Why is there a tree on the Lebanese flag

A. It is a cedar tree, which is the symbol of Lebanon, you will also find it on the currency, on your passport once it has been stamped on entering Lebanon, and the tail of all Middle East Airlines planes.

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Q. What is the significance of the tree
A. The cedar tree is the most famous flora in the country� and today can only be found in a couple of mountainous areas, namely at Bcharr� and near Barouk in the Chouf Mountains.

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Since the civil war these groves are all that remain of Lebanon's infamous cedar forests, which feature heavily in the Bible. However, today Lebanon is still the most densely wooded country in the Middle East. The cedar is a significant building material that is also used as a metaphor for strength eg. Solomon built his temple in Jerusalem from cedar supplied by King Hiram of Tyre.

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Ancient Egyptians had virtually no other source of wood other than cedar from Lebanon�- their temples were built with cedar and their dead embalmed with cedar resin. It is not the best building material, as it is spongy and inclined to shrink, but it was often used as it was the only material available in such great quantities.

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Q. Is it possible to travel freely in Lebanon today
A.� Lebanon has not been a top tourist destination since its civil war began in 1975, before which it was considered the 'Paris of the East'. It is now considered safe to travel in the country and it does have a lot to offer the sightseer besides its bombed out ruins.�It has great ski resorts, Roman ruins and Islamic architecture to explore. You can also go on a Hezbollah-run guided tour of the former SLA prison in Khiam, thankfully there are no kidnap-tours, but taxi drivers will take you around the sites for a fee if that is what you like.

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At present it is more popular to visit the Lebanon on an organised package tour, rather than as an independent traveller. Some areas of the country are still volatile eg. the border with Israel in the south is still flammable, although Israeli troops left the area in May 2000. It is now policed by the UN Interim Force. In addition, Lebanon is contesting control of the Fatima Gates and Sheeba Farms area with Israel, so it is best not to visit these.

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Landmines are also a problem in the countryside� and are signposted� with an upside down red triangle.

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Q. Outside of Beirut, what towns would be of interest to the traveller
A. If you have ever read a bible you may find some of the place names familiar when visiting the Lebanon.
Byblos�- is known as 'the oldest town in the world' and you'll be greeted with signs that proclaim it to be 'the birthplace of the word bible' on many streets. Standing ruins date back from the 12th Century in the Crusader castle to the town gate believed to date back to Hyksos times�- 1725-1580BC.
Tripoli�- full of Roman ruins, is a prosperous city that has benefited from its trade with Italy.
Tyre (Sur) and Sidon (Saida)�- these Biblical cities are situated on the Mediterranean and sites of great archaeological digs dating back to the 5th (the old city of Tyre) and 4th (Tyre's cathedral ruins) centuries. It is believed that glass was invented in Sidon and it has many Crusader (13th century) monuments still standing today.

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Q. Lebanon used to be famous for its music and dance does it still play an important part in Lebanese� culture
A.� It does play a big part and despite the country's recent troubles its people remain welcoming and love entertaining. It is still possible to see the national dance, the dabke, performed at festivals and parties. And belly dancers perform in nightclubs and at weddings as the dance itself represents the transition from the virgin bride to the sensual woman. Traditional music is played on the oud, a pear-shaped string instrument; the tabla, a clay, wood or metal and skin percussion instrument; the nay, a single reed, open-ended pipe with a lovely mellow tone; and the qanun, a flat trapezoid instrument with at least 81 pluckable strings.

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Q. What is the dominant religion in Lebanon
A. Officially it is 60% Muslim and 40% Christian. The largest Muslim group is the Shiite sect, followed by the Sunni and the Druze. The largest Christian group is the Maronite sect, followed by the Greek Orthodox, the Greek Catholic, the Syrian Catholic, the Chaldean, the Protestant and the Orthodox churches.

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By Karen Anderson