Lebanese Geography: Geography of Lebanon
Lebanon is located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria and occupies most of the area that made up ancient Phoenicia. Lebanon is one of the smallest countries of the Middle East, and the change in nature is connected to the altitudes. Furthermore, a major feature of Lebanese topography is the alternation of lowland and highland that runs generally parallel with a north-to-south orientation. Divided into five ribbon-like topographical areas stretching from North to South:
The Shoreline. At 210 km long, it is mostly consisted of rocks towards north, and
sand south, adding some headlands, bays, and offshore islands
The Coastal plain. Surrounded by sea and mountains, Mount Lebanon (the West Mountains). Anti-Lebanon (the East Mountains).
Beqaa valley
Like any mountainous country, Lebanon's physical geography is complex. Land forms, climate, soils, and vegetation differ markedly within short distances. The Lebanon Mountains run the length of the country, cresting at an elevation of more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level. The Lebanon Mountains are the highest, most rugged, and most imposing of the whole maritime range of mountains and plateaus that start with the Amanus or Nur Mountains in northern Syria and end with the towering massif of Sinai. While some areas can be arid, the valleys between the mountains are green. The Biqa Valley. This central highland between the Lebanon Mountains and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains is about 177 kilometers in length and 9.6 to 16 kilometers wide and has an average elevation of 762 meters. Lebanon's two major rivers are the Litani and the Orontes, both of which empty into the Mediterranean.