I INTRODUCTION
Lebanon, republic in southwestern Asia along the Mediterranean Sea, west of Syria and north of Israel. Its area is 10,452 sq km (4036 sq mi). Beirut is the capital.

Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut, on the Mediterranean Sea in Lebanon, suffered in the 1970s and 1980s from civil warfare between the Christians and Muslims. Most of the city's high-rise buildings and hotels located on the shore were destroyed or impaired by the fighting.

II LAND AND RESOURCES
Lebanon's landscape is dominated by a fertile coastal plain and by two mountain ranges separated by the Bekka'a Valley. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters, hot summers, aand moderate rainfall. Cultivated land covering 21% of the country, is the main natural resource. Once famous for its stands of cedar, Lebanon has been largely deforested-the upper mountains are rocky and barren, and erosion is common.

III POPULATION
Lebanon's population is 3,449,578 (1997 estimate). Most of the people are of Semitic decent. Other groups include Armenians and Palestinian Arabs. The principle religion is Islam; Shiites predominate, and Druze account for about 7% of the population. Christians make up about 30% of the population. Arabic is the official language. Primary education is free and compulsory for five years.

IV ECONOMY
Historically, Lebanon has served as a financial center, with an economy dominated by banking, international commerce, and tourism. However, recent civil strife and war with Isreal have destroyed much of the business infrastructure. Oil refining is Lebanon's major heavy industry. Agriculture is also important, and a variety of crops are grown, mostly along the coastal plain and in the Bek`aa Valley. The Unit of currency is the Lebanese bound (1571 Lebanese pounds equaled U.S. $1 in 1996).

V GOVERNMENT
The government is headed by a Maronite Christian president, a Sunni Muslim prime minister, and a Shiite speaker of the unicameral National Assembly. The constitution mandates that the holders of these offices be of these specific religions. Similarly, the 128 assembly seats are divided equally between Muslims and Christians.

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