Bsharri
| Bsharri بْشَرِّيْ |
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|---|---|
| City | |
 Bsharri
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country |  Lebanon |
| Governorate | North Governorate |
| District | Bsharri District |
| Elevation | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) |
| Population [citation needed] | |
| • Total | 100,000 |
| 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.
Contents
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.
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.
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.[citation needed] There are seven Main Families in Bsharri: Sukkar, Kairouz, Chidiac, Geagea, Rahme, Fakhri, and Taouk (or Tawk). Other families in Bsharri 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 the defenders of the Maronite Christianity in Lebanon.
Unlike most of the other cities 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 a few times per year. On the other hand, temperatures can plummet to -15 °C on some occasions during the winter. Heavy snowfall is observed every year and accumulations of over 2 meters 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 | |||||||||||||
Gallery
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Bsharri - Apple Trees (Autumn).jpg
Apple Trees (main agriculture in Bsharri) during Autumn
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Bsharri - Cemetery.jpg
A view at Bsharri from near the cemetery
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Bsharri - Walnut Trees (Winter).jpg
Walnut Trees (grown by some in Bsharri) during Winter
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Bsharri - Alcohol Extraction ('Arak).jpg
Extraction of 'Arak date brandy(عرق-Bsharri's main alcohol)
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Bsharri - Winter.jpg
General view on Bsharri during Winter
See also
References
- ↑ Journée Antonine
- ↑ Our Centers
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. |
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Capital: Bsharri
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| Towns and villages |
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| Notable landmarks | ||
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