Lebanon is a small mountainous country on the Mediterranean coast. It is located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Syria and Israel.

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LLEBANON IS A SMALL MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY ON THE
MEDITERRANEAN COAST. IT IS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, BORDERING THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, BETWEEN
SYRIA AND ISRAEL. LEBANON HAS AN ARAB CULTURE
COLORED BY WESTERN INFLUENCES.
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Lebanon At A Glance

• CAPITAL Beirut
• POPULATION Approx. 3.8 million
• LANGUAGES Arabic (official), French, English,
  Armenian
• AREA 10,452 km2(almost size of Connecticut!)
• GOVERNMENT Republic
• CURRENCY the Lebanese Lira (L.L.) CAD 1 1500
  L.L.
• CLIMATE Mediterranean cool, wet winters and
  hot, dry summers.
• ELEVATIONS Highest pt Qornet Es-Saouda
  (3,090m). Lowest pt Mediterranean Sea (0m).

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History of Lebanon

• The first cities to emerge in Lebanon were built
  by a maritime people, the Phoenicians, from about
  2500 to 400 B.C. The Phoenicians invented the
  alphabet and from a tiny sea snail, they produced
  a purple dye, called Tyrian purple. Phoenicians
  are celebrated today as the symbol of Lebanon's
  golden past.

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History (contd)

• Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for over
  400 years, in a region known as Greater Syria,
  until 1918 when the area became a part of the
  French Mandate following World War I.
• On Nov. 26, 1941 Lebanon became independent under
  the authority of the Free French government.

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Before The War

• Before the Lebanese Civil War (19751990), the
  country experienced a period of relative calm and
  prosperity, driven by tourism, agriculture, and
  banking.
• Because of its financial power and diversity,
  Lebanon was known in its heyday as the
  "Switzerland of the East".
• It attracted large numbers of tourists, such
  that the capital Beirut was referred to as "Paris
  of the Middle East."

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Before The War
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During The War

• In 1975, civil war broke out in Lebanon. The
  Lebanese Civil War lasted fifteen years,
  devastating the countrys economy, and resulting
  in massive loss of human life and property.
• It is estimated that 150,000 people were killed
  and another 200,000 wounded.
• Some 900,000 people, were displaced from their
  homes.
• There was a mass exodus of almost one million
  people from Lebanon
• The war ended in 1990.

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After The War

• At the end of the war, there were extensive
  efforts to revive the economy and rebuild
  national infrastructure.
• Until July 2006, Lebanon enjoyed considerable
  stability, Beirut's reconstruction was almost
  complete, and increasing numbers of tourists
  poured into the nation's resorts.
• Due to its tightly regulated financial system and
  the highest gold reserve in the Middle East,
  Lebanese banks largely avoided the financial
  crisis of 20072010.
• In 2009, despite a global recession, Lebanon
  enjoyed 9 economic growth and hosted the largest
  number of tourists in its history

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Famous For

• Lebanese cuisine it is Mediterranean. Pita
  bread, hummus, shawarma, falafel, tabooleh
• Roman archaeological sites
• Beautiful beaches
• Social life Lebanese are friendly, fun loving
  people.

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Famous Lebanese People

• Casey Kasem - DJ and a radio host
• Elie Saab - fashion designer
• Frank Zappa - composer, singer-songwriter,
  electric guitarist
• Khalil Gibran - writer, poet, and artist
• Karl Wolf - musician and singer
• Massari - RB, pop, and hip hop singer
• Paul Anka singer, songwriter, and actor
• Sammy Haggar - rock roll superstar and former
  lead vocalist for Van Halen.
• Salma Hayek - film actress, director and producer
• Shakira - singer
• Shannon Elizabeth - actress
• Tony Shalhoub - actor

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References

• www.lebanon-tourism.gov.lb
• http//www.everyculture.com
• http//www.guide-to-lebanon.net/facts.html
• http//www.state.gov/

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Any Questions, please?