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Beyrut (BEIRUT a city of Syria)

or BEIRUT, a city of Syria, and the chief port of Syria, the port for Damascus, southeast of Cyprus, on the south shore of St. George's Bay, with a lighthouse on the point beyond , picturesquely located at almost the very base of the Lebanon range of mountains. The city climbs a slope, has narrow, winding streets, is surrounded by many gardens, and is correctly assumed to have the healthiest climate on the coast. The summers are hot, but the winters are mild and palms grow in the vicinity. The city and the neighboring country were the scene of fighting between French and Turkish forces in 1920. See TURKEY and SYRIA. The French language is more used than any other except Arabic.

Pop. about 150,000.