• Bangladesh!

    Bangladesh: Traditional houses. Go Now!

    Bangladesh
    This low-lying country has historic ties to India and Pakistan, but today maintains a wholly unique culture. Explore Bangladesh!

  • Indonesia!

    Indonesia: Lombok. Go Now!

    Indonesia
    This archipelago nation is culturally diverse from big cities to isolated islands. Begin Your Journey!

  • Jordan!

    Jordan: Petra. Go Now!

    Jordan
    Tucked away in this Middle Eastern country, the famed city of Petra (pictured) links the past to the present culture. Explore Jordan!

  • Mongolia!

    Mongolia: Desert. Go Now!

    Mongolia
    This vast country has a culture that spans past and present... a nomadic life shifting to a modern & sedentary society. Begin Your Journey!

  • Kyrgyzstan!

    Kyrgyzstan: Tian Shan Mountains. Go Now!

    Kyrgyzstan
    The mountains, including the Tian Shan Mountains (pictured), give Kyrgyzstan a unique culture, partially formed from this isolation from the mountains. Go Now!

Geography, Weather, & Wildlife of Lebanon

WARNING: Terrorist threats and violence exist in Lebanon, please read this travel warning before going!

Geography

Lebanese Geography - Church in the mountains
Church in the mountains

Lebanon is a small Middle Eastern country that sits on the Mediterranean Sea. To Lebanon's south is Israel, to their east and north is Syria, and to their west is the Mediterranean.

Along the Mediterranean coast, Lebanon is fairly flat and hospitable. Moving to the east the Jabal Lubnan Mountains rise up before dipping into the country's fertile valley, which is where much of the population lives outside of the coastal areas. Moving towards Syria, another small mountain range rises up called the Jabal ask sharqi.

Weather

Lebanon has hot and dry summers, with short and wetter winters. Winters tend to be riddled with high humidity and short rainstorms and temperatures can get to freezing as snow does occasionally fall; this is especially true in the northern mountains, where some mountain peaks are snow covered for much of the year. However, most of the country remains relatively warm with Beirut receiving average temperatures of about 55° F (13° C) in the winter months. Summers can be very hot or quite cool depending on the wind direction, but they generally are more arid than winters. Winds from Europe tend to cool the country, while winds from the east or south tend to heat the region. However, the coast isn't as susceptible to these changes as the Mediterranean tends to even the changes. During the summers, the coast including Beirut averages 80° F (27° C).

Wildlife

Lebanese Geography - Lebanese Cedar
Lebanese Cedar

Lebanon is a good landscape and home for animals, but its size limits the number of species; despite this, the variety in the small country is quite impressive. Among the mammals are jackals, gazelles, and hares along with many more, most of which are rodents. There are few sea animals in the country itself, but the border Mediterranean Sea boasts an impressive collection of animals, from mammals like dolphins to corals, fish, and shellfish the species number in the thousands.

Lebanon sits on the north-south migratory path for many bird species so annually sees hundreds of birds, whether they only pass by or remain year round. Some of the more common birds are partridges, pigeons, vultures, eagles, nightingales, and thrushes. There are few amphibians in Lebanon, but a large number of reptiles, first among them being lizards and snakes.

This page was last updated: March, 2013