is lebanon a desert

What do you know about Lebanese desserts?

Unless you have family from or near Lebanon or have a history rooted in the Lebanese culture, you may not know a lot about Lebanese desserts or Lebanese cuisine in general. As far as Asian cuisine goes, Lebanon’s delicious fare is often overshadowed here in the U.S. by China, Japan, and India. However, that doesn’t mean their food isn’t good.

Where is Lebanon on the world map?

Lebanon, country located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea; it consists of a narrow strip of territory and is one of the world’s smaller sovereign states. The capital is Beirut.

Where does desertification occur in Lebanon?

Lebanon's land desertification spreads 60 kilometers and begins at the edge of the city Baalbek and ends at the border of Syria. Most studies on desertification in Lebanon have concluded that the area of northern Bekaa is the region most affected by this environmental issue.

What are the mountains in Lebanon called?

The Anti-Lebanon range (Al-Jabal al-Sharqī) starts with a high peak in the north and slopes southward until it is interrupted by Mount Hermon (9,232 feet [2,814 metres]). Lebanese rivers, though numerous, are mostly winter torrents, draining the western slopes of the Lebanon Mountains.

Resources and land use

Environmental concerns

How much of Lebanon is desert?

The most recent number, from 2010, is 11.14%. The percentage of permanent cropland in Lebanon also went down from 13.69% to 12.32% between 2009 and 2010. According to a study done by the National Work to Fight Desertification program, over 60 percent of Lebanon's land is at risk of desertification.

What type of land is Lebanon?

Lebanon is a small country in the Middle East, located at approximately 34˚N, 35˚E. It stretches along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and its length is almost three times its width....Geography of Lebanon.ContinentAsiaCoordinates33°50′N 35°50′EAreaRanked 161th• Total10,452 km2 (4,036 sq mi)• Land98.37%13 more rows

Does Lebanon have sand?

The sparkling blue waters and clear white sand makes the White beach in Lebanon the most beautiful place to unwind by the seashore. Since this beach is relatively less crowded, the calm and pleasant ambiance creates a perfect setting for you to enjoy the soothing sound of the crashing waves.

Is Lebanon tropical?

Lebanon has a Mediterranean-type climate characterized by hot and dry summers (June to September) and cool and rainy winters (December to mid-March), with an average annual temperature of 15˚C.

Why are Lebanese so proud?

Their culture The Lebanese are extremely proud of the amount of cultural heritage they share. The sheer diversity of culture has made for an interesting group of people living together in one place. From customs to received “modernities”, the Lebanese have accumulated a wide mix of different cultures over the years.

What Lebanon is famous for?

Lebanon offers plenty: from ancient Roman ruins, to well-preserved castles, limestone caves, historic Churches and Mosques, beautiful beaches nestled in the Mediterranean Sea, world-renowned Lebanese cuisine, nonstop nightlife and discothèques, to mountainous ski resorts.

Why Lebanon is not a desert?

Lebanon has a relatively smooth coastline with no major indentations. It has few good natural harbors but instead has many shallow, curved bays. The northern part of the coast is mostly rocky; south of Beirut, it becomes sandy in places.

How old is Lebanon?

With nearly 5,000 years of history, Lebanon is one of the world's oldest countries.

Does Lebanon get snow?

Snow covers much of Lebanon, and extends across the border with Syria. Another expanse of snow occurs just north of the Syria-Jordan border. Snow in Lebanon is not uncommon, and the country is home to ski resorts.

What is the hottest city in Lebanon?

The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Liban-Nord. The coldest is Nabatîyé. Due to the warmer temperatures the best time for traveling is from July to August. Less attractive are the cold months from December to March.

Are there 4 seasons in Lebanon?

Weather and climate Lebanon has a typically Mediterranean climate. There are four distinct seasons. Summer (June to September) is hot on the coast and cooler in the mountains. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant and are the ideal times to visit for sightseeing.

What nationality is Lebanese?

Ethnically, the Lebanese compose a mixture in which Phoenician, Greek, Armenian, and Arab elements are discernible. Within the larger Lebanese community, ethnic minorities including Armenian and Kurdish populations are also present.

Is Lebanon considered Mediterranean?

Lebanon is included in the Mediterranean climatic region, which extends westward to the Atlantic Ocean.

What is the landscape of Lebanon like?

Lebanon's beauty is illuminated by its geography, its narrow coastal plane and two parallel north/south mountains (the mountains of Lebanon and anti-Lebanon). The fertile Bekaa valley, with its Litani and Orontes Rivers, separates these mountains and nourishes the terrain.

Is Lebanon an Arab country?

Lebanon is a founding member of the United Nations and is a member of the Arab League, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

How was Lebanon formed?

The modern State of Lebanon has existed within its current borders since 1920, when Greater Lebanon was created under French and British mandate, resulting from the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I.

What are the physical features of Lebanon?

Landforms, climate, soils, and vegetation undergo some sharp and striking changes within short distances. Four distinct physiographic regions may be distinguished: a narrow coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea, the Lebanon Mountains (Jabal Lubnān), Al-Biqāʿ (Bekaa) valley, and the Anti-Lebanon and Hermon ranges running parallel to the Lebanese Mountains.

How long is the Lebanon Mountains?

The range, rising steeply from the coast, forms a ridge of limestone and sandstone, cut by narrow and deep gorges. It is approximately 100 miles (160 km) long and varies in width from 6 to 35 miles (10 to 56 km).

What is the name of the mountain range in the south of Jordan?

In the south Al-Biqāʿ becomes hilly and rugged, blending into the foothills of Mount Hermon ( Jabal al-Shaykh) to form the upper Jordan Valley. The Anti-Lebanon range (Al-Jabal al-Sharqī) starts with a high peak in the north and slopes southward until it is interrupted by Mount Hermon (9,232 feet [2,814 metres]).

What was Lebanon's political stability after the civil war?

After the end of the civil war in 1990, Lebanon gradually reclaimed a degree of relative socioeconomic and political stability; because of the continued problems of external intervention and troubled confessional relations, however, many of Lebanon’s challenges persisted into the early 21st century.

What is the capital of Lebanon?

It consists of a narrow strip of territory and is one of the world’s smaller sovereign states. The capital is Beirut.

Which country has the highest literacy rate?

Lebanon is one of the most densely populated countries in the Mediterranean area and has a high rate of literacy. Notwithstanding its meagre natural resources, Lebanon long managed to serve as a busy commercial and cultural centre for the Middle East.

When did Lebanon become a republic?

In that year France, which administered Lebanon as a League of Nations mandate, established the state of Greater Lebanon. Lebanon then became a republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1943. Lebanon Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Britannica Quiz. Countries of the World.

How does desertification affect Lebanon?

Desertification reduces natural food production, which makes the country turn to foreign imports of food. This foreign aid can lead to a lack of agriculture in the country, which makes it more costly to produce locally. Lebanon's agriculture is considered essential to the economy. Agriculture in Lebanon is a source of food as well as exports including fruits, vegetables, eggs, cereals, sugar, and livestock products. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, there was $280 million worth of financial consequences to the agricultural sector. This included crop production, fisheries, forestry, and livestock. Major problems facing agricultural production cause the rural people in Lebanon to live in poverty. These problems include the small size of agricultural holdings, lack of agriculture policies, high production costs, and lack of specialized agricultural credit. The agriculture sector in Lebanon accounts for 5% of the country’s GDP and employs about 8% of the labor force. About 70% of Lebanon’s food needs are satisfied by imports. Lebanon’s agriculture sector is underdeveloped and poorly managed, and only 55% of the productive areas are used, often inefficiently and wastefully. The agriculture sector also suffers from a lack of funding and receives less than 1% of the country’s budget. The total food imports for 2009 were estimated at US$2.216 billion, or 13% of the country’s total imports. The top 10 food imports into Lebanon are as follows:

Why is Lebanon's economy so bad?

Since Lebanon's civil war, the country has been facing a severe economic problem because of the destruction of Lebanese industries and infrastructure. The agriculture sector is also weak because most of the rural Lebanese citizens migrated to the city. Millions of foreign workers travel to Lebanon every year and offer their services at a lower price to compete with the Lebanese workers. The labor supply exceeds the demand because of this, causing higher unemployment rates. The Lebanese also find some jobs, such as agriculture, unattractive because of the poor wages.

What are the causes of desertification?

One of the main causes of desertification is poor soil conservation, which leads to soil degradation. Healthy soil contains organic matter, which is formed when decaying materials are transformed into soil that contains nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Unstable farming methods are also a cause of desertification. Overuse of fertilizers, lack of crop rotation, and poor irrigation practices strip the soil of its nutrients. When the topsoil is depleted of its organic matter, it either becomes too loose or too compacted, which can lead to erosion . Overgrazing is a large problem and another cause of desertification. Grasses are important in anchoring topsoil in a dryland region. When animals are allowed to graze too much on already dry land, they expose the soil to destructive forces such as thunderstorms and wind.

What is a Lebanese night?

Translated as Lebanese nights, this creamy and versatile dessert is made with a base of milk, semolina, and sugar. The ingredients are cooked into a creamy pudding that is left to set until it is firm and well-chilled. The pudding is usually flavored with orange blossom or rose water, vanilla, lemon juice, and can also be additionally thickened with mastic.

What is the name of the dessert made with semolina dough and ashta?

Mafroukeh is a traditional Lebanese dessert that combines semolina dough and ashta —clotted cream that is often flavored with orange blossom and rose water. The dough is usually made by blending semolina flour, orange blossom and rose water, butter, (optionally nuts), and sugar syrup until the desired consistency is achieved.

What did God promise to do to Assyria?

But God promised Assyria’s downfall: “See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low. He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One” ( Isaiah 10:33–34; cf. Ezekiel 31:3–17 ).

What was the valley of Lebanon?

Later, when Joshua led the conquests to take parts of the Promised Land, the valley of Lebanon was included as one of the regions that was taken ( Joshua 12:7 ). Home to famed forests and a beautiful mountain range, Lebanon was a source of valuable lumber for the Israelites. The cedar tree of Lebanon, which is featured on the modern flag ...

What is Lebanon known for?

Answer. Mentioned only in the Old Testament, Lebanon is best known for its trees and mountain range. The Bible mentions Lebanon 71 times, but only in reference to its natural features and not as a specific state or nation. Significantly, Lebanon means “white,” undoubtedly a reference to the country’s white, snow-capped mountain range ...

Why is the cedar tree on the flag of Lebanon?

The cedar tree of Lebanon, which is featured on the modern flag of Lebanon, was prized because of its high-quality, fragrant timber. Solomon used cedar trees from Lebanon in the construction of the temple, as well as in the building of his palace, which was called “the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon” ( 1 Kings 5:5–6; 7:1–3 ).

Is Lebanon in the Promised Land?

Scripture includes Lebanon as being within the Promised Land. Moses and Joshua both mention Lebanon when talking about the Promised Land and its boundaries ( Deuteronomy 1:7; 3:25; Joshua 1:4 ). This correlates with Deuteronomy 11:24, which states, “Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea.” Later, when Joshua led the conquests to take parts of the Promised Land, the valley of Lebanon was included as one of the regions that was taken ( Joshua 12:7 ).

When Jesus returns after the tribulation, will he set up his kingdom?

When Jesus returns after the tribulation, He will set up His kingdom and rule for 1,000 years ( Revelation 20:4 ). Jerusalem is promised restoration: “The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet” ( Isaiah 60:13 ).

Who cut the trees in the Bible?

Hiram, king of Tyre, had his workers cut the trees, haul the logs to the sea, and float them to a place where Solomon’s men could collect them ( 1 Kings 5:8–9 ). The trees of Lebanon serve as powerful symbols in the Bible.

What is Lebanon famous for?

Don’t worry! Lebanon is also famous for its baklava.

What is the difference between Shaabiyat and Baklava?

The only difference is in their fillings. Baklava usually contains pistachios and butter. Shaabiyat features a gooey, cheesy filling that’s slightly sweet and supremely creamy.

Is Lebanon's food good?

On the contrary, Lebanese food, and the desserts, in particular, are quite delicious, and it’s a shame more people don’t get to enjoy them.

What is a dessert topped with?

Desserts are often finished or topped with nuts.

Is the rough version of Arabic sweets good?

Both good, however, personally I prefer the rough version myself, I like the extra crunch in my Arabic sweets.

Is rice pudding Levantian?

Rice pudding is a comfort food for many around the world, this particular recipe is traditionally Levantian in flavor.

Overview

Desertification is defined as “the rapid depletion of plant life and the loss of topsoil at desert boundaries and in semiarid regions, usually caused by a combination of drought and the overexploitation of grasses and other vegetation by people.” There is a common misconception that desertification spreads from a desert core. The truth is that land degradation can occur far away from deserts, and the presence of a desert has no effect on desertification. Another misco…

Causes

Affected areas

Agriculture

Economic impact

Combating desertification