Bekka

Bekka, also known as Beqaa Valley, is a fertile basin in eastern Lebanon, lying between the Mount Lebanon range to the west and the Anti-Lebanon mountains to the east. It stretches from the valley’s western edge near Chtaura toward Lebanon’s border with Syria. The name Bekaa derives from the Arabic Beqaa, meaning valley or plain. The area is Lebanon’s principal agricultural region, known for wine production, fruit, cereals, and vegetables.

The climate is semi-arid to Mediterranean, with hot summers and cool winters; most rainfall occurs in winter. Irrigation relies on the Litani River and other streams to support farming.

Major towns include Zahle, Baalbek, Chtaura, and Anjar. Baalbek hosts a famed Roman temple complex; Anjar preserves a sprawling Umayyad-era city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Zahle, a long-established urban center with historical churches and a cosmopolitan community, is a regional hub. The Bekaa has a diverse population, including Shia and Sunni Muslims and several Christian communities such as Maronites and Orthodox, with communities concentrated in towns and villages.

Economically, the valley is Lebanon’s wine region, home to several wineries and historic vineyards. Other important crops include grapes, apples, apricots, peaches, and vegetables. The valley’s economy also includes livestock farming and some light industry. The Bekaa has experienced security and economic disruptions related to the Lebanese Civil War and later frontier tensions with Syria, but remains a key agricultural zone and a site of archaeological and cultural significance. Tourism centers on wine tourism and historic ruins.