Overview
GEOGRAPHY: Lebanon lies to the east of the Mediterranean, sharing borders to the north and east with the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the south with Israel/Palestinian Territory. It is a mountainous country and between the two mountain ranges of Jebel Lubnan (Mount Lebanon), Mount Hermon and the Anti-Lebanon range lies the fertile Bekaa Valley. Approximately half of the country lies at an altitude of over 900m (3000ft). Into this small country is packed such a variety of scenery that there are few places to equal it in beauty and choice. The famous cedar trees grow high in the mountains, while the lower slopes bear grapes, apricots, plums, peaches, figs, olives and barley, often on terraces painstakingly cut out from the mountainsides. On the coastal plain, citrus fruit, bananas and vegetables are cultivated, with radishes and beans grown in tiny patches.
Government: Republic. Head of State: President Emil Jamil Lahoud since 1998. His term of presidency was set to end in November 2004 but was controversially extended by another term (lasting three years) when the constitution was amended to allow Lahoud to remain in office. Head of Government: Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri since 2000.
Language: The official language is Arabic, followed by French as the second language; English is widely spoken. Armenian is spoken by a small percentage of the population.
Religion: Islam and Christianity are the main religions. Islam (predominantly Shi’ite) accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the population’s beliefs. Christian denominations, mainly Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Armenian and Protestant account for another 40 per cent. Other religions account for the remaining 20 per cent (including a very small Jewish community).
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