Lebanon

This small country, the smallest in the Middle East, has an area of only 10,452 km² but carries a civilization & history of 4,000 years.

Historical Facts:

1)      Lebanon is the modern name of what was called Phoenicia. It is not an Arab country.

2)      Phoenicians built the 1^st boat and they were the first to sail ever! They were traders, involved in international trade between the Middle Eastern hinterland, and countries around the Mediterranean.

3)      Phoenicians also reached America long before Christopher Columbus did.

4)      The Phoenicians created the first Alphabet. It was written by Cadmus in Byblos (city in Lebanon).

5)      Byblos is the oldest, continuously living city in the world.

6)      The country was occupied by over 16 countries: (Egyptians • Hittites • Assyrians • Babylonians • Persians - Alexander The Great army - Roman Empire Byzantine - Arabian Peninsula - The Crusaders - the Ottoman Empire • Britain • France • Israel - Syria)

7)      Beirut was destroyed and rebuilt 7 times (this is why it's compared to the Phoenix.

8)      The only temple of Jupiter (Ruler of Greek Gods) is in Baalbeck, Lebanon (The City of the Sun)

9)      The 1st law school in the world was built in Lebanon, in Downtown Beirut, during the Phoenician era.

10)  The name LEBANON appears 75 times in the Old Testament.

11)  The name CEDAR (Lebanon's trees) appears 75 times too in the Old Testament!!

12)  The name of the BIBLE comes from the name of our city BYBLOS!!!

13)  Jesus Christ made his 1^st miracle in Lebanon, in Sidon (The miracle of turning water into wine)

14)  The Phoenicians were the first converts to Christianity after the Jews (appears in Matthew 15:21)

Contemporary Facts:

15)  It is the only country in the whole Middle East that has a Christian President (obligatory decree in Lebanese Constitution).

16)  Lebanon is the only country in ME that has official weekend as Saturday & Sunday. 

17)  40% of the Lebanese people are Christians, the highest % in all ME countries.

18)  Lebanon is the only ME/African country that doesn't have a desert.

19)  It is the only non-dictatorial country in the Arab world

20)  Beirut is the most sophisticated and cosmopolitan city in the Middle East.

21)  Lebanon has 18 religious communities.

22)  It has 40 daily newspapers.

23)  It has 42 universities.

24)  It has over 100 banks (not branches)

25)  70% of the students are in private schools.

26)  It has a literacy rate as high as 90%

27)  Most Lebanese speak at least 3 languages (Arabic / English / French); they are all taught in schools till university.

28)  There are 4.2 Million Lebanese in Lebanon.

29)  And around 18 Million Lebanese outside Lebanon!!!

30)  Lebanese are very friendly people.

31)  Lebanese have a very rich cuisine hhhhhhmmmmm 

32)  There are over 350 Pubs & Clubs in the City of Beirut alone!!!

33)  Your evening out, could start as early as 20:30 and end it at 06:00 morning J

34)  You can carry two currencies in your pocket (LBP & USD).

35)  Lebanon has all 4 seasons of the year.

36)  You could practically do many kinds of sports activities, like: Scuba-Diving, Parapente, Skiing, Hiking, Cycling, Water-skiing, Sailing, Horse-Riding, Tennis, Golf, Rock-Climbing, Hunting etc…