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development has brought about major hydrological changes to the Litani River Basin, where the flows from its upper reaches above Lake
Qaraoun, referred to as the Upper Litani Basin, are diverted through a system of tunnels, ponds and plants, to meet the Mediterranean several kilometers north of its original natural tailwater. These changes have resulted in the effective hydrological separation between the Upper Litani Basin and the lower reaches. The advent of a protracted civil strife in the 1970s followed by a prolonged occupation in the 1980s that lasted into the 1990s, have plunged the country into disarray, freezing development and investment in infrastructure. The subsequent return to normal conditions has encouraged the river authority to initiate several major water diversion projects from the Upper Litani Basin worth hundreds of millions of US dollars.
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346:. The Qasmieh-Ras-el-Aïn region, irrigated from the river's lower reaches from main irrigation canals, to south and north, is one of the largest irrigated areas in the nation, consisting of 32.64 km², shared among 1257 irrigating farmers, who concentrate on citrus crops and bananas (Raad 2004). For the entire stretch of the Qasimiyeh as it flows into the
101:
431:
The Litani River
Authority was formed in 1954 to facilitate the integrated development of the Litani River Basin. Shortly after its formation, the authority engaged in a massive hydroelectric development project that tapped the 850 meter head potential between Lake Qaraoun and the Mediterranean. This
303:
encompasses 2110 km2, making it the largest watershed in
Lebanon and covering about 20% of the country's total area. The basin spans 263 villages in 12 districts and 4 governorates, covering a significant portion of Lebanon's ecological landscape and contributing around 30% of the total water flow in
440:
A crucial aspect of the Litani River's importance lies in its role as an agricultural lifeline. It irrigates thousands of hectares of farmland, contributing significantly to
Lebanon's food security. Approximately 31% of the income within the basin stems from agriculture, sustaining a considerable
422:
project in
Lebanon. The dam was intended eventually to provide irrigation for 310 km² of farmland in South Lebanon and 80 km² in the Beqaa Valley. The office is at the southern (dam) end of the lake on the left side. The lakeside has a hotel and a number of restaurants specializing in
449:
The Litani River contends with pollution concerns, impacting both the river itself and the
Qaraaoun Reservoir. Numerous studies, including microbiological and chemical analyses, revealed contamination exceeding standard levels. The root causes include uncontrolled sewage disposal and the
759:
Ramadan, H.H., Ramamurthy, A.S., and
Beighley, R.E (2012). "Inter-annual temperature and precipitation variations over the Litani Basin in response to atmospheric circulation patterns”, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, Volume 108, Numbers 3-4 (2012),
418:, 60 meters high and 1,350 meters in length, which was completed in 1959. A spillway of 6503 meters carries the water to the underground station where generators produce a maximum of 185 megawatts of electricity, the largest
763:
Ramadan, H.H., Beighley R.E. and
Ramamurthy A.S. (2012). "Modeling Streamflow Trends for a Watershed with Limited Data: A case on the Litani Basin, Lebanon” Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (8), pp. 1516–1529.
197:
in
Lebanon and provides an average annual flow estimated at 920 million cubic meters. The waters of the Litani both originate and flow entirely within the borders of Lebanon. It provides a major source for
766:
Ramadan, H.H., Ramamurthy A.S. and
Beighley R.E. (2013). "Sensitivity of the Litani Basin’s runoff in Lebanon to climate change.” International Journal of Environment and Pollution (in press).
821:
Proceedings of the iEMSs Third Biennial Meeting, "Summit on Environmental Modelling and Software". International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Burlington, USA, July 2006
878:
752:
Ramadan, H. H., Beighley, R. E. and Ramamurthy, A. S. (2013). "Temperature and precipitation trends in Lebanon's largest river: the Litani Basin”, American Society of Civil Engineers,
350:, the Litani River remains nearly parallel to (and about 29 km (18 mi) north of) the Israeli-Lebanese border. 10 km north of Tyre, the river is crossed by the ancient
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888:
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After heading south parallel to the Syrian border, the course of the river bends dramatically westward. Near this bend, the Litani comes within five km of the
354:. In June 1941, the mouth of the river was the site of an attack by British commandos and Australian troops on Vichy French forces that became known as the
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The Litani River, stretching 174 km with 60 km of tributaries, traverses diverse climates from coastal subtropical to dry continental. Its
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in Ugaritic. The river that winds and coils like a serpent through the Beqaa Valley was believed to be the personification of the deity.
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From Conquest to Coexistence: Ideology and Antiquarian Intent in the Historiography of Israel's Settlement in Canaan
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Development of an Integrated Decision Support System for Water Quality Control in the Upper Litani Basin, Lebanon
805:
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indiscriminate use of fertilizers in agriculture, threatening both water quality and the health of the river.
320:
616:
Abd El Al, Iman (2018). "Historical Background on the Litani River". In Shaban, Amin; Hamzé, Mouïn (eds.).
24:
927:
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20:
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323:(55,000 ha), with its eastern section falling within the basin, contributes to the conservation of
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Raad, Daoud, 2004. "Localized irrigation in Qasmieh-Ras-el-Aïn: a technique to be encouraged"
311:(60 ha), characterized by marshland, constant springs, riparian woodland, and pine woodlands.
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315:(280 ha), designated a World Nature Reserve, serves as an important point in global
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Within the basin of the Litani River, there are notable natural features, including
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462:(1941), during the Second World War, between Allied forces and Vichy French troops
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539:"Leviathan and LTN: The Vocalization of the Ugaritic Word for the Dragon"
83:
48:
704:. Water science and technology library. Cham: Springer. pp. 15–32.
620:. Water science and technology library. Cham: Springer. pp. 15–32.
729:. Water science and technology library. Cham: Springer. pp. 1–15.
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308:
203:
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Where the western Litani empties into the Mediterranean, on Wikimapia
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Historians in the past have suggested that the location of Biblical
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This article is about the Lebanese river. For the WWII battle, see
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Lebanese minister: Litani river pollution a "national catastrophe"
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The Litani River, Lebanon: an assessment and current challenges
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The Litani River, Lebanon: an assessment and current challenges
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The Litani River, Lebanon: an assessment and current challenges
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chased the various tribes after their defeat at the waters of
227:
194:
193:. Exceeding 140 km in length, the Litani is the longest
144:
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The Litani River Dam, as seen from the highway to the west.
414:, an artificial lake of 12 square km, was created by the
234:), a seven-headed sea serpent and servant of the sea god
603:. Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands, p. 178.
671:"Litani River Basin Management Support Project (LRBMS)"
53:
The Litani River in maroon, the Lebanese capital city
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The portion of the river flowing west is called the
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754:Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
582:. Pitchstone Publishing, Durham, NC. 2018, p. 153.
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242:in the Lebanese name preserves the hypothesized
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319:routes, hosting nearly 250 bird species. The
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644:. The Litani River Authority. Archived from
514:. The Litani River Authority. Archived from
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283:, was the river-mouth of the Litani River.
811:Old Feud Over Lebanese River Takes New Turn
724:
699:
660:
468:, 1978 Israeli invasion of Southern Lebanon
361:
47:
725:Shaban, Amin; Hamzé, Mouïn, eds. (2018).
700:Shaban, Amin; Hamzé, Mouïn, eds. (2018).
615:
588:
290:
253:
99:
536:
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295:The southern part of the Litani River.
833:. Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA).
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169: "lion river"), is an important
265:famously overlooks the Litani River.
23:. For the South American river, see
771:Israel's Wars: A History Since 1947
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606:
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117:
13:
827:Price, Robert M. (24 April 2018).
693:
478:
14:
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372:Jisr el-Kasmieh/Qasimiyeh (Roman
177:. The river rises in the fertile
815:Assaf, Hamed and Saadeh, Mark. "
38:
599:van Bekkum, Koert van (2011).
593:
572:
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222:The Litani is named after the
214:, and the country as a whole.
1:
857:"THE LITANI RIVER OF LEBANON"
367:(Jisr means bridge in Arabic)
321:Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve
230:(reconstructed pronunciation
78:Physical characteristics
747:General and cited references
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444:
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286:
217:
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104:The Upper Litani Basin (ULB)
25:Litani River (South America)
7:
791:The Litani River of Lebanon
453:
441:portion of the population.
128:
10:
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756:, 139 (1), pp. 86–95.
486:"LEBANON, Water resources"
460:Battle of the Litani River
427:The Litani River Authority
356:Battle of the Litani River
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21:Battle of the Litani River
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385:Jisr el-Khatueh (Kakhieh)
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82:
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67:
62:
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37:
32:
488:. FAO UN. Archived from
859:. macam. Archived from
830:Bart Ehrman Interpreted
769:Bregman, Ahron (2002).
580:Bart Ehrman Interpreted
558:10.1163/156853382X00324
537:Emerton, J. A. (1982).
362:Bridges over the Litani
185:, and empties into the
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904:33.33889°N 35.24528°E
773:. London: Routledge.
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294:
275:, the place to which
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103:
789:Amery, H. A. 1993. "
900: /
796:Geographical Review
909:33.33889; 35.24528
855:HUSSEIN A. AMERY.
681:on 4 November 2019
409:
297:
267:
106:
928:Rivers of Lebanon
840:978-1-63431-159-5
760:pp. 563–577.
736:978-3-319-76300-2
711:978-3-319-76300-2
642:"The Qaraoun Dam"
627:978-3-319-76300-2
546:Vetus Testamentum
518:on 5 October 2018
391:Jisr el-Meshghara
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348:Mediterranean Sea
187:Mediterranean Sea
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416:Litani River Dam
399:Litani River Dam
382:Jisr el-Khardali
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212:Southern Lebanon
208:hydroelectricity
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16:River in Lebanon
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272:Misrephoth Maim
263:Beaufort Castle
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520:. Retrieved
516:the original
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494:. Retrieved
490:the original
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439:
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412:Lake Qaraoun
410:
379:Jisr el Akai
365:
343:
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258:The ancient
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210:both within
200:water supply
179:Beqaa Valley
173:in southern
158:
136:
118:نهر الليطاني
110:Litani River
109:
107:
33:Litani River
907: /
436:Agriculture
376:); in ruins
895:35°14′43″E
892:33°20′20″N
867:4 November
685:4 November
652:4 November
522:4 November
496:4 November
309:Kafr Zabad
204:irrigation
181:, west of
473:Citations
445:Pollution
344:Qasimiyeh
338:Qasimiyeh
287:Geography
218:Etymology
189:north of
152:translit.
134:classical
123:romanized
922:Category
880:Archived
785:pdf file
454:See also
260:Crusader
232:līyitānu
224:Ugaritic
63:Location
566:1517920
250:History
183:Baalbek
175:Lebanon
159:Leóntes
146:Λεόντης
137:Leontes
132:), the
125::
72:Lebanon
68:Country
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733:
708:
624:
564:
313:Aammiq
277:Joshua
238:. The
226:deity
155:
114:Arabic
57:in red
55:Beirut
562:JSTOR
542:(PDF)
301:basin
281:Merom
195:river
141:Greek
84:Mouth
869:2019
835:ISBN
775:ISBN
731:ISBN
706:ISBN
687:2019
654:2019
622:ISBN
524:2019
498:2019
206:and
191:Tyre
166:lit.
108:The
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554:doi
236:Yam
228:Ltn
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
