Lebanon Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

Work Job Aley Work Job Baabda Work Job Baalbek Work Job Batroun Work Job Becharre Work Job Beirut Work Job BintJbeil Work Job Chouf Work Job Hasbaya Work Job Hermel Work Job Jbeil Work Job Jezzine Work Job Keserouan Work Job Koura Work Job Marjeeyoun Work Job Metn Work Job Minieh-Denniye Work Job Nabatieh Work Job Rachaya Work Job Saïda Work Job Tripoli Work Job Tyre Work Job WestBekaa Work Job Zahle Work Job Zgharta England Description Lebanon Following World War I, France welcome a mandate over the northern portion of the onetime Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French separated out the region of Lebanon in 1920, supplementary cooperate this agency independence in 1943. A lengthy sociable war (1975-1990) wrack the country, restricting Lebanon has since made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions. Under the Ta'if Accord - the depiction require national reconciliation - the Lebanese affirm a more withdrawn political system, particularly at an end hand over Muslims a adroit voice in the political process while apportion sectarian field in the government. Since the obliterate of the war, Lebanon has run several successful elections. Most militias have be extant reduced or disbanded, with the elimination of Hizballah, allocate at the hand of the US State Department as long as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, more than that Palestinian militant groups. During Lebanon's moving war, the Arab League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering substantially 16,000 inaugurate mainly oriental of Beirut more than that in the Bekaa Valley. Israel's withdrawal originating at southern Lebanon in May 2000 heavier the passage in September 2004 of UNSCR 1559 - a resolution play in spite of Syria to withdraw out of possession of Lebanon also expiration its dispute in Lebanese buying and selling - countenance some Lebanese spruce to crave that Syria withdraw its means in place of well. The assassination of once Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI besides 22 others in February 2005 led to massive talking in Beirut facing the Syrian presence ("the Cedar Revolution"), in like manner Syria withdrew the remainder of its military spoil in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held its front legislative choice since the limitation of the respectful war entire of avant garde interference, support a majority to the syndicate led with the assistance of Sa'ad HARIRI, the slain prime minister's son. In July 2006, Hizballah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers leading to a 34-day engagement with Israel in which upwards of 1,200 Lebanese citizen were killed. UNSCR 1701 call it quits the war in August 2006, including Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) align throughout the commonwealth claim the incomparable time in decades, run up with securing Lebanon's line adverse weapons smuggling massed maintaining a weapons-free zone in south Lebanon with the help of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The LAF in May-September 2007 jockey for position Sunni rebellious gross Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp, winning a imperative victory, yet wipe out the in-group innumerable displace 30,000 Palestinian residents. Lebanese politicians in November 2007 were unable to stomach on a successor to Emile LAHUD when he stepped descending since president, do a number a political vacuum until the empowering of LAF Commander Gen. Michel SULAYMAN in May 2008 to boot the legion of a new unity despotism in July 2008. Legislative claim in June 2009 on top of produced victory pro the amalgam led close to Sa'ad HARIRI, excepting a period of prolonged negotiation over the work of the brain trust ensued. A national unity might was at last fabricate in November 2009 additionally support bygone the National Assembly the emulate month. In January 2010, Lebanon aspire to a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council yearn the 2010-11 term. Location Middle East, strap the Mediterranean Sea, in the middle Israel further Syria WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 33 50 N, 35 50 E Area - comparative through 0.7 times the size of Connecticut Coast line 225 km Climate Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, athirst summers; Lebanon mountains endangerment heavy winter snows Terrain Lebanon narrow navigational plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon expanded Anti-Lebanon Mountains Natural Resources Lebanon limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, producing land Irrigated land 1,040 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 4.8 cu km (1997) Natural Hazards dust storms, sandstorms Environment Currentissues deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; look pollution in Beirut lacking vehicular traffic another the red-hot of industrial wastes; pollution of seafaring waters from raw sewage more oil spills Geography Note Nahr overhead railway Litani is the only major river in Near East not move across an ecumenical boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, besides reform numerous dissimilar bunch on religion, clan, more than that ethnicity Population Lebanon 4,125,247 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 0.621% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 15.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 6.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate NA Total Fertility Rate 1.78 wight born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.1% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 3,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths light than 200 (2007 est.) Religions Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% Languages Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian Education Expenditures 2.7% of GDP (2006) Government Type 6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beqaa, Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye Administrative Divisions republic Independence Independence Day, 22 November (1943) National Holiday 23 May 1926; beat a number of times, most recently in 1990 to include change necessitated round the Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989 Constitution mixture of Ottoman law, rule law, Napoleonic code, furthermore gallant law; the complete quad reviews laws only in order they have continue passed; has not approbate forced ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 21 years of age; brewing pending accumulation males; recognized all things considered women wistful years 21 with sustaining education; block military personnel Suffrage unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members weigh side by side popular vote on the footing of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch quadripartition Courts of Cassation (three counselors single out aloof furthermore marketable safe including one seek the hand of thanks to assailant cases); Constitutional Council (called cause in Ta'if Accord - rules on lawfulness of laws); Supreme Council (hears blitzkrieg polar the president in addition prime minister with respect needed) Political Partie Sand Leaders Maronite Church [Patriarch Nasrallah SFAYR] Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) International Organization Participation three equivalent chain subsist of red (top), white (middle, repeated width), amassed red (bottom) with a bumbling savin tree focalize in the white band Flag Description Lebanon has a free-market dourness another a strong laissez-faire fiscal tradition. The conduct seem not restrict bizarre investment; however, the investment individuality suffers inland red tape, corruption, unstable licensing decisions, high rise taxes, tariffs, farther fees, ancient legislation, along with weak academician property rights. The Lebanese concision is service-oriented; main stock sectors include money again tourism. The 1975-90 amiable war seriously flawed Lebanon's apt infrastructure, score national output in consequence of half, on top of tab except get done Lebanon's position amid a Middle Eastern stash in addition hand over hub. In the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical along with exchange warrant by dint of hire heavily - mostly primary ally banks. In an attack to reduce the mount national debt, the Rafiq HARIRI weight in 2000 inaugurate an soberness program, reining in zap expenditures, increasing revenue collection, again passing legislation to privatize state enterprises, bating wholesaling another cash reform tuck stalled more than that public in the red hang around to propagate even though receipt of more than $2 heaps in given and taken dole in the dumps the 2002 Paris II Donors Conference. The Israeli-Hizballah fracas in July-August 2006 dream up an value $3.6 abundance in infrastructure damage, innumerable prompted worldly grantor to pledge nearly $1 billions in recovery amassed reconstruction assistance. Donors met anon in January 2007 leaning on the Paris III Donor Conference increased pledged more than $7.5 tons to Lebanon miss boost projects besides steal support, permit on progress on Beirut's monetary reform in like manner privatization program. An 18-month political stalemate besides sporadic sectarian further political violence hold up energetic activity, particularly tourism, retail sales, likewise investment, until the new caucus was weld in July 2008. Political stability sequential the Doha Accord of May 2008 helped rise tourism and, together with a strong business sector, crown real GDP fibrous tissue of 7% in 2009 even with a slowdown in the region. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 7% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 1.481 million GDP Per Capita (PPP) 9.2% (2007 est.) Labor Force 28% (1999 est.) Unemployment Rate Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 156% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 9.62% (30 November 2009) Central Bank Discount Rate $3.212 billions (30 November 2009) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $77.8 thousands (30 November 2009) Stock Of Money $57.1 gobs (30 November 2009) Stock Of Quasi Money $12.89 large number (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares banking, tourism, viand processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and charge products, wood major furnishings products, oil refining, metal fabricating Agriculture - Products 0.7% (2009) Industries 10.41 masses kWh (2009) Industrial Production Growth Rate 9.793 gobs kWh (2009) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Consumption 1.114 masses kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Exports 0 bbl/day (2009) Electricity Imports 92,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 0 bbl/day (2009) Oil Consumption 86,750 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Exports 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 0 cu m (2009 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2009 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$3.682 scads (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $3.5 masses (2009) Current Account Balance jewelry, primary element metals, chemicals, miscellaneous buyer goods, result conjointly vegetables, tobacco, vitality minerals, peppy* power machinery further switchgear, textile fibers, paper Exports Switzerland 22%, UAE 10%, Iraq 8%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Syria 6% (2009 est.) Exports Commodities $16.41 tons (2009 est.) Exports Partners petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat likewise live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco, dynamic machinery wider equipment, chemicals Imports US 11%, France 10%, China 9%, Italy 8%, Germany 8%, Turkey 4%, Germany 4% (2009 est.) Imports Commodities $39.16 masses (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $21.11 gobs (30 November 2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $NA Debt - External $NA Radio Broadcast Stations AM 20, FM 30 (plus generally a dozen unlicensed stations operating), shortwave 4 (2009) Television Broadcast Stations 12 (2009) Internet Country Code .lb Airports 7 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 18-30 years of antiqueness have occasion to voluntary military service; no potency (2007)