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Mount Lebanon

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Mount Lebanon ( Arabic : جَبَل لُبْنَان , romanized :  jabal lubnān , Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ˈʒabal lɪbˈneːn] ; Syriac : ܛܘܪ ܠܒ݂ܢܢ , romanized :  ṭūr leḇnān , Western Syriac pronunciation: [tˤur lewˈnɔn] ; Latin : Libanus ) is a mountain range in Lebanon . It is about 170 km (110 mi) long and averages above 2,500 m (8,200 ft) in elevation, with its peak at 3,088 m (10,131 ft). The range provides a typical alpine climate year-round.

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44-528: Mount Lebanon is well-known for its snow-covered mountains, home to surviving Lebanese cedar forests and diverse high-altitude flora and fauna. The name Lebanon itself originates from the white, snow-covered tops of this mountain range. The Mount Lebanon range extends along the entire country for about 170 km (110 mi), parallel to the Mediterranean coast. The highest peak is Qurnat as Sawda' , at 3,088 m (10,131 ft). The range receives

88-564: A semi-autonomous province in Ottoman Syria that was established in 1861 and the central Governorate of modern Lebanon (see Mount Lebanon Governorate ). The Mount Lebanon administrative region emerged in a time of rise of nationalism after the civil war of 1860. France intervened on behalf of the local Christian population and Britain on behalf of the Druze after the 1860 massacres in which 10,000 Christians were killed in clashes with

132-548: A few Lebanese Druze began migrating to the new Jabal ad-Duruz in southern Syria . In 1861, the "Mount Lebanon" autonomous district was established within the Ottoman system, under an international guarantee. For centuries, the Maronites of the region have been protected by the noble Khazen family, which was endowed the responsibility by Pope Clement X and King Louis XIV and given Cheikh status in return for guarding

176-608: A geographic unit comprising Mount Lebanon and its coast, and the Beqaa Valley to its east. After the First World War , France took hold of the formerly Ottoman holdings in the northern Levant , and expanded the borders of Mount Lebanon in 1920 to form Greater Lebanon , which was to be populated by remnants of the Middle Eastern Christian community. The Christians ended up gaining territorially, but

220-715: A long history of interaction dating back roughly a millennium, particularly in Mount Lebanon. Over the centuries, they have peacefully interacted and lived together, sharing common social and cultural landscapes , although occasional exceptions have occurred. This interaction been marked by shared economic activities, cultural exchange, and even political alliances in some cases. The two communities lived among each other and interacted socially on an everyday basis. The close bonds between Christian and Druze neighbors led to Christian communities thriving in some Druze towns. Mount Lebanon also lent its name to two political designations:

264-561: A metaphor for the pride of the world and in Psalm 92:12 it says "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon". The Lebanon cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon, and is displayed on the flag of Lebanon and coat of arms of Lebanon . It is also the logo of Middle East Airlines , which is Lebanon's national carrier. Beyond that, it is also the main symbol of Lebanon's " Cedar Revolution " of 2005,

308-438: A subspecies in earlier literature, is now recognized as an ecotype of C. libani var. libani. It usually has a spreading crown that does not flatten. This distinct morphology is a habit that is assumed to cope with the competitive environment, since the tree occurs in dense stands mixed with the tall-growing Abies cilicica , or in pure stands of young cedar trees. C. libani var. brevifolia : The Cyprus cedar occurs on

352-416: A substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around 4 m (13 ft) in depth. Lebanon has historically been defined by the mountains, which provided protection for the local population. In Lebanon, changes in scenery are related less to geographical distances than to altitudes . The mountains were known for their oak and pine forests. The last remaining old growth groves of

396-621: Is a large evergreen conifer that has great religious and historical significance in the cultures of the Middle East, and is referenced many times in the literature of ancient civilisations. It is the national emblem of Lebanon and is widely used as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. Cedrus libani can reach 40 m (130 ft) in height, with a massive monopodial columnar trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter. The trunks of old trees ordinarily fork into several large, erect branches. The rough and scaly bark

440-569: Is a region located in Miniyeh-Danniyeh District in the North Governorate of Lebanon . The region lies east of Tripoli , extends north as far as Akkar District , south to Bsharri District and Zgharta District and as far east as Baalbek and Hermel . Dinniyeh has an excellent ecological environment filled with woodlands , orchards and groves . Several villages are located in this mountainous area,

484-877: Is dark grey to blackish brown, and is run through by deep, horizontal fissures that peel in small chips. The first-order branches are ascending in young trees; they grow to a massive size and take on a horizontal, wide-spreading disposition. Second-order branches are dense and grow in a horizontal plane. The crown is conical when young, becoming broadly tabular with age with fairly level branches; trees growing in dense forests maintain more pyramidal shapes. The shoots are dimorphic, with both long and short shoots. New shoots are pale brown, older shoots turn grey, grooved and scaly. C. libani has slightly resinous ovoid vegetative buds measuring 2 to 3 mm (0.079 to 0.118 in) long and 1.5 to 2 mm (0.059 to 0.079 in) wide enclosed by pale brown deciduous scales. The leaves are needle-like , arranged in spirals and concentrated at

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528-488: Is endemic to elevated mountains around the Eastern Mediterranean in Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. The tree grows in well-drained calcareous lithosols on rocky, north- and west-facing slopes and ridges and thrives in rich loam or a sandy clay in full sun. Its natural habitat is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters with an annual precipitation of 1,000 to 1,500 mm (39 to 59 in);

572-672: Is estimated to be over 100 years old. The Lebanon cedar is widely planted as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. When the first cedar of Lebanon was planted in Britain is unknown, but it dates at least to 1664, when it is mentioned in Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber by John Evelyn . In Britain, cedars of Lebanon are known for their use in London's Highgate Cemetery . C. libani has gained

616-402: Is exceptionally durable and immune to insect ravages. Wood from C. libani has a density of 560 kg/m ; it is used for furniture, construction, and handicrafts. In Turkey, shelterwood cutting and clearcutting techniques are used to harvest timber and promote uniform forest regeneration. Cedar resin (cedria) and cedar essential oil (cedrum) are prized extracts from the timber and cones of

660-666: The 17 October Revolution , also known as the Thawra ("Revolution") along with many Lebanese political parties and movements, such as the Lebanese Forces . Finally, Lebanon is sometimes metonymically referred to as the Land of the Cedars. Arkansas , among other US states, has a Champion Tree program that records exceptional tree specimens. The Lebanon cedar recognized by the state is located inside Hot Springs National Park and

704-633: The Druze faith and ruled the areas of Mount Lebanon stretching from Metn in the north to Jezzine in the south. This entire area became known as the 'Jabal ad-Duruz'. In the early 17th century, Emir Fakhr-al-Din II was entrusted as the main tax-collector and land-assigner in the Druze part of the mountains known as the Chouf . In an effort to re-populate the Chouf after the 1585 Ottoman expedition , Fakhreddine opened

748-738: The Druze . In 1861, the "Mount Lebanon" autonomous district was established within the Ottoman system , under an international guarantee. The Maronite Catholics and the Druze founded modern Lebanon in the early eighteenth century, through the ruling and social system known as the " Maronite-Druze dualism " in Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate . For decades, the Christians pressured the European powers to award them self determination by extending their small Lebanese territory to what they dubbed "Greater Lebanon", referring to

792-649: The Mamelukes settled in the Northern part of Lebanon and become part of the Maronite society. Mount Lebanon has been visited and called home by many Muslim ascetics and Sufis since the 7th century, mentioned by many travelers to the region, few of which are known by name such as Shiban al-Muallah and Abbas al-Majnun. In the 10th century, Twelver Shia Muslim communities were likely established in Keserwan and

836-493: The Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017). In order to germinate Cedrus libani seeds, potting soil is preferred, since it is less likely to contain fungal species which may kill the seedling in its early stages. Before sowing it is important to soak the seed at room temperature for a period of 24 hours followed by cold stratification (~3–5°C) for two to four weeks. Once

880-653: The Troodos Mountains of Cyprus at medium to high elevations ranging from 900 to 1,525 m (2,953 to 5,003 ft). In the Epic of Gilgamesh , one of the earliest great works of literature, the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu travel to the legendary Cedar Forest to kill its guardian and cut down its trees. While early versions of the story place the forest in Iran, later Babylonian accounts of

924-935: The Chouf Cedar Reserve, the Jaj Cedar Reserve, the Tannourine Reserve, the Ammouaa and Karm Shbat Reserves in the Akkar district, and the Forest of the Cedars of God near Bsharri . Because during the seedling stage, differentiating C. libani from C. atlantica or C. deodara is difficult, the American University of Beirut has developed a DNA-based method of identification to ensure that reforestation efforts in Lebanon are of

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968-570: The Druze regions of the Mount. The Druze viewed these Maronite settlements as a threat to their power in Mount Lebanon and in a series of clashes in the 1840s and 1860s, a miniature civil war erupted in the area resulting in the massacre of thousands of Christians. The Druze won militarily, but not politically, because European powers (mainly France and Britain ) intervened on behalf of the Maronites and divided Mount Lebanon into two areas; Druze and Maronite. Seeing their authority decline in Mount Lebanon,

1012-746: The Emperor Constantine destroyed a temple of Venus on the summit of Mount Lebanon. After the 5th century AD, Christian monks who were followers of a hermit named Maron , arrived from the Orontes valley in Northern Syria and began preaching their religion to the inhabitants of the northernmost parts of the mountain range. In the late 8th century a group known as the Mardaites (also Jarajima) settled in North Lebanon following

1056-895: The Lebanon cedars. The first was made by the Roman emperor Hadrian ; he created an imperial forest and ordered it marked by inscribed boundary stones , two of which are in the museum of the American University of Beirut . Extensive reforestation of cedar is carried out in the Mediterranean region. In Turkey, over 50 million young cedars are planted annually, covering an area around 300 square kilometres (74,000 acres). Lebanese cedar populations are also expanding through an active program combining replanting and protection of natural regeneration from browsing goats , hunting, forest fires, and woodworms. The Lebanese approach emphasizes natural regeneration by creating proper growing conditions. The Lebanese state has created several reserves, including

1100-701: The adjacent area to the north when Shia Islam was in the ascendant in Tripoli and the Islamic world at large. In the 13th century, a significant Shia population dominated Keserwan stretching out as far north as Dinniyeh , where reportedly the Shia feudal lord family, the Hamadas, were entrusted with tax-collection in 1470. Subject to harsh military campaigns and state policies put forth by the Mamluks and Ottomans over

1144-791: The age of 45 to 50 years; growth becomes extremely slow after the age of 70. Cedrus is the Latin name for true cedars. The specific epithet refers to the Lebanon mountain range where the species was first described by French botanist Achille Richard ; the tree is commonly known as the Lebanon cedar or cedar of Lebanon. Two distinct types are recognized as varieties: C. libani var. libani and C. libani var. brevifolia. C. libani var. libani : Lebanon cedar, cedar of Lebanon – grows in Lebanon, western Syria , and south-central Turkey . C. libani var. stenocoma (the Taurus cedar), considered

1188-498: The base of trunks or stumps and attacks the roots of cedars growing in wet soils. The Lebanese cedar shoot moth ( Parasyndemis cedricola ) is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae found in the forests of Lebanon and Turkey; its larvae feed on young cedar leaves and buds. Online books , and library resources in your library and in other libraries about Cedrus libani Dinniyeh Danniyeh (known also as Addinniyeh , Al Dinniyeh , Al Danniyeh , Arabic : الضنية )

1232-481: The cedar tree. Over the centuries, extensive deforestation has occurred, with only small remnants of the original forests surviving. Deforestation has been particularly severe in Lebanon and on Cyprus; on Cyprus, only small trees up to 25 m (82 ft) tall survive, though Pliny the Elder recorded cedars 40 m (130 ft) tall there. Attempts have been made at various times throughout history to conserve

1276-440: The cedars of Lebanon and not other types. C. libani is susceptible to a number of soil-borne, foliar, and stem pathogens. The seedlings are prone to fungal attacks. Botrytis cinerea , a necrotrophic fungus known to cause considerable damage to food crops, attacks the cedar needles, causing them to turn yellow and drop. Armillaria mellea (commonly known as honey fungus) is a basidiomycete that fruits in dense clusters at

1320-653: The centuries, this Shia population decreased over time and was driven to settle in Southern Lebanon and the Bekaa valley , becoming a small minority in Mount Lebanon by the 19th century. In the 9th century, tribes from the " Jabal el Summaq " area north of Aleppo in Syria began settling the southern half of the mountain range. These tribes were known as the Tanoukhiyoun and in the 11th century they converted to

1364-627: The door to Christians and in particular the Maronite settlement of the Chouf and Metn. During the Ottoman era, the Qays–Yaman rivalry saw a resurgence in Mount Lebanon. The feud was mostly fought out between different Druze clans until the Battle of Ain Dara in 1711 led to the near complete exodus of Yamani Druze. Throughout the 18th century and into the 19th century more and more Maronites settled in

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1408-513: The famous Cedar of Lebanon ( Cedrus libani var. libanii ) are on the high slopes of Mount Lebanon, in the Cedars of God World Heritage Site . The Phoenicians used the forests of Mount Lebanon to build their ship fleet and to trade with their neighbors. The most notable example is the First Temple built by King Solomon who used cedar wood sent by Hiram of Tyre . Phoenicians and successor rulers consistently replanted and restocked

1452-450: The island's Troodos Mountains . This taxon was considered a separate species from C. libani because of morphological and ecophysiological trait differences. It is characterized by slow growth, shorter needles, and higher tolerance to drought and aphids. Genetic relationship studies, however, did not recognize C. brevifolia as a separate species, the markers being indistinguishable from those of C. libani. C. libani var. libani

1496-733: The male cones appear in early September and the female ones in late September. Male cones occur at the ends of the short shoots; they are solitary and erect about 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2.0 in) long and mature from a pale green to a pale brown color. The female seed cones also grow at the terminal ends of short shoots. The young seed cones are resinous, sessile , and pale green; they require 17 to 18 months after pollination to mature. The mature, woody cones are 8 to 12 cm (3.1 to 4.7 in) long and 3 to 6 cm (1.2 to 2.4 in) wide; they are scaly, resinous, ovoid or barrel-shaped, and gray-brown in color. Mature cones open from top to bottom, they disintegrate and lose their seed scales, releasing

1540-418: The new borders merely ended the demographic dominance of Christians in the newly created territory of Lebanon . Cedrus libani Cedrus libani , the cedar of Lebanon or Lebanese cedar ( Arabic : أرز لبناني , romanized :  ʾarz Lubnāniyy ), is a species of tree in the genus Cedrus , a part of the pine family , native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. It

1584-655: The order of the Byzantine Emperor; their mission was to raid Islamic territories in Syria. They merged with the local population, refusing to leave after the emperor struck a deal with the Muslim Caliph of Damascus ; thus, they became part of the Maronite society. In 1291 after the fall of Acre , the last crusader outpost in the Levant , remnants of the European settlers who succeeded in escaping capture by

1628-705: The princes Fakhr-al-Din II and Younès al-Maani. The Khazen crest reflects the family's special closeness to Mount Lebanon, with snowy mountains and a cedar tree depicted. During the Lebanese Civil War of 1983-84, Mount Lebanon became the site of the Mountain War . The sub-conflict resulted in a victory for the LNRF , causing factors of the Lebanese Armed Forces to withdraw from the southern summit. The Christian and Druze communities have

1672-401: The proximal end of the long shoots, and in clusters of 15–35 on the short shoots; they are 5 to 35 mm (0.20 to 1.38 in) long and 1 to 1.5 mm (0.039 to 0.059 in) wide, rhombic in cross-section, and vary from light green to glaucous green with stomatal bands on all four sides. Cedrus libani produces cones beginning at around the age of 40. Its cones are borne in autumn,

1716-520: The range; even as late as the 16th century, its forested area was considerable. The name Mount Lebanon traces back to the Semitic root LBN , meaning "white", likely a reference to the snow-covered mountains. In Strabo's Geography, the mountain range is known as Libanus. Mount Lebanon is mentioned in the Old Testament 103 times. King Hiram I of Tyre sent engineers with cedar wood, which

1760-440: The seeds have been sown, it is recommended that they be kept at room temperature (~20°C) and in the vicinity of sunlight. The soil should be kept slightly damp with low frequency watering. Over-watering may cause damping off which will quickly kill the seedlings. Initial growth will be around 3–5cm the first year and will accelerate subsequent years. Cedar wood is prized for its fine grain, attractive yellow color, and fragrance. It

1804-524: The seeds until only the cone rachis remains attached to the branches. The seed scales are thin, broad, and coriaceous , measuring 3.5 to 4 cm (1.4 to 1.6 in) long and 3 to 3.5 cm (1.2 to 1.4 in) wide. The seeds are ovoid, 10 to 14 mm (0.39 to 0.55 in) long and 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 in) wide, attached to a light brown wedge-shaped wing that is 20 to 30 mm (0.79 to 1.18 in) long and 15 to 18 mm (0.59 to 0.71 in) wide. C. libani grows rapidly until

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1848-674: The story place the Cedar Forest in the Lebanon. The Lebanon cedar is mentioned several times in the Bible . Hebrew priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark of the Lebanon cedar in the treatment of leprosy. Solomon also procured cedar timber to build the Temple in Jerusalem . The Hebrew prophet Isaiah used the Lebanon cedar (together with "oaks of Bashan", "all the high mountains" and "every high tower") as examples of loftiness as

1892-503: The trees are blanketed by a heavy snow cover at the higher elevations. In Lebanon and Turkey, it occurs most abundantly at elevations of 1,300 to 3,000 m (4,300 to 9,800 ft), where it forms pure forests or mixed forests with Cilician fir ( Abies cilicica ), European black pine ( Pinus nigra ), Turkish pine ( Pinus brutia ), and several juniper species. In Turkey, it can occur as low as 500 m (1,600 ft). C. libani var. brevifolia grows in similar conditions in

1936-543: Was abundant in Mount Lebanon, to build the Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem . Since then, the cedar species known scientifically as Cedrus libani is often associated with Mount Lebanon. The Phoenicians used cedar to build ships in which they sailed the Mediterranean, thus they were the first to establish villages in Mount Lebanon and would live from cutting down cedars and sending them to the coast. Eusebius records that

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