Litani

The Litani, or Nahr al-Litani in Arabic, is a major river in southern Lebanon. It runs roughly 170 kilometers, originating in the Beqaa Valley and the Anti-Lebanon mountains and flowing southwest to the Mediterranean Sea. The river’s basin covers much of the Beqaa and southern Lebanon and is a key source of surface water for agriculture, drinking water, and regional ecosystems.

A centerpiece of the Litani’s hydrology is the Qaraoun Dam, constructed in the mid-20th century and forming Lake Qaraoun, Lebanon’s largest reservoir. The dam supports irrigation for farmland, provides hydroelectric power, and supplies drinking water to parts of the country. Water management in the Litani basin is overseen by the Litani River Authority, an agency established to develop and regulate the river’s resources.

Historically, the Litani has held strategic significance in Lebanon’s conflicts. During the Lebanese Civil War and subsequent decades, the river basin was a focal point in regional security concerns. In 1978, Israel conducted Operation Litani, advancing to the river’s southern banks to establish a security zone. The river thus features prominently in discussions of Lebanon’s water resources, development planning, and regional security.

Environmental challenges affect the Litani as well, including seasonal variability and drought, sedimentation in Lake Qaraoun, and pollution from agricultural and urban runoff. Balancing water supply, quality, and ecological health remains a continuing policy and planning issue for Lebanon.