trees were planted by God
Himself and thus called as The Cedars of God.
11. The Lebanon Cedar is recognised as its national emblem and can be
seen on the national flag of Lebanon and on the coat of arms.
12. One of the cities of Lebanon, Byblos, is the oldest existing city in the
world.
13. The name of holy book Bible is said to be derived from Byblos, the
oldest city of Lebanon.
14. In the same city, Byblos, Cadmus created the first alphabet.
15. The only temple of the main Greek God, Jupiter, is located at Baalbek, a
city in Lebanon which is also known as the City of Sun.
16. When looking for the books on countries, you will find most of the books
written on Lebanon as compared to any other country.
17. The diverse population of Lebanon comes from nearly 18 religions.
Around 39% of which is Christians, which is the highest proportion of
Christians in an Arab Country.
18. Compared to the health care conditions in Europe and America where
doctor to patient ration is 1:100, Lebanon has a fair ratio of 1:10. That is
there is 1 doctor available per 10 patients.
19. Among Arab countries, Lebanon is the only country with non-
authoritarian governance.
20. Lebanon celebrates number of festivals, among which the Baalbek
International Festival, the Byblos International Festival, the Beiteddine
International Festival, the Broumana Festival, the Batroun Festival, the
Dhour Chwer Festival and Tyr Festival are most famous ones. The
tourism ministry of Lebanon too promotes these festivals on a very large
scale.
21. The first law college in the world is believed to have been established in
Beirut
22. The economy of Lebanon depends upon banking, food processing,
jewellery, cement, textiles, mineral, and chemical products.
23. The Lebanese involved in agricultural works focus primarily on the
cultivation of citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples and sheep.
24. Lebanon exports foodstuffs and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, precious
stones and metal products.
25. The tension between religious communities of Muslims and Christian led
to infamous Lebanese Civil War from 1975 to 1990.
26. In its halcyon days, prior to the civil war, Lebanon was known as the
Switzerland of the East.
27. Recent war between Lebanon and Israel, known as the 2006 Lebanon
War, damaged civil infrastructure and caused death of many in Lebanon.
28. Interestingly, the global economic crisis of 2007-2010 could not make
much impact on the economy of Lebanon as it has stringent financial
system and gold reserves to back its economy.
29. Lebanon is known to have the highest gold reserve in the Middle East.
30. Lebanon is counted among those active countries that make unique
efforts to assure its citizen of the civil rights and freedom. Its efforts have
been recognised by the World Justice Projects Rule of Law Index 2011
which declared it 1st in Middle East and 26th across the world (out of 66
countries) on this parameter.
Source: http://www.interestingfunfacts.com/information-about-lebanon.html
2. Lebanon Fast Facts
CNN Library
Updated 1601 GMT (0001 HKT) January 26, 2017
Here is a look at Lebanon, a Middle Eastern country with a history of civil war
and political instability, bordering Syria, Israel and the Mediterranean Sea.
About Lebanon: (from theCIA World Factbook)
Area: 10,400 square kilometers (slightly larger than Connecticut)
Population: 6,237,738 (July 2016 est.)
Median age: 29.9 years
Capital: Beirut
Ethnic Groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religion: Muslim 54%, Christian 40.5%, Druze 5.6%
GDP (purchasing power parity): $85.16 billion (2016 est.)
GDP per capita: $18,500 (2016 est.)
Timeline:
1918 - After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, France gains control of the area
that comprises modern-day Lebanon.
November 23, 1943 - Lebanon gains independence.
1948-1975 - A large number of Palestinian refugees settle in Lebanon after the
creation of Israel in May 1948. The frequent clashes between Israeli forces and
Palestinian fighters unsettle the country. Also at times, the Lebanese army fights
battles against the Palestinians, causing further unrest.
July-October 1958 - US forces help to control civil unrest.
1975 - Civil war breaks out between Christians and the Muslim-Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) alliance.
1976 - At the invitation of the Lebanese government, Syria sends troops, called
the Arab Deterrent Force, to help end the civil war.
March 1978 - Israel invades Lebanon and occupies area in the south. After
protest from the United Nations, Israel withdraws, but creates a "security zone" in
the south of the country, administered by the Army of South Lebanon.
June 6, 1982 - Israel invades Lebanon with the intention of destroying the PLO.
August 1982 - Bashir Gemayel is elected president. However, he is
assassinated on September 14. His brother, Amin Gemayel, replaces him as
president on September 23.
September 15-18, 1982 - Hundreds of Palestinian refugees are massacred in
the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut. The murders are committed by
Lebanese militia members but Israel is accused of complicity in the massacres.
April 18, 1983 - The US Embassy in Beirut is bombed, killing 63.
October 23, 1983 - The French and US headquarters of the Multi-National force
is bombed, killing 241 Americans and approximately 40 French soldiers.
February 1984 - The Lebanese Army collapses due to defections of Muslim and
Druze soldiers.
March 1984 - US Marines withdraw from Lebanon.
1988 - President Gemayel, a Christian, leaves office, although he has no
successor. He appoints General Michel Aoun, a Christian, interim prime minister.
However, the current Prime Minister Salim al-Huss, a Muslim, doesn't leave
office. The government then becomes divided into Christian and Muslim factions.
1989 - The Lebanese Parliament meets in Saudi Arabia and creates the Taif
agreement to end the civil war.
November 1989 - Rene Moawad is elected president. General Aoun rejects the
election of Moawad and the Taif agreement. Moawad is assassinated in
November and replaced by Elias Hrawi, who names Salim al-Huss prime minister
and fires Aoun as army commander.
1991 - All militias, with the exception of Hezbollah, are disbanded.
1991 - Lebanon participates in the Madrid peace talks between Israel and its
Arab neighbors.
1998 - General Emile Lahoud becomes president.
May 2000 - Israel withdraws its forces from the south.
February 14, 2005 - Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is killedby a car bomb in
Beirut.
April 26, 2005 - Syria withdraws troops from Lebanon after 29 years of military
intervention.
July 12, 2006 - Hezbollah guerrillas kill three Israeli soldiers and kidnap two
others, Ehud "Udi" Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, during an attack along Israel's
border with Lebanon, between the towns of Zar'it and Shetula. Israel sends
ground troops into Lebanon and launches air strikes for the first time since its
2000 pullout.
Death toll: (sources vary)
- Lebanese: approximately 850 to 1,190 civilians and combatants killed, 4,409
wounded.
- Israeli: approximately 44 civilians killed, 119 soldiers killed, more than 1,000
wounded.
November 21, 2006 - Lebanese Minister of Industry Pierre Gemayel, son of
former President Amin Gemayel, is shot and killed while driving though Beirut.
June 13, 2007 - Anti-Syrian Lebanese lawmaker Walid Eido, along with nine
other people, is killed in an explosion believed to be an assassination attempt.
Eido was a vocal supporter of a UN investigation into the assassination of former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and was a member of a political bloc led by
Saad Hariri, Rafik Hariri's son.
November 24, 2007 - Before leaving office, Emile Lahoud declares a state of
emergency in Lebanon and hands security over to the military. The vacancy left
by Lahoud will be filled by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora until a new president can
be elected.
May 6, 2008 - The Lebanese government announces plans to shut down
Hezbollah's private telecommunications network, calling it a threat to state
security.
May 8, 2008 - The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, says the plan to shut
down his group's telecommunications system amounts to "a declaration of open
war." Gun battles erupt on the streets on Beirut between Hezbollah supporters
and government forces.
May 25, 2008 - After a six-month vacancy in the position, Lebanon's Parliament
elects Army General Michel Sleiman as the new president.
June 7, 2009 - Parliamentary elections are held. Lebanon's pro-Western block,
the "March 14" coalition wins 71 seats and the Hezbollah-dominated "March 8"
alliance wins 57 seats.
June 27, 2009 - President Michel Sleiman appoints Saad Hariri, son of
assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, as the country's new prime
minister.
November 9, 2009 - After five months of deliberations, Prime Minister Saad
Hariri announces the formation of a cabinet, comprised of members of Hariri's
party and members of Hezbollah.
January 12, 2011 - Eleven Hezbollah members of Prime Minister Saad Hariri's
cabinet resign, causing his coalition government to collapse.
January 17, 2011 - The UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon hands down
indictments in the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The
details of the indictments are being kept secret by the International Court of
Justice in the Netherlands in order not to provoke violence in the country.
January 25, 2011 - President Michel Suleiman appoints Najib Mikati as
Lebanon's new prime minister.
March 2011-present - Hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria's civil
war flood Lebanon.
June 13, 2011 - Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, a Sunni political
independent backed by Hezbollah, announces the formation of a new
government.
June 30, 2011 - The UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon issues an
indictment and arrest warrants for an unspecified number of suspects, including
at least four Hezbollah members, in the 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri.
July 8, 2011 - Judge Daniel Fransen with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
issues arrest warrants for suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Hariri
and 22 others.
July 29, 2011 - The judge of the UN Special Tribunal lifts a confidentiality order
and reveals the names of people sought in the killing of former Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri. They are: Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine,
Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra.
November 29-30, 2011 - Rockets are fired from Lebanon into Israel for the first
time in more than two years. Israel retaliates with artillery fire into Lebanon. No
injuries are claimed on either side.
December 9-11, 2011 - A roadside bomb hits a UN vehicle in Lebanon wounding
five French peacekeepers and a Lebanese civilian. Two days later a rocket is
fired from Lebanon aimed at Israel, but falls short and wounds a Lebanese
woman.
October 19, 2012 - Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, First Sgt. Sahyouni and a
bystander are killed in a massive car bomb explosion in Beirut. Al-Hassan was
the chief of the Internal Security Forces Information Branch and opposed the
Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.
March 22, 2013 - Prime Minister Najib Mikati announces the resignation of his
government after disputes over parliamentary elections.
April 6, 2013 - Tammam Salam is designated to become the new prime minister.
February 15, 2014 - A new Lebanese government is announced with Salam as
the prime minister.
August 22-23, 2015 - Long-simmering weariness over government dysfunction
reaches a boiling point over the weekend when violent clashes erupt because of
garbage going uncollected in the streets of Beirut. A spokesman for the
Lebanese Security Forces says Lebanese army units were deployed Sunday.
Red Cross Lebanon says about 400 people were injured in the chaos.
August 30, 2015 - Lebanese army units are deployed in Beirutfollowing violent
street protests over garbage that hasn't been collected.
November 12, 2015 - Two suicide bombings in southern Beirut kill at least 43
people, and wound at least 239 others. A would-be suicide bomber who survived
the attack tells investigators he is an ISIS recruit, and that he and three other
attackers came from Syria two days earlier, according to a Lebanese security
source.
June 27, 2016 - Six people are killed and 19 others are wounded following a
series of suicide attacks in a mainly Christian area of northern Lebanon, in the
village of Qaa, close to the border with Syria. News reports say security analysts
think ISIS could be responsible.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/03/world/meast/lebanon-fast-
facts/index.html
3. 10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LEBANON
NOVEMBER 22, 2015 TEAM BIENG ARAB
Lebanon used to be known as the Switzerland of the East due to the
diversity and financial power that it enjoyed. Today Lebanon marks its 72nd
Independence Day. Lets look at some interesting facts about Lebanon.
1. THE DIVERSE POPULATION OF LEBANON COMES FROM NEARLY 18
RELIGIONS
2. THE VAST MAJORITY OF LEBANESE LIVING OUTSIDE OF LEBANON
3. LEBANON IS THE ONLY ARAB COUNTRY THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO
DESERT
4. THE WORLDS FIRST EVER LAW SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN THE CITY
OF BEIRUT
The law school of Beirut was a center for the study of Roman law in
classical antiquity located in Beirut. It flourished under the patronage of the
Roman emperors and functioned as the Roman Empires preeminent center
of jurisprudence until its destruction in A.D. 551
5. LEBANON IS THE FIRST MIDDLE EAST COUNTRY THAT HAD A
CONSTITUTION.
6. CITY OF BEIRUT IS OFTEN COMPARED WITH PHOENIX AS IT WAS
DESTROYED AND BUILT AS MUCH AS 7 TIMES
7. NUMBER OF SYRIAN REFUGEES IN LEBANON IS EQUAL TO 30% OF
LEBANESE POPULATION
8. LEBANON, THE COUNTRY, WAS OCCUPIED BY OVER 16 COUNTRIES
(Egyptians Hittites Assyrians Babylonians Persians Alexander
the greats Army the Roman Empire Byzantine the Arabian Peninsula
The Crusaders the Ottoman Empire Britain France Israel Syria)
9. IN SPRINGTIME, AND ON THE SAME DAY, YOU CAN SKI IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND/OR SWIM IN THE SEA
10. THERE ARE 15 RIVERS IN LEBANON (ALL OF THEM COMING FROM
ITS OWN MOUNTAINS)
Source: http://beingarab.com/10-interesting-facts-about-lebanon/
4. LOCATION: Lebanon
INTRODUCTION
Lebanon is a small, war-torn country on the east coast of the
Mediterranean Sea. Located on fertile territory at the crossroads of three
continentsAfrica, Asia, and Europeit is a valuable and highly desired
territory. Throughout its history, it has been the stage for conflicts between
local tribes-people and world powers. After being ruled by the Ottoman
Empire and by the French, Lebanon gained full independence in 1943.
The presence of Palestinian refugees and guerrilla bases, and tensions
between Christians and Muslims, have led to continuing political instability
and warfare in recent decades. However, the Lebanese people have
continued to survive in the face of repeated disruptions of their economy and
day-to-day life. From 1975 until 1991, civil war ruined Lebanon. Since the
early 1990s, the government has gradually regained power but there are still
incidents of political violence, especially in the south near Israel.
LOCATION
Lebanon is a tiny country. Its area is only a little more than 4,000 square
miles (10,400 square kilometers)about the size of the state of Connecticut.
Lebanon has two mountain ranges, a coastal strip, and an inland plain. In
former times it was famous for its cedars. However, due to centuries of
deforestation, very few cedars are left. Those that remain are now protected.
The population of Lebanon is as varied as its terrain. The official
population of Lebanon, excluding Palestinian refugees, is about 3.1 million.
Most Lebanese are Arabs.
LANGUAGE
Arabic is the official language of Lebanon, but many Lebanese also
speak English. For some, the French language still has the greatest prestige.
"Hello" in Arabic is marhaba or ahlan, to which one
replies, marhabtayn or ahlayn. Other common greetings are as-salam
alaykum ("peace be with you"), with the reply of walaykum as-salam ("and to
you peace"). Ma'assalama means "goodbye." "Thank you" is shukran, and
"you're welcome" is afwan. "Yes" is na'am and "no" is la'a. The numbers one
to ten in Arabic
are: wahad, itnin, talata, arba'a, khamsa, sitta, saba'a, tamania, tisa'a,
and ashara.
FOLKLORE
One of the most popular characters in Arab folklore is Jeha the Fool. He
figures in many stories, from teaching tales to purely humorous anecdotes.
Also popular are the real-life lovers, Ablah and Antar. Antar was a sixth-
century Arab who was born a slave but became a heroic warrior and a poet.
Antar and Ablah, the chief's daughter, fell in love. But of course a slave could
not marry the chief's daughter. Eventually, after many tragic struggles, Antar
was given his freedom, and he and Ablah married.
The story of the Greek hero Adonis takes place at Byblos, in Lebanon.
Also, Saint George, who later became the patron saint of England, lived in
Lebanon. He fought the famous sea-dragon at the mouth of a river near
Beirut. Most likely, the Christian Crusaders took Saint George's tale back with
them to the West.
The Lebanese are very fond of proverbs and can quote one for almost
any situation. Examples include "Better blind eyes than a closed mind," and
"The one who took the donkey up to the roof should be the one who brings it
down."
RELIGION
Christianity arrived in Lebanon during the Byzantine Roman era (AD 4
636). Its followers have since divided into a variety of sects including
Maronite, Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian
Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant. Islam was introduced in the
seventh century ad. Muslims are now divided into Sunnis, several types of
Shi'ites (including Ismaeli), and Sufis (Muslim mystics).
The Lebanese government keeps a record of every citizen's religious
affiliation. A person may belong to any religion, but each person must belong
to one. It is estimated that a little more than half of the Lebanese population
is Muslim. The rest are mostly Christian. Seats in the government are based
on religious representations.
MAJOR HOLIDAYS
The Lebanese celebrate both the Christian and Muslim holy days, plus a
couple of secular public holidays. The major Muslim holidays are Ramadan,
celebrated by complete fasting from dawn until dusk for an entire month; Eid
al-Fitr, a three-day festival at the end of Ramadan; Eid al-Adha, a feast at the
end of the hajj (the pilgrimage month to Mecca); the First of Muharram, the
Muslim New Year; Ashura, a Shi'ite commemoration and day of mourning;
and the Prophet Muhammad's birthday.
Two Easters are celebrated in Lebanon (both in late March or early April)
the Greek Orthodox date, and the date for the rest of the Christian
population. Other Christian holidays include New Year's Day (January 1); St.
Maroun's Day (the patron saint of Maronite Christians, February 9); the Day
of the Ascension (May 15); the Feast of the Assumption (August 15); and
Christmas and Boxing Day (December 25 and 26).
Three secular public holidays in Lebanon are: Labor Day (May 1);
Martyrs' Day, which honors patriots killed by the Turks during World War I
(May 6); and Independence Day (November 22).
The Christian New Year's Day (January 1) is celebrated in Beirut by
shooting tracer bullets out over the Mediterranean Sea. It is also customary
to go "strolling" along the coast road in one's car after midnight on New
Year's. Such "strolling" is a Lebanese tradition for almost any festival.
Both Muslim and Christian children play a game with colored (hard-
boiled) eggs at Easter time. One child taps the tip of his or her egg against
the tip of another child's egg. The child whose egg stays intact while cracking
everyone else's eggs wins the game. The children then eat their eggs.
RITES OF PASSAGE
Most Lebanese mark major life events, such as birth, marriage, and
death, within the Islamic or Christian religious traditions.
RELATIONSHIPS
The Lebanese lifestyle is relaxed, but by no means lazy. Opinions are
strongly held and fiercely defended with vigorous gestures in heated
discussions. At the market, the same vigor is used to haggle prices,
something the average Lebanese is quite good at doing. A favorite Lebanese
pastime is to sit and discuss politics or other hot topicsloudly. The same
attitude prevails on the road, where there are few (if any) traffic signals or
stop signs, and drivers simply "get ahead" as they need to. Pedestrians also
cross the road whenever and wherever they choose, leaving it to drivers to
stop for them.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Until recently, Lebanon was a war-torn nation. Much of the capital city of
Beirut was in ruins. So was a great deal of the rest of the country. Rebuilding
is now under way in order to address a lack of housing, as well as unreliable
gas and water supplies.
In rural areas, farmhouses are made of stone or concrete with tile floors.
They have only a few necessary pieces of furniture. A small wood-burning or
kerosene stove is used for heat in the winter. Most rural houses have running
water.
FAMILY LIFE
Most city families are small, averaging two children each. Children
usually live with their parents until they get married. Most businesses are
family-owned and -run. The revenue sent back by family members working
abroad has kept the Lebanese economy afloat during the recent, difficult war
years.
Rural families generally live on small farms. They have many children to
provide help with the farmworkoften as many as ten or fifteen. Women on
the farms have a very busy life. They do all the cooking, cleaning, and
laundry (in old-fashioned washtubs, with no electric dryers). They also work
in the fields when needed.
CLOTHING
Western-style fashions are popular in Lebanon's cities. Urban women are
very fashion-conscious. More-traditional clothes are still worn in some
villages. These include long dresses for women, and black pants and jackets
for men. Men's pants are full and baggy from the waist to the knee, then
tightly fitted from the knee to the ankle. Their jackets have fancy, brightly
colored, embroidered trim. Some older rural men continue to wear the
traditional short, cone-shaped, brown felt hat. Most modern Lebanese men,
however, have traded it in for a keffiya, the common Arab head scarf
FOOD
Lunch is the big meal in Lebanon. Almost everything is eaten with bread.
Two types of unleavened Lebanese bread are khub, which resembles pita
bread, and marqouq, which is paper-thin. Lebanese do not eat fish and dairy
in the same meal. Mezze are popular in Lebanon, as elsewhere in the Middle
East. Similar to appetizers, mezze basically consist of any food served in
small portions. An entire meal can consist solely of mezze. The Lebanese
national dish is kibbeh (or kibbe), made of either lamb or beef and cracked
wheat (bulghur, or birghol ).
Common ingredients in Lebanese cooking include laban (similar to
yogurt), rice, lentils, grape leaves (which are served with various stuffings,
such as rice or meat), pine nuts, rose water, sesame seeds, chickpeas, tahini
(sesame paste), and mint.
Wine has been made in Lebanon for thousands of years. A unique
Lebanese alcoholic creation is arak, a colorless, 100-percent-alcohol
beverage flavored with anise. Other popular beverages are coffee served
very thick, tea with lots of sugar and no milk, and locally bottled spring water
from the mountains.
EDUCATION.
Education is highly valued in Lebanon. There are five years of required
education, with an attendance rate of over 90 percent. A major problem in
Lebanon is a lack of standard education across the nation. Many Lebanese
send their children to private schools. Each school emphasizes a different
type of learning, so children receive vastly different educations.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
Lebanon has long been known for its high-quality book publishing. A
flourishing film industry produces high-quality films. A revival of folk art,
music, and dance began in the late 1960s. The national folk dance of
Lebanon is the debki, a line dance. People hold hands and step and stomp to
the beat of a small drum called a derbekki. Belly dancing is also popular.
EMPLOYMENT
Lebanon has a high proportion of skilled labor among its labor force.
However, there is a shortage of jobs for them. Many work outside the country
or are unemployed. Business dealings are based on friendship. A great deal
of "wining and dining" is done to establish connections before any business is
conducted.
SPORTS
Soccer, basketball, and volleyball are popular. Cross-country running,
particularly in the mountains, and the martial arts are widely practiced. Skiing,
rock-climbing, and cave exploration are also enjoyed in the mountains. Many
Lebanese go swimming and fishing in the lakes, rivers, or Mediterranean
Sea. In the city, pigeon-shooting is a favorite sport.
RECREATION
The Lebanese love television. There are over fifty television stations in
Lebanon, all of them commercial. Lebanese cinemas tend to show violent,
sexy American and European films. Live theater is popular, as are nightclubs
and pubs. At home, besides watching television, Lebanese enjoy playing
board games (especially Monopoly), chess, checkers, card games, and
backgammon. The Lebanese enjoyment of good conversation is so great that
talking could even be called the national pastime.
The social center of rural life is the foorn, the village bakery where
women bake their loaves of bread.
CRAFTS AND HOBBIES
Traditional Lebanese crafts include basketry, carpet weaving, ceramics
and pottery, copper-and metalworking, embroidery, glass-blowing, and gold-
and silversmithing. Lebanon is also known for its finely crafted church bells.
Wine making can also be considered an art, one that dates back thousands
of years.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Warfare has caused widespread destruction throughout the country. At
least 120,000 people were killed in the recent civil war and 300,000 were
wounded, most of them civilians. Another 800,000 or so left the country,
mostly the wealthy and well-educated. As many as 1,200,000 Lebanese
almost half the populationhad to move from their homes and
neighborhoods during the war.
The "Green Line" dividing Muslim Beirut and Christian Beirut is now the
center of major urban reconstruction.
Source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/places/asia/middle-eastern-
physical-geog raph/lebanese
5. Lebanon Facts.
Despite the threats of violence due to civil wars happening in Lebanon,
this country could still offer a tourist spot worth your visit. It has a very rich
history because of the diverse ethnic groups populating the area. Lebanon
was known to have the greatest number of population during old ages and
up to now, their population is exponentially increasing, which made the
country as one of the most populated places in the world. What you could
see in this place are actually the ancient structures of buildings like
mosques, churches, and synagogues. Beirut as the capital is a vibrant city,
offers nightlife experience and more adventures, especially for tourists.
Important and Interesting Facts About Lebanon
Beirut, Labanon is the 10th most popular shopping destination in
the world.
Lebanon is one of the most populated countries in its
archaeological sites in the world.
Lebanon is the only Arab and Asian country that has absolutely no
desert.
Israel and Lebanon share their seas; they are literally separated by
a giant cable. The Israeli and Lebanese parts of the ocean can be
seen from an Israeli geologic formation the Rosh Hanikra. These
caves are amazing rock formations in Israeli territory. Train tunnels
made years ago for transportation between the countries and now
inactive can be seen in the outside of the caves. Lebanon is just
around the corner of Israel. Rosh Hanilkra, although Israeli territory,
shows the ocean divided in two, and the military bases of Israel that
prohibit civilian entry, as Lebanon is just steps away.
One of the main exports of Lebanon is jewelry. Authentic jewelry is
one of the most exported goods from Lebanon to the world,
especially other Middle Eastern countries.
Lebanon is known to have the highest gold reserve in the Middle
East.
Impressive archaeological treasures site in the Beqaa valley. The
temple of Bacchus is the best preserved ancient temple in the
world. It is larger than the Parthenon. The most famous sight in
Baalbeck is the Temple of Jupiter with six large columns. Baalbek is
a UNESCO world heritage site.
Jeita grotto. The caves are situated in the Nahr al-Kalb valley close
to Beirut, about 20 km. You could combine the visit with a visit to the
zoo if youre travelling with kids. The caves are situated in the Nahr
al-Kalb valley close to Beirut, about 20 km. You could combine the
visit with a visit to the zoo if youre travelling with kids.
The Mzaar resort right above the village of Faraya is a large ski
resort (top 2465m) with modern facilities and a luxurious
Intercontinental hotel. It has 42 slopes and 80 kilometers of ski
tracks. Its about a 40 minutes drive from Beirut. So you could on
the perfect day, swim in the morning and ski in the afternoon.
While in Lebanon absolutely do not miss the impressive palace of
Beit ed-Din, built in the 19th century over a period of 30 years by
Emir Bechir II. It is a gorgeous example of the Lebanese
architecture in that time. Its only about 40 km from Beirut so its an
easy daytrip (best combined with a visit to the village of Deir el-
Qamar).
The name Deir el-Qamar means Monastery of the Moon. Its a
picturesque Maronite village and also an UNESCO World Heritage
Site. They might as well have added the whole Lebanon as World
Heritage Site at once!
Cool, Funny, and Fun Facts About Lebanon
The name LEBANON appears 75 times in the Old Testament.
The name CEDAR (Lebanons tree) appears 75 times too in the Old
Testament. King Solomons temple was built with Lebanons cedars.
Lebanons Sky Bar voted number 1 night club in the world.
Beirut was named World Book Capital in 2009.
The first alphabet was created in Byblos (city in Lebanon).
Lebanon is the country that has the most books written about it.
The creators of Tom & Jerry are originally Lebanese. (Joseph
Barbara & William Hanna)
Egypts Pharaohs imported Lebanons cedars, marble and timber.
In springtime, and on the same day, you can ski in the mountains
and/or swim in the sea.
The creator and the production manager of the iPod is originally
Lebanese. (Tony Fadel)
The richest man in the world comes from a Lebanese descent.
(Carlos Slim, from 2010-2013)
The Lebanese Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah was a technological
leader whose inventions in electricity had a great impact on the
development of the 20th century technology and he was the first
one who was working on creating electricity from sunlight.
Historical and Cultural Facts About Lebanon
Byblos (city in Lebanon) is the oldest continuously living city in the
world.
The countrys name is known to be the oldest in the world and has
remained unchanged for over 4000 years.
The Phoenicians (Original People of Lebanon) built the 1st boat,
and they were the first to sail ever. They also reached America long
before Christopher Columbus did.
The 1st law school in the world was built in Lebanon, in Downtown
Beirut.
Qurnat as Sawda is a very important place in Lebanon. What is so
special about it? It is the highest peak of Lebanon at 3,088 meters
above sea level. It has cold weather and frequent snowfall.
According to medieval religious literature, Noah planted a tree in the
summit of Mount Lebanon, Qurnat as Sawda.
The town of Jezzine, located in the south of Lebanon, is known for
its cutlery. The cutlery is made of gold, silver and other precious
metals. Many have handles made of bone or ivory. Some have the
shape of a firebird.
Grass weaving is yet another ancient tradition that exists in
Lebanon. People use palm leaves, agarwood (oud) and other
materials to make furniture, hats, mats and baskets. Places famous
for such objects are Aaakkar and Aamchit.
Lebanese wedding can last for up to three consecutive days. The
most impressive is the day of Zaffeh. Nowadays this term means
wedding celebration in general. The wedding starts with two parties
one in grooms home and one in brides home. With the arrival of
groom to brides home the third party starts.
Source: http://www.factsking.com/countries/lebanon/
