"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٨‎٦] (٧٣٨/٣٧٧)

366 LEBANON, ANTI-LEBANON, DAMASCUS PLAIN
North of a line ‘Arqa-‘Akkar numerous trap-dykes have
been driven up like great wedges through the marl and lime
stone strata, taking every possible shape and direction. To
ward the N. el-Keblr precipitous trap chasms traverse the slopes
from E. to W. across which communication is impossible ;
roads consequently run generally parallel to these chasms.
This region is strewn with trap boulders everywhere piled up
in heaps, and among them grow thick gnarled oaks over an
area 20 to 30 miles from SW. to NE., forming a most striking
feature of the landscape.
In the region of ‘Aqura, alt. 4,720 ft., at the base of J. Mu-
neiterah, the country is barren and wild. The stratification
is perfectly horizontal, and some of the layers are as much as
100 ft. thick while others are only a few feet. Southward of
Afqeh, alt. 3,615 ft., and high up on the flank of J. Sannin is
a plateau called Wata el-Burj, roughly 10 to 12 miles in length
and 6 miles wide. It affords excellent pasturage and many
spots are overgrown with oak and barberry trees. There are no
fountains, but in spring the melted snow from numerous ‘ sinks ’
provide a sufficient supply of water. The pasturage is
frequented by nomads who bring large numbers of sheep into
the district.
The kaza of Meten behind Beirut, within which are the
popular resorts of Brummana and Beit Meri, is one of the richest
and most salubrious districts, and its gorges and spurs are
partially clothed with pines. In contrast to this, the country
between J. Rihan and Saida is rolling and uneven, with
rounded hills and broad valleys. Deep valleys have their
beginnings in the flank of Rihan and high ridges run out
between them, forming buttresses which gradually sink to
the open country.
The surface of the eastern slopes, for the most part, is barren
and unsuited to occupation, the few scattered villages lying
mostly close to the base. On the upper base of the main
ridge, in the latitude of ‘Aqura, is W. en-Nusur, an elevated
valley containing the only lake of Lebanon, Bahret Yamuneh,
which resembles a mountain tarn and is said to become almost