Location: Lebanon is mountainous, bounded on the north and east   by Syria, on the west by the Mediterranean and on the south by Israel.   Between the parallel mountains ranges of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon lies   the fertile Bekka Valley. About one-half of the country lies at an altitude   of over 3,000 ft.

Capital: Beirut   Area: Lebanon is a small country of only 10,452 sq km (4036 sq mi); from   north to south it extends 217 km (135 mi) and from east to west it spans 80 km   (50 mi) at its widest point.   Language: Arabic is the official language. French is the second most   commonly used language and English is also spoken, especially in business   circles.   Kurdish and Armenian are spoken by a small percentage of the population.   Religion: Unlike most other Arab countries, Lebanon is characterized by   great religious and cultural diversity. At the time of independence Christians   formed a slight majority of the population, the largest single community (nearly   30% of the total) being the Maronite Christians, who mostly inhabited the north   of Lebanon and the capital, Beirut.   Other Christian groups included Greek Orthodox communities, Greek Catholics   and Armenians. The Muslim groups were the Sunnis (living mainly in the   coastal towns of Tyre, Sidon and Beirut), the Shi´as (a predominantly rural   community in southern Lebanon and the northern Beka´a valley) and the much   smaller Druzes, an ancient community in central Lebanon.   Population: The 1997 estimated population was 3,111,828, but this figure,   provided by the Lebanese government, does not include Palestinian refugees   and foreign workers, mainly Syrian.   Membership: Lebanon is a member of the UN and Arab League, and   Organization of the Islamic Conference.   Currency: Lebanese Pound (L£) = 100 piastres.   Lebanon Time Difference: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 in summer)