Lebanon… a Paradise for Nature’s Lovers

The beauty of Lebanon, its vast open spaces, its vineyards, its fertility, streams, rugged mountains, sturdy gnarled pines and snow-covered peaks, can only be measured with the heart. It is a paradise for nature’s lovers, and a unique place where hiking, skiing, bird watching, photographing, camping and other activities can be performed in all seasons

The country has a rich and varied flora. It has more species than any country in Europe, considering its area. This wealth is mainly due to the general climate conditions of the country, and has always been the focus of attention of many explorers and botanists.

The most famous flora in Lebanon is the Cedar tree, found in only a few mountaintop sites, notably at Bcharri and in Chouf Mountains. These are all that remain of Lebanon’s great cedar forests, which in Biblical times once covered vast areas of the country. It was mentioned in the Old Testament, and provided a source of wealth for the Phoenicians who exported the fragrant and durable wood to Egypt and Palestine. The original Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem was built of this wood, as were many sarcophagi discovered in Egypt. A slow but sure process of deforestation took place over the millennia, and although new trees are now being planted, it will be centuries before they mature. Some of the trees at the Cedars are over 1000 years old. Their trunks have a huge girth and their height can reach 30m.

Apart from the cedars, Lebanon is still the most densely wooded of all the Middle Eastern countries.  More than 40 different species of trees have been identified, including varieties of pines. Around 500 species of flowering plants bloom at different altitudes and times of the year. Some of these are endemic, such as Periwinkle of Lebanon and the Lebanon Star of Bethlehem, and some were unknown before the Habers’ study was carried out, including a tiny lilac-colored flower, which has been named the Ehden Lettuce, and the pink Orchid of Fayruz. Much of the coastal land is cultivated with fruit trees, such as orange, lemons, medlars, bananas and olives. In Beqaa Valley most of the arable land is given over to wine producing and vines stretch across the valley. In Beirut many of the magnificent, mature palm trees, which lined the Corniche.

In addition to plant species, many endangered mammals, such as squirrels, hedgehogs, badgers and wild cats, have made their home in certain nature reserve areas, alongside reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and insects.  The country is also a sanctuary for numerous kinds of resident and migratory birds, which can be heard in full voice morning and evening.