Collier's New Encyclopedia

A complete general encyclopedia of 1921 — the world as it was understood just after the Great War, from Aachen to Zwingli, across twelve volumes and six thousand pages.

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Lebanon (Mountain range in Syria)

mountain range in Syria. The word Lebanon is derived from a Semitic root meaning "white"; and this name is given to the mountains, because of the whitish color of their rocks. The mountains belong geologically to the Cretaceous system, and libraries, a court house, and other a leather now spiita of worked by means interstices of the oxidized, formation with the gelayielding a pecuzy texture. H. a city and countyth co., Kan., on the the Atchison, Topeka Burlington Route, the and and Pacißc and ds; 26 miles N. W. of the trade conter for mining region; manurup, glucose, stoves, castings, carriages, shoes, metallic wares, ns Mount St. Mary's and St. John's Hos- Orphan Asylum, Kansas State and itentiaries; and has crest railroad plants; the pro-cathedral Conception; many savings banks; thly periodicals.

the N. is Fort located an innool, and a Nation- (1910) 19,368; (1920) eit of Indiana, the oone co.

It is on the nati, Chicago and St. ntral Indiana railroads. clude saw mills, chair ased-milk factory, grain Pop. (1910) 5,474; city of Pennsylvania, Lebanon co. It is on nd Lebanon railimportant deestone, and am iron ood. The chief mining, quarrying, the manufacture of its, boilers, etc. It has court house, and other (

1910) 19,240; mountain range in Lebanon is derived meaning "white"; is given to the mounthe whitish color of mountains balong geo- Cretaceons systers and LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE 441 LE CATEAU consist principally of limestones and Union Brethren; reported at the close of chalks. They are divided into two par- 1919: Professors and instructors, 25; allel ranges, the Lebanon on the W. and students, 311; president, Rev. G. D. the Anti-Lebanon (or more correctly Anti-Libanus) on the E. Between them lies the deep valley of the Buka (the ancient Cœle- Syria), which is from 4 to 6 miles wide, and is watered by the rivers Litany and El-Asi (the ancient Orontes).

The former flows S. W., then turning abruptly to the W., reaches the sea a little N. of Tyre; while the latter flows in the opposite direction, and after crossing the plains of Hamath likewise turns to the W. to the Mediterranean. The highest summits occur in the N. in both ranges, but are higher in Lebanon than in Anti- Lebanon; in the former they vary from 10,018 (El-Kazib) to 7,000 feet and less, and in the latter are about 8,000 or 9,000 feet. In both ranges the E. versant is the steeper and sterner. The W. slopes of Lebanon are broken by numerous deep transverse valleys, running between the spurs that the main chain sends down to the very edge of the sea, where they often terminate in bold headlands. The W. slopes of Anti-Lebanon are more barren and more broken by crags and bare rocks. The valleys and the lower slopes of the hills are generally verdant with vegetation. The vine is extensively grown, and wine is made, but is all consumed at home. Mulberry trees figure prominently; for the manufacture of silk is one of the most important industries of the mountaineers. Olive groves and orchards (nuts and figs) abound everywhere. The higher slopes are in many districts covered with forests of oak, cypress, pine, plane, etc.

Contrary to the current belief, remains of the great cedar forests of Solomon's time exist in more places than the single grove of 377 trees at the head of Kedisha valley. Tobacco, wheat, barley, and millet are the chief crops cultivated.

Owing to the elevated situation, the climate is healthful and bracing. Streams of clear water are numerous. The inhabitants number in all about 400,000; 230,000 Maronites, 50,000 Druses, and 30,000 Moslems, and a few converts of the American Protestant and the Roman Catholic missionaries of Beyrout. After the bloody quarrels of the Druses and Maronites in 1860, the district of Lebanon was separated (1861) from the Turkish pashalik of Syria, and put under Christian governor, the European powers constituting themselves the "guardians" of the new province. a

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