Lebanon - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Lebanon is a country in southwest Asia, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Lebanon has an area of 4,036 square miles (10,452 square kilometers).

The Great Rift Valley runs through Lebanon.

Part of the basin of Lake Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee) is located in Lebanon.

Lake Tiberias was formed when lava from volcanic eruptions closed off waters from the Jordan River

The Nahr el Litani is Lebanon's only permanent river. It flows along the El Beqaa valley, a fertile valley that lies between two parallel mountain ranges - the Jebel Liban and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains.

Beirut is the capital of Lebanon.

4,224,000 people live in Lebanon.

Most of them live on a strip of land along the coast.

94% of the people are Arab and 4% are Armenian.

Arabic is the official language. French, Armenian and Assyrian are also spoken.

70% of the people are Muslim and 30% are Christian.

Traditionally, tourism and financial services have been important industries. Lebanon has been an important center of commerce.

A civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1991 devastated the infrastructure and the economy.

The country is recovering from the effects of the war.

Lebanon has a parliamentary system of government.

The official currency is the Lebanese pound, which consists of 100 piastres.