Geography

- Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Palestine and Syria, 33^o 50' N, 35^o 50' E

- Area: 10452 km²

- Land boundaries: Syria (375 km) and Palestine (79 km)

- Coastline: 220 km

- Climate: Lebanon has 4 different seasons which are autumn (fall), winter, spring & summer.

In fall, the country faces some rain were the weather starts to cool down gradually & the leaves fall down from trees.

In winter, it faces a lot of rain on the coasts and some snow at high altitudes usually over 1000 meters and rarely lower. In this time of year, the temperature scores an average of 14°C.

In spring, the temperature begins to rise and the sun starts to affect more were the snow melts & the flowers bloom during this period.

In summer the temperature rises more with the burning sun were it scores an average between 16°C & 35°C during the day.

- Terrain: narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

- Land use: forest 13.3%, OWL (other wooded land) 10.4%, other land 76.3%.¹

- Irrigated land: 30.9%.²

- Administrative regions / provinces: Akkar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beirut, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, Nabatiye, North Lebanon, South Lebanon.

- Major cities: Beirut, Tripoli, Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, Zahle, Baalbek.

- Major coastal cities: Beirut, Tripoli, Byblos, Sidon, Tyre.  The Lebanese coast stretches over 250 km, and is generally characterized as having a coastal zone which is 16km wide (sea-land corridor). It is rich in cultural, archeological heritage and natural landscapes.

Marine Biodiversity

The National Council for Scientific Research estimated that along the coast there are approximately:

- 218 Marine fish species from 140 genera

- 747 Zooplankton species

- Cephalopods (Octopuses, Cuttlefish and Squids)

- Reptiles (Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles)

- Mammals (Dolphins and Porpoises)

Economic Importance of Coast

Concentrated in coastal areas and there are approximately:

- 150 Beach Resorts along the coast

- 4 commercial ports

- 15 fishing harbors

There are also two Protected Areas along the coast:

- Palm Island Nature Reserve

- Tyre Coast Nature Reserve

- Population : 3,755,034 ±124,482 ³

- Population growth rate: 1.58. ⁴

- Birth rate: 73,673. ⁵

- Death rate : 17,774. ⁵

- Sex ratio : Male/Female = 99. ³

- Ethnic groups:Arabs, Armenians, others

- Languages: Arabic (official language), English, French, Armenian

- Religions: Muslim (Sunni, Shi'a , Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian (Maronite, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other

1Ministry of Agriculture, 2005; 2Ministry of Environment, 2004; 3Central Administration of Statistics, 2004; 4Central Administration of Statistics, 2000; 5Ministry of Public Health, 2004