Geography
Lebanon
Area
land
10,230 sq km
water
170 sq km
total
10,400 sq km
Climate
Mediterranean climate characterized by mild to cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains receive significant snowfall during winter months
Terrain
narrow coastal strip; the El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) serves as a divider between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Land use
other
20.3% (2023 est.)
forest
13.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
65.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)
Location
located in the Middle East, adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, situated between Israel and Syria
Coastline
225 km
Elevation
lowest point
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point
Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m
mean elevation
1,250 m
Irrigated land
1,040 sq km (2012)
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
484 km
border countries
Israel 81 km; Syria 403 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
Natural hazards
prone to earthquakes; experiences dust storms and sandstorms
Geography - note
the smallest nation on the Asian continent; the Nahr el Litani is the sole major river in the Near East that does not flow across an international border
Natural resources
composed of limestone, iron ore, and salt; classified as a water-surplus state within a generally water-deficit region, with arable land available
Area - comparative
approximately one-third the area of Maryland
Geographic coordinates
33 50 N, 35 50 E
Population distribution
the predominant population resides along or in proximity to the Mediterranean coastline, especially in and around Beirut, the capital city