Beqaa Valley

Beqaa (Arabic: البقاع, "valley"; also transliterated as Bekaa, Biqâ‘ or Becaa) is a fertile valley in east Lebanon. The Romans called the Beqaa Valley the "Breadbasket of the Empire," and today it remains Lebanon’s most important farming region,^[1] and a major Shia population center in Lebanon.^[2] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (1840 × 1232 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (1840 × 1232 pixel, file size: 1. ... “Arabic” redirects here. ... Due to the fact that the Arabic language has a number of phonemes that have no equivalent in English or other European languages, a number of different transliteration methods have been invented to represent certain Arabic characters, due to various conflicting goals. ... Fljótsdalur in East Iceland, a rather flat valley In geology, a valley is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. ... The Breadbasket of a country is a region which, because of richness of soil or advantageous climate, produces an agricultural surplus which is often considered vital for the country as a whole. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ...

Geography

The Beqaa is a fertile valley in Lebanon, located about 30 km (19 miles) east of Beirut. The valley is situated between the Mount Lebanon to the west and the Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges to the east. It forms the northeasternmost extension of the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from Syria through the Red Sea into Africa. Beqaa Valley is about 120 km (about 75 miles) in length and has an average width of about 16 km (about 10 miles). It has a Mediterranean climate of wet, often snowy winters and dry, warm summers. The region receives limited rainfall, particularly in the north, because Mount Lebanon creates a rain shadow that blocks precipitation coming from the sea. The northern section has an average annual rainfall of 230 mm (9 inches), compared to 610 mm (24 inches) in the central valley. Two rivers originate in the valley: the Orontes (Asi), which flows north into Syria and Turkey, and the Litani, which flows south and then west to the Mediterranean Sea. For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Mount Lebanon (disambiguation). ... Anti-Lebanon is a mountain range of Lebanon and Syria. ... For exotic financial options, see Mountain range (options). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Location of the Red Sea The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...  Areas with Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is a climate that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin. ... For other uses, see Mount Lebanon (disambiguation). ... For the television series see Rain Shadow. ... The Orontes and the norias of Hama The Orontes or ‘Asi is a river of Lebanon and Syria. ... The Litani River in red The Litani River (Arabic: نهر الليطاني; transliterated: Nahr al-Lytany) is an important waterway in southern Lebanon. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ...

From the 1st century BCE, when the region was part of the Roman Empire, the Beqaa Valley served as a source of grain for the Roman provinces of the Levant. Today the valley makes up 40 percent of Lebanon's arable land. The northern end of the valley, with its scarce rainfall and less fertile soils, is used primarily as grazing land by pastoral nomads, mostly migrants from the Syrian Desert. Farther south, more fertile soils support crops of wheat, corn, cotton, and vegetables, with vineyards and orchards centered around Zahle. The valley also produces hashish and cultivates opium poppies, which are exported as part of the illegal drug trade. Since 1957 the Litani hydroelectricity project—a series of canals and a dam located at Lake Qaraoun in the southern end of the valley—has improved irrigation to farms in Beqaa Valley. For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Map of the Roman Empire, with the provinces, after 120. ... The Levant The Levant (IPA: ) is an imprecise geographical term historically referring to a large area in the Middle East south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and by the northern Arabian Desert and Upper Mesopotamia to the east. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Syrian Desert is a combination of steppe and true desert that is located in parts of the nations of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. ... Binomial name L. Corn (Zea mays L. ssp. ... For other uses, see Cotton (disambiguation). ... A plate of vegetables Vegetable is a culinary term which generally refers to an edible part of a plant. ... A common vineyard. ... A community apple orchard originally planted for productive use during the 1920s, in Westcliff on Sea (Essex, England) An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs maintained for food production. ... Zahlé (Arabic: زحلة; also transliterated Zahlah or Zahleh) is the capital of Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. ... Confiscated hashish. ... Binomial name L. The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the type of poppy from which opium and all refined opiates such as morphine, thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine are extracted. ... Panamanian motor vessel Gatun during the largest cocaine bust in United States Coast Guard history (20 tons) off the Coast of Panama The illegal drug trade is a global black market consisting of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of illegal drugs. ... Hydroelectricity is electricity produced by hydropower. ... For other uses, see Canal (disambiguation). ... This article is about structures for water impoundment. ... Lake Qaraoun, which is in located in the southern region of the Beqaa Valley, is Lebanons only man-made lake. ...

Districts and towns

Zahle is the largest city and the administrative capital of the Beqaa Governorate. It lies just north of the main Beirut–Damascus highway, which bisects the valley. The majority of Zahle's residents are Lebanese Christian, including those belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church, Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Maronite Church, and members of the Greek Orthodox Church. The town of Anjar, situated in the eastern part of the valley, has a predominately Armenian Lebanese population and is also famous for its 8th-century Arab ruins. The majority of the inhabitants of the northern districts of Beqaa, Baalbeck and Hermel, are Lebanese Shia, with the exception of the town of Deir el Ahmar, whose inhabitants are Christians. The western and southern districts of the valley have a mixed population of Sunni, Christian, and Druze Lebanese. The town of Jib Janine with a population of about 9,000, is situated midway in the valley, and its population is mixed Christians and Muslims. Jib Janine is a governmental center of the region known as Western Bekaa, with municipal services like the emergency medical services (Red Cross), a fire department, and a courthouse. Zahlé (Arabic: زحلة; also transliterated Zahlah or Zahleh) is the capital of Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. ... The Beqaa Beqaa is a governorate in Lebanon with a population of 750,000 inhabitants. ... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... Nickname: The Seal of the Damascus Governorate Syria Syria Governorates Damascus Governorate Government  - Governor Bishr Al Sabban Area  - City 573 km²  (221. ... Christianity in Lebanon has a long history and has been closely connected with many recent conflicts in that country. ... Official standard of Karekin II Catholicos of Armenia The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Õ€Õ¡Õµ Ô±Õ¼Õ¡Ö„Õ¥Õ¬Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Եկեղեցի, Hay Arakelagan Yegeghetzi), sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church or the Gregorian Church, is the worlds oldest national church[1] [2] and one of the most ancient Christian communities [3]. // Baptism of Tiridates III. The earliest... The Melkite Greek Catholic Church (Arabic: , ) is an Eastern Rite sui juris particular Church of the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope. ... Maronites (Arabic: , transliteration: , Syriac: ܡܪܘܢܝܐ) are members of one of the Eastern Catholic Churches, with a heritage reaching back to Maroun in the early 5th century. ... Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: HellÄ“northódoxÄ“ EkklÄ“sía) can refer to any of several hierarchical churches within the larger group of mutually recognizing Eastern Orthodox churches. ... Anjar (Arabic: ), also known as Haoush Mousa (Arabic: ), is a town of Lebanon located in the Bekaa Valley. ... Around 10 000 Lebanese-Armenians marching on April 24, 2006, on the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide The Armenians in Lebanon (Armenian: ) are Lebanese citizens of Armenian descent. ... Languages Arabic and other minority languages Religions Islam, Christianity, Druzism and Judaism Arab woman from Ramallah wearing traditional dress in 1915. ... Ury House, Aberdeenshire ruined by removal of the roof after the second world war to avoid taxation. ... Modern Baalbek is a town in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon, altitude 3,850 ft (1,170m), situated east of the Litani River. ... Hermel (Arabic: ) is a Shia Muslim town in Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Deir El Ahmar is a Lebanese town, located at 100 km from Beirut and 12 km northeast of Baalbeck in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. ... Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... Religions Druzism Scriptures Rasail al-hikmah (Epistles of Wisdom) Languages Arabic, Hebrew The Druze (Arabic: درزي, derzÄ« or durzÄ«, plural دروز, durÅ«z; ‎, Druzim; also transliterated Druz or Druse) are a Middle Eastern religious community whose traditional religion is said to have begun as an offshoot of the Ismaili sect of... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The Anarchist Black Cross was originally called the Anarchist Red Cross. The band Redd Kross was originally called Red Cross. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Firefighter with an axe A firefighter, sometimes still called a fireman though women have increasingly joined firefighting units, is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people and in some areas provide emergency medical services. ... In most counties in the United States the local trial courts conduct their business in a centrally located courthouse which may also house the offices of the county treasurer, clerk and recorder and assessor. ...

Due to wars, poverty, unstable economic and political conditions, and failures within the agricultural sector, many previous inhabitants of the valley left for the coastal cities of Lebanon or emigrated from the country altogether. A memorial statue in Hanko, Finland, commemorating the thousands of emigrants who left the country to start a new life in the United States Emigration is the act and the phenomenon of leaving ones native country to settle in another country. ...

Landmarks

• The ancient Roman ruins of Baalbek—probably the most famous historic site in the valley. An ancient city named for the Canaanite god Baal. The Romans renamed Baalbek "Heliopolis" and built an impressive temple complex, including temples to Bacchus, Jupiter, Venus, and the Sun. Today, the ruins are the site of the Baalbeck International Festival, which attracts artists and performance groups from around the world.
• The Umayyad ruins of Anjar
• Our Lady of Bekaa, a Marian shrine located in Zahle, with panoramic views of the valley.
• Lebanon's tallest minaret, located in the town of Kherbet Rouha
• The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechouat
• Phonician Ruins, located in the village of Kamid El-Lowz

Temple of Bacchus Details inside Temple of Bacchus Baalbek (Arabic: ) is a town in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, altitude 3,850 ft (1,170 m), situated east of the Litani River. ... // [[Image:]] Map of Canaan For other uses, see Canaan (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Baal (disambiguation). ... Heliopolis (Greek Ἡλίου πόλις) was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome. ... The Temple of Hercules Victor, near the Teatro di Marcello in Rome (a Greek-style Roman temple) // Pagan history and architecture Originally in Roman paganism, a templum was not (necessarily) a cultic building but any ritually marked observation site for natural phenomena believed to allow predictions, such as the flight... This article is about the ancient deity. ... For the planet see Jupiter. ... Marble Venus of the Capitoline Venus type, Roman (British Museum) Venus was a major Roman goddess principally associated with love and beauty, the rough equivalent of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. ... The Trundholm sun chariot pulled by a horse is believed to be a sculpture illustrating an important part of Nordic Bronze Age mythology. ... The Baalbeck International Festival or Le Festival International de Baalbeck is the oldest and most known cultural event in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean. ... The Courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the grandest architectural legacies of the Umayyads. ... Anjar (Arabic: ), also known as Haoush Mousa (Arabic: ), is a town of Lebanon located in the Bekaa Valley. ... Our Lady of Zahle and the Bekaa (also spelled Beqaa), is a Marian shrine located in the city of Zahle in the Beqaa Valley. ... In the culture and practice of some Christian Churches - mainly, but not solely, the Roman Catholic Church - a shrine to the Virgin Mary or Marian shrine is a shrine marking an apparition or other miracle ascribed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or a site on which is centered a historically... Zahlé (Arabic: زحلة; also transliterated Zahlah or Zahleh) is the capital of Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Kherbet Rouha is a town in the Rachaya District of Lebanon. ... The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechouat, also spelled Beshouat or Beshwat, is a Marian shrine in the village of Bechouat in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon. ...

Wines

Main article: Lebanese wine

Vineyards near Zahle, in the central Beqaa Valley

The Beqaa Valley is Lebanon's most important farming region. It is also home to its famous vineyards and wineries. Wine making is a tradition that goes back 6000 years in Lebanon. With an average altitude of 1000 m above sea level, the valley's climate is very suitable to vineyards. Abundant winter rain and much sunshine in the summer helps the grapes ripen easily. There are more than a dozen wineries in the Beqaa Valley, producing over six million bottles a year. ^[3] Lebanon is one of the oldest sites of wine production in the world. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 806 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Vineyards near Zahle, in the central Beqaa Valley. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 806 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Vineyards near Zahle, in the central Beqaa Valley. ... Zahlé (Arabic: زحلة; also transliterated Zahlah or Zahleh) is the capital of Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. ... Wine Barrels A winery is a facility where fruit, usually grapes, is processed into wine. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ...

• Château Ksara
• Château Musar
• Château Kfraya
• Domaine de Baal
• Domaine des Tourelles
• Vin Nakad
• Massaya
• Domaine Wardy
• Clos St. Thomas
• Heritage
• Chateau Fakra
• Cave Kouroum
• Château Belle-Vue
• Clos de Cana
• Nabise Mont Liban
• The Karam Winery
• Kfifane

Château Musar is the name of a Lebanese winery, established by Gaston Hochar in 1930 in Ghazir, Lebanon, 15 miles north of the capital Beirut. ...

Illicit Drugs

During Lebanon's civil war cannabis cultivation was a major source of income in the Bekaa valley, where most of the country's Hashish (Grass in Arabic) was produced, a multi billion Dollar industry fueling the agricultural sector as well as political factions and organized crime. Since the end of the civil war, the culture and production of drugs in the Bekaa valley has been in steady decline, in 2002 an estimated 2,500 hectares^[4] of cannabis were limited to the extreme north of the valley where government presence remains minimal. Every year since 2001 the Lebanese army plows cannabis fields in an effort to destroy the crops before harvest^[5] Look up Cannabis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...