Lebanon
is located
on the
eastern
shore
of the
Mediterranean
Sea.The
country
is 215km
long,
and
from
east
to west
the
distance
ranges
from
25 to
90km.
It is
bordered
by Syria
to the
north
and
east,
and
by occupied
Palestine
to the
south.
Lebanon
Surface
area
is 10,452
km/sqr.There
are
four
main
geographical
regions
running
north
to south
parallel
to the
Mediterranean
-- the
coastal
plain,
the
Lebanon
mountain
range,
the
Bekaa
Valley
and
the
Anti-Lebanon
range.
The
narrow
fertile
coastal
plain
is
broken
at
several
points
by
the
foothills
and
peaks
of
the
Lebanon
Mountains.Lebanon's
main
cities,
Beirut
and
Tripoli,
are
along
this
plain.
The
Lebanon
mountains
include
numerous
rivers
which
flow
down
to
the
sea,
and
Lebanon's
highest
peak
Qornet
Es-Sauda
at
3090
meters.
Behind
the
Lebanon
Mountains
is
the
Bekaa
Valley,
an
extension
of
the
Great
Rift
Valley.
When
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Lebanon
has
a Mediterranean
climate
-- hot
and
dry
summers
and
cool,
rainy
winters.
The
sun
shines
300
days
a year.
The
annual
rainfall
on the
coastal
plain
is around
35in,
and
more
than
50in
in the
mountains.
Humidity
is high
along
the
coast
in summer
and
daytime
temperatures
average
30°C
with
night
temperatures
not
much
lower.
Beirut
in summer
becomes
a commuter
society
as families
move
to the
mountains
to enjoy
the
cool
dry
climate.
Winters
on
the
coast
can
be
dry
and
mild
one
day
and
wet
and
chilly
the
next.Winter
daytime
temperatures
average
15°C.
In
the
mountains
summer
daytime
temperatures
average
26°C
and
the
nights
are
pleasantly
cool.
Winters
are
cold
and
it
snows
at
the
higher
elevations.
The
snow
ensures
good
skiing
from
December
through
April.
Environment
Lebanon has
one of the
best education
systems in
the Middle
East. The
literacy rate
is more than
75%, one of
the highest
in the Arab
world. Beirut
has important
universities
targeted from
major Arab
countries
seeking for
certain level
of education.
The most notable
is the American
University
of Beirut
(AUB); others
are the American
Lebanese University
(ALU), Beirut-Arab
University,
and the Lebanese
Maronite University.
As
in other Arab
countries
the traditional
lifestyle
of the Lebanese
revolves strongly
around the
family, socializing
and hospitality.
Western influences,
mainly French
and American,
have given
the country
a cosmopolitan
facade, mostly
in the main
cities.
Outside
the cities,
especially
in the mountains,
the people
retain the
old customs
and traditions.
The Lebanese
people, despite
being ethnically
and religiously
diverse because
of the country's
long history
of conquest
and assimilation,
are friendly
and hospitable.They
are familiar
with foreigners'
ways and dress
and although
sleeveless
tops, miniskirts
and shorts
are acceptable
in Beirut,
the rest of
the country
is more traditional
and modest
dress is recommended.
This is particularly
necessary
when visiting
mosques and
other religious
places.
