Lebanon is one of the most interesting countries with a mix of the Middle East and the West.
Many travelers wish to visit this country as the beach resorts are great, the food is amazing, and there are many interesting things to explore.
With a history of over seven thousand years, this country is definitely an old-time charm, along with a good amount of modernity.
However, some areas are not accessible to tourists due to refugees and unrest. So, in this article, we will now discuss some interesting facts about Lebanon.
Interesting Lebanon Facts
Lebanon is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Lebanon is the third smallest country in the Middle East, standing only after Bahrain and the Palestinian Territories.
However, despite having this small size, this fascinating country is in the location of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Those include four ancient cities, asBaalbek, Anjar, Tyre, the popular Qadisha valley, and its Christian monastic settlements.
The city Tyre is supposedly the place where the purple dye was invented. As per legend, the purple pigment was found and reproduced in this city, although its use was reserved for nobility and royalty.
Beirut is Lebanon’s capital.
Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, was popular as the “Paris of the East” during the 1960s due to its image as a playground for the most affluent tourists of the world.
Also, according to ancient legend, this city called Beirut has been rebuilt from the ashes seven times. This makes this city an “urban phoenix in mythology.”
The name of this city derived from the Phoenician or Canaanite word ‘ber’ot,’ which means “fountain” or “the wells,” referencing the area’s water table that is accessible.
There is an ancient city.
The most famous temple of Lebanon, the Baalbek temple or the “Sun City” or Heliopolis, is one of the top temples that is still preserved.
This temple is located in the Bekaa Valley. This temple is one of Lebanon’s most spectacular ancient sites and an excellent example of Imperial Roman architecture.
The Roman Emperor is thought to have commissioned this temple to be built in the 2nd century AD. It is now one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in the Middle East.
Lebanon has been inhabited since 10000 BC.
Africa has always been regarded as the cradle of civilization; however, some countries in other parts of the planet have had inhabitants for a long time.
According to researchers, several pieces of evidence show that there were people in the region known as Lebanon as early as 10,000 BC.
The relationship between France and Lebanon is very old
According to some scholars and historians, the relationship between Lebanon and France dates back to the 13th century.
The reason is, according to them, Louis IX protected the Maronites, which resulted in the formation of this good relationship.
Now, you will see that more than 20,000 French still lives in this country.
Here people speak three languages.
Throughout this country, Lebanon, people mostly speak three languages. Though the official language and the language most people speak is Arabic, there are still two other languages that people use here French and English.
In Lebanon, people love to smoke
Smoking is something that people in this country love to indulge in. Hence, Lebanon is one of the highest numbers of cigarette consumers on the planet, with more than 2000 cigarettes smoked per person annually.
Also, according to WHO, this country is ranked 3rd for the highest consumption of cigarettes per capita.
However, Lebanon is trying to curb this habit by banning ads about tobacco in different media, including TV, which results in a 34% decrease in smoking.
It is home to the oldest city worldwide.
The world’s oldest city, which Byblos still inhabits, is just twenty miles from Beirut. Byblos is one of the oldest Phoenician cities that has been inhabited since 10,000-4500 BC or the Neolithic period.
The buildings of this city date back 8000 years and showcase several millennia of construction.
The people of Lebanon are known for their generosity
A place may be very attractive, with many beautiful sites and interesting monuments, but the people of that place also need to be friendly.
So, in that case, Lebanon is a great place to visit, as Lebanese people are very generous and friendly. They receive their guests with proper warmth and generosity.
Also, when you are in the house of Lebanese people, you should say no to what they offer you. It is thought rude to reject their generosity when visiting their homes.
Lebanon hosts a good number of refugees.
The hospitality of the Lebanese people is also reflected in the number of refugees hosted by this small country.
In 2019, Lebanon received more than 1,300,000 refugees, including Ethiopian, Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian, and more people. Hence, Lebanon is the fifth-largest receiver of refugees in the world.
Also, this country hosts the world’s largest number of per capita refugees. There are approximately 1.5 million Syrian, 16000 Ethiopian, 200,000 Palestinian, and people of other origins.
There was a recent explosion in Lebanon’s Beirut.
In the year 2020, a serious explosion in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, killed about two-hundred people and injured more than 6000.
The reason is that a port warehouse stored 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. That port blew up, and the city was unprepared for this, so the people of Beirut needed to experience an unexpected blast. This blast was estimated at one-twentieth of the blast in Hiroshima.
Lebanon is part of the fertile crescent.
Lebanon is known as the Fertile Crescent or the Cradle of Civilization. It is a place shaped like a remarkably fertile crescent. Other places in this area include Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and more.
Lebanon has one of the highest rates of holidays.
Lebanon is a country that has the highest number of public holidays per year. In total, people of this country enjoy 16 public holidays in a year. Some other countries with a lot of public holidays include Cambodia and India.
This little country is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible, almost 65 and 75 times. The name of this country came in the Bible, often about Mount Lebanon and its well-known cedar trees.
Several ancient empires ruled Lebanon.
Many ancient empires ruled Lebanon, including the Akkadian, Phoenician, Mitanni, Egyptian, Babylonian, Hittite, Persian, Greek, and Roman.
However, for over 400 years, this country was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the year 1920, following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, this country was ruled by France, which formed the State of Greater Lebanon.
However, Lebanon declared independence in the year 1946.
Lebanon was embroiled in a civil war.
From 1975 to 1990, this country was embroiled in a civil war. Nearly the end of this conflict, more than 100,000 people had been displaced.
Israel and Syria also got involved in this civil war, with their troops occupying some parts of Lebanon until 2000 (Israel) and 2005 (Syria).
The Lebanese flag
The flag of this little country, Lebanon, is horizontally striped red-white-red and has a green-colored cedar tree in the center.
Historically, the colors red and white have been associated with the famous clans’ Kassite and Yemenite clans that have existed for over 1000 years.
Also, in the Bible, the cedar tree in the Bible is mentioned as a symbol of wealth and strength, and this tree also has long been associated with Lebanese Christians.
Also, the name Lebanon derives from the Semitic word “lbn,” meaning “white,” which refers to the snow-capped Mount Lebanon.
It is one of the world’s worst countries for gender equality
While measuring the relative gaps between men and women in health, economy, education, and politic, this country can be considered one of the world’s worst countries for gender equality. In the year 2020, Lebanon ranked as the ninth-worst country.
Winter is the best time to visit Lebanon.
Winter is a perfect time if you are considering visiting this generous country at least once. In winter, you will be able to experience snow and book some ski resorts to enjoy the snow.
Many travelers find this a surprising reality about Lebanon, as not many countries in the Middle East get snow.
While visiting Lebanon, you may enjoy incredible vineyards.
The wine culture in this country is ancient and even dates back over five thousand years. This is the reason why you will see some incredible vineyards throughout this interesting country. Lebanon is one of the oldest wine-producing regions of the world.
In ancient times, Phoenicians are thought to have transported their grapevines to the area from almost 3000 BC. The region was popular for its wine even during the Middle Ages.
So, you can explore these vineyards and learn more about wine.
The national dish of Lebanon, Kibbeh
Kibbeh is the national dish and one of Lebanon’s most popular dishes. It is mainly an emulsified fresh lamb and bulgar wheat paste with many spices.
Most people turn the meat into nuggets, which are then made on a charcoal grill or stuffed inside the vegetables.
Qadisha Valley is perfect for hiking.
Your trip to Lebanon will not be complete if you don’t hike the beautiful Qadisha Valley. It is one of the most majestic natural reserves of Lebanon that you must experience.
Also, if you don’t like hiking, you can even drive through this amazing valley to explore the beauty of Lebanon.
So, Lebanon is a great country with an interesting culture, rich history, beautiful sceneries, World Heritage sites, and some delicious foods that attract many people.
At the end of this article, we have learned 21 interesting facts about Lebanon that offer a clear picture of this country. To get some additional amazing facts, you can see our website.
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