DESCRIPTION
Situated in Western Asia, and considered
part of the Middle East, is the small country of Lebanon. Bordering
with Syria and Israel, the country also has a long Mediterranean coastline,
and a mostly mountainous interior. It is the 166th largest
country in the world, with a population of around 4.1 million people.
The official language is Arabic, though English and French are quite
commonly spoken too. The currency is the Lebanese Pound. Ongoing political violence means that
Lebanon is not the safest location to visit right now, despite the country
having a good variety of attractions for travelers to enjoy. The capital
and largest city is Beirut. A cosmopolitan city with arts, entertainment
and fun nightlife for tourists, as well as attractions such as the National
Museum of Beirut and Sursock Museum, an 18th century palace.
Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites which are popular are Qadisha (Holy)
Valley; an area rich in Christian history, and Baalbek Roman ruins where
tourists will find the country’s most impressive Roman ruins. Another
popular destination is Jeita Grotto. These large caves feature some
of the world’s longest stalagmites. Lebanon has a mainly Mediterranean
climate with hot and dry summers, and colder and wet winters.