Bsharri

Bsharri
بْشَرِّيْ
City
Map showing the location of Bsharri within Lebanon
Bsharri

Location within Lebanon

Coordinates: 34°15′4″N 36°0′40″E / 34.25111°N 36.01111°E / 34.25111; 36.01111Coordinates: 34°15′4″N 36°0′40″E / 34.25111°N 36.01111°E / 34.25111; 36.01111
Country  Lebanon
Governorate North Governorate
District Bsharri District
Elevation 1,500 m (4,900 ft)
Population
 • Total 24,000
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Dialing code +961
Website www.bcharri.gov.lb

Bsharri (Arabic: بْشَرِّيْ‎‎ Bšarrī; also Romanized Becharre, Bcharre, Bsharre) is a town at an altitude of about 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in the Kadisha Valley in northern Lebanon. It is located in the Bsharri District of the North Governorate.

Bsharri is the town of the only remaining (preserved) Original Cedars of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), and is the birthplace of the famous poet, painter and sculptor Khalil Gibran who now has a museum in the town to honor him.

History

The name Bsharri (بشرّي) can be found in the Phoenician language Bet Ishtar meaning "The House Of Ishtar",[1] Ishtar being a goddess worshipped by the Phoenicians (and King Sulaymān) before Christianity was adopted in the area.

One of Bsharri's churches

Bsharri was the site of a Phoenician settlement in ancient times. Maronite Christians fleeing persecution sought refuge in its mountainous terrain in the 7th Century AD. The Kadisha Valley, below the town, became the spiritual center of the Maronite Church. The town was known as Buissera by the Crusades.

Snow in Bsharri

In Lebanon, Bsharri natives are characterized as very courageous and tribal. They are known across the northern region for their hospitality and patriotism. They are especially known for their distinct accent when they speak Lebanese Arabic. Unlike other parts of Lebanon, Aramaic was spoken in Bsharri well into the 19th century. As a result, Bsharri natives developed an unmistakably strong accent which lasts to this day. There are seven main families in Bsharri: Tawk, Chidiac, Fakhri, Geagea, Kairouz, Succar, and Rahme. Other families are Arida, Choueiri, Shebaya and Boutros.

During the Lebanese civil war (1975–1990), Bsharri was a bastion of Christian resistance against the Palestinians and the Syrians. Many of its youth joined the Lebanese Phalanges at the start of the civil war. In 1986 Samir Geagea, a Bsharri native, became head of the Lebanese Forces (LF) militia (now a political party). Many LF militants were drawn from the town during the civil war. Bsharri natives are often referred to as defenders of the Maronite Christianity in Lebanon.

Unlike most of the other villages around, Bsharri is continuously inhabited during all the months of the year. That is why, even in the coldest days of winter, one can still find open shops to purchase his everyday needs.

Bsharri today

Today, the town is located in a highly touristic zone including many attractions such as the Khalil Gibran Museum, the Kadisha Valley, the Kadisha Grotto, the Cedars of God forest and several ski resorts.

Bsharri is home to a Lebanese Red Cross First Aid Center, [2] also to "The Maronite Scouts" that started their activities in early 2000.

Currently, the District of Bsharri is represented in the Lebanese Parliament by two members, Mrs. Sethrida Tawk Geagea and Mr. Elie Kayrouz, both of them being from the Town of Bsharri and members of the Lebanese Forces political party.

Bsharri natives are also known for their strong Christian faith. Throughout the year, many religious festivities and commemorations take place in the town attracting thousands from neighbouring villages.

Geography

Climate

Bsharri has a continental Mediterranean climate (Csb/Dsb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with dry and mild summers and cold, snowy winters. Temperatures in the summer can go above 30 °C (86 °F) a few times per year. On the other hand, temperatures can plummet to −15 °C (5 °F) on some occasions during the winter. Heavy snowfall is observed every year and accumulations of over 2 m (80 in) are not unheard of.

Climate data for Bsharri
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 4
(39)		 4
(39)		 6
(43)		 11
(52)		 16
(61)		 20
(68)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 20
(68)		 16
(61)		 11
(52)		 7
(45)		 13.3
(56.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0
(32)		 0
(32)		 2
(36)		 7
(45)		 11.5
(52.7)		 15
(59)		 17
(63)		 17.5
(63.5)		 15
(59)		 11.5
(52.7)		 7
(45)		 3.5
(38.3)		 8.92
(48.18)
Average low °C (°F) −4
(25)		 −4
(25)		 −2
(28)		 3
(37)		 7
(45)		 10
(50)		 12
(54)		 12
(54)		 10
(50)		 7
(45)		 3
(37)		 0
(32)		 4.5
(40.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 221
(8.7)		 166
(6.54)		 127
(5)		 61
(2.4)		 31
(1.22)		 4
(0.16)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 6
(0.24)		 39
(1.54)		 97
(3.82)		 172
(6.77)		 924
(36.39)
Source: climatetemp.info[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Journée Antonine Archived October 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Our Centers Archived February 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Climate History for Bsharri, Lebanon". Archived from the original on 3 August 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
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