Duration: | 1 Day(s) - 0 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Eco Tours |
Simply known as the “The Cedars,” this resort settlement in Lebanon’s highest range is one of the most dramatically beautiful spots in the country. Its centerpiece is an ancient grove of cedars, a tree synonymous for millennia with Lebanon itself.
Just below The Cedars is the town of Bsharri, the birthplace of Gibran Khalil Gibran. The scenery and the quality of the snow make The Cedars an exceptional skiing venue. The pistes form a natural amphitheater, and the high elevation means the season usually lasts from December through April. There are also four baby slopes with lifts. Snack bars, hotels, and restaurants serve the ski area.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE CEDARS OF LEBANON:
# The Cedars of God is the most famous cedar patch and one of the last vestiges of old-growth forests. It is also one of the rarest sites where the Cedrus libani still grows.
# King Salomon used cedarwood for his temple.
# The Phoenicians used cedar wood to build their ships. That’s how Phoenicia became the world’s first sea-trading civilization.
# Cedar trees symbolize resilience, immortality, strength, and elevation.
# The mountains of Lebanon were once covered with Cedar trees. That’s why it is the Lebanese national emblem. 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, the 2019–20 Lebanese protests, also known as Thawra (meaning revolution in Arabic) 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.
# The word “Cedar” was mentioned 103 times in the Bible.
# The Cedars of God is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Holy Valley, Byblos, Baalbek, Anjar, and Tyre.
# Cedar trees survive five millenniums. The cedars can survive in a challenging environment. The forest is rigorously protected, but it is possible to visit it.
# Arkansas, among other 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 is estimated to be over 100 years old.
# Cedar wood is prized for its fine grain, attractive yellow color, and fragrance. It is exceptionally durable and immune to insect ravages. Wood from Cedar has a density of 560 kg/m3; 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.