Geography of Lebanon
Location:
Southwest Asia, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria. Considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called "Cradle of Humanity"
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Southwest Asia
Area:
total: 10,452 km²
land: 10,280 km²
water: 170 km²
Land boundaries:
total: 454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa valley) separates Lebanon and Litani river only major river in Southwest Asia not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity
- See also : Lebanon
