Official Name: Al-Jumhuriyah al-Lubnaniyah (Republic of Lebanon)

Area: Middle East

Size: 10,452 km

Coastline: 225 km

Independence: from France Nov, 26 1941

Form of Govt.: Unitary multiparty republic

Head of Govt.: Prime Minister

Capital: Beirut

Largest City: Beirut

Demographics (2005): 3,874,050.   358 /km

GDP per Capita (2005): $6,681

Languages: Arabic

Geography: The country can be divided into four topographical regions (1.) The coastal plain which is a narrow strip in the north. (2.) The coastal mountain range or Lebanon Mountains which are a series of crests and ridges. (3.) The Central Plateau which consists of the Syrian Plain and part of the Biqa valley. (4.) The eastern mountain range which comprises the remainder of the Biqa Valley and rises to form the Jabal ash Sharqi or Anti-Lebanon Mountains as well as the Jabal ash Shaikh or Mt. Hermon, which forms the eastern border with Syria. The two principal rivers are the Orontes and the Litani or Leontes.

Climate: Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate with a wide variation in climatic conditions. Summers are generally hot and dry while winters are warm and moist. Temperatures and precipitation vary depending on altitude, while winters are cooler on the central plateau region and on the coast. Precipitation, in general, decreases from west to east, with most rainfall occurring in the winter months. Average annual precipitation in Beirut is 920 mm and average temperature ranges are from 11 to 17 degrees in January to 23 to 32 degrees in August.