South Lebanon is the region extending from the Awwali River in the north to Ras al Naqura in the south, and from the Mediterranean sea in the west to the Syro-lebanese borders in the east. Three different geographical areas characterize the natural relief of this region: a coastal strip, hill country and high mountain ridges.

The coastal plain is rather regular and rises gradually above sea level up to 150m. In antiquity, small settlements were established around its capes and bays, and some of them later developed to become important urban centers. The ancient cities of South Lebanon prospered and were among the most famous and important cultural centers of the Levantine coast.

East of the costal plain rise the hills which form the largest part of South Lebanon. Their altitude steadily increases to reach 1,000.m. They are watered by the Qasmiye (Litani) river and covered with olive, apple, almond, pine and oak trees. Along the banks of the river, towns and villages are scattered from Bint Jbayl and Marjeyun in the south and southeast, to Nabatiye, Jezzin and Sidon in the north. In this area, some of the most famous medieval sites, both Crusader and Islamic, are found: Shqif, Dayr Kifa, Anan, Dubiye and Tibnin.

Towns and villages of the mountain are lie at an altitude of 800 to 1,500m. In Mount Niha are the most famous summer resorts of South Lebanon: Jezzin, Kfarhuna, Rum, Armata, Bkassin Jbaa, Jarjuh and Arab Salim, to name only a few. Mount Hermon, the mountain peak named in the Bible, is the northern ridge of this chain. There lie the villages of Shebaa, Kfarshuba, Hasbaya and al Kfayr.

South Lebanon has witnessed major political and military events all through its history as attested in the annals of the Assyrian kings and the accounts of classical historians. The scattered archeological remains bear witness to this long and sometimes turbulent past. Most towns and villages of the area have been settled since earliest antiquity without major interruption. Life went on there in spite of the many tragedies and calamities that the region has witnessed. The repeated Israeli invasions and bombardments are leaving behind, day after day, hundreds of dead and wounded people and carnage of Cana was one of the deadliest tragedies experienced by the Southern Lebanese population.

Archeological excavations in South Lebanon have so far been restricted to a limited number of sites. The uncovered remains have mainly shed light on the later historical periods and have left the early pre-Hellenistic history of the area in the dark. The excavations of the Bronze and Iron Age cremation, cemetery in Tyre was the first post-war archeological activity and has contributed to unveiling South Lebanon’s rich past. But many other archeological investigations are still needed to reach a better understanding of the early history of the area.

In the first millennium B.C., the so-called Phoenician period, the Southern Lebanese cities witnessed unprecedented growth. Tyre became the major maritime power of the Levantine coast and controlled trade in the Mediterranean. Its economic empire was inherited by Carthage, its most famous colony. The sites of South Lebanon offer the visitor a large variety on interesting remains from all prehistoric and historic periods. In Adlun he learns about Palaeolithic rock shelters and Sidon-Dakerman about Chalcolithic settlements. In Sarepta he sees a Phoenician town and in Sidon a Phoenician sacred area of the Persian period.

Finally, he visits in Tyre one of the best preserved Roman and Byzantine cities. Crusader castles, as well as scattered Islamic and Christian monuments, complete the visitor’s survey of this region’s rich past.

Archeological sites and historical monuments are not the only attraction of South Lebanon. Its beautiful landscape will enchant the visitor. Sandy beaches, impressive mountain peaks, waterfalls and springs, pinewoods, orange groves and orchards, add to the charm of most Southern Lebanese towns and villages.