South Governorate
| South الجنوب | |
|---|---|
 Map of Lebanon with South highlighted | |
| Coordinates: 33°33′N 35°23′E / 33.550°N 35.383°ECoordinates: 33°33′N 35°23′E / 33.550°N 35.383°E | |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Capital | Sidon |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 929.6 km2 (358.9 sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| ISO 3166 code | LB-JA |
South Governorate (Arabic: الجنوب; transliterated: al-Janub) is one of the governorates of Lebanon. South Lebanon has a population of 500,000 inhabitants and an area of 929.6 km². The capital is Sidon. The lowest elevation is sea-level; the highest is 1,000 meters. The local population is religiously diverse and includes Shia and Sunni Muslims, Orthodox, Maronite, Protestant, and Greek Catholic Christians. Temperatures can drop to 4 °C during winter with a lot of rain and snow on the higher ground. In the humid summer, temperatures can rise to 30 °C in the coastal areas. The governorate has several rivers: the Litani, Zahrani, Naqura, Awali, Qasmiye, and Hasbani. The area is famous for its citrus and banana farms. Its main cities are Sidon, Tyre and Jezzine.
Local attractions and events
The area offers a great number of attractions, including pristine white sandy beaches south of Tyre, and the opportunity to snorkel or dive among submerged Phoenician and Roman ruins near the ancient cities of Sidon and Tyre. Culture-lovers will enjoy the bustling Ottoman-era Pazars, and one can relax after a long day at a seafood restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean. Southern Lebanon also hosts the Tyre festival, which attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Religion in the South Governorate
Shias make up 50%, Sunnis are 40%, and about 10% are Christians.
Districts
Cities
See also
References
- ↑ ""Lebanon State of the Environment Report", chapter 1" (PDF). Ministry of Environment (Lebanon). 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
