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BEIRUT
Beirut is the capital of Lebanon and its largest city with a
population of 1.8million. It is located on a rocky promontory almost
in the center of the country’s coastline on the Mediterranean Sea.
The city has grown to meet its suburbs in all three directions.
On its northern shore is the Port of Beirut which handles transit
trade in its 5 piers. It is also a destination for cruise ships.
Beirut International Airport, which sustained major damage during
the civil war (1975-1991) has been rebuilt and fitted with state of
the art equipment. The airport has two runways, 3250m and 3170m
long. It is renamed Rafic Hariri International Airport in honor of
the assassinated prime minister.
Industry and manufacturing plants are located in the eastern and
southern suburbs. All kinds of consumer products are made here:
plastics, paints, chemicals, synthetic fibers, building supplies,
leather tanneries, textiles, wool yarn, soaps, health products,
jewelry, and food stuffs.
Beirut has been the region’s intellectual and cultural center.
Students come from far and wide to attend one of its many
universities. The best known learning institutions are the American
University of Beirut, Université de St Joseph, the Lebanese American
University, the Beirut Arab University and the Lebanese University
which enrolls 70,000 students in its various colleges.
Beirut is the Arab world’s center for publishing. There are several
hundred Lebanese printing and publishing houses that publish books,
several dozen daily newspapers, and weekly and monthly magazines.
The civil war which began in 1975 destroyed much of the city’s
infrastructure, buildings, and its population. If there is such a
thing as a good outcome to war, then in this case all the ethnic
groups and minorities realized they need each other for a Lebanon
and the uniqueness of Beirut to exist. In 1982 it was subjected to
an invasion and siege and further destruction by the Israeli forces.
Beirut has a long history, beginning in 15th century BC. Under the
Roman times it was recognized as having one of the Empire’s most
important Schools of Law. The school was destroyed by and earthquake
in 551, on its site is today’s Parliament building.
The city was conquered by Muawiya bin abi Sifian in 635 and remained
in Arab hands until the Crusaders took it in 1100, followed by Salah
al Din in 1291. It was part of the Byzentine Empire, then the
Ottoman Empire.
Beirut’s downtown has been rebuilt to world acclaim. The old
buildings have been restored, the streets repaved, and the
archaeological sites are preserved exposing Beirut’s history
beginning in Phoenician times. The sports stadium south of the city
has been restored and in 1997 hosted the Arab Games. It is set to
host the Francophone Games in 2009, and the Asian Games in 2011.
Café Culture in Beirut
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