South Governorate

For the region of Bahrain, see Southern Governorate.
South
الجنوب

Map of Lebanon with South highlighted
Coordinates: 33°33′N 35°23′E / 33.550°N 35.383°E / 33.550; 35.383Coordinates: 33°33′N 35°23′E / 33.550°N 35.383°E / 33.550; 35.383
Country Lebanon
Capital Sidon
Area[1]
  Total 929.6 km2 (358.9 sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Water spring at Arabsallim, Southern Lebanon

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 inhabitants are a mixture of Shiites, Sunnis, Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants. 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 80%, Sunnis are 10%, and about 10% are Christians.

Districts

Cities

See also

References

  1. ""Lebanon State of the Environment Report", chapter 1" (PDF). Ministry of Environment (Lebanon). 2001. Retrieved 2013-11-25.


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