History and Geography of Lebanon

Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French set boundaries in the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. 

 Under an agreement between representatives of Lebanon and the French National Committee of Liberation, most of the powers exercised by France were transferred to the Lebanese government on Jan. 1, 1944. The evacuation of French troops was completed in 1946.

Lebanon is considered part of Middle Eastern North Africa. It is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, north of Israel and west of Syria. It’s geography is best characterized by rough and rocky terrain. The Biqa valley divides the Anti-Lebanon and Lebanon Mountains. Lebanon's geography is varied and exhibits various kinds of soils, vegetation and land forms. In the map above you can see all the trains  , roads, rivers, peaks and more of Lebanon. It shows the geographical divide down the middle of the country by the mountains.