The Beqaa Valley is located 30 kilometers to the east of Beirut and served as an important agricultural asset to the Roman Empire when the area was under their control. The importance of the Beqaa Valley remains evident today; the fertile valley accounts for approximately 40% of Lebanon’s arable land.
-- - - -
Cedrus libani - The Lebanon cedar tree is an evergreen tree growing to 45 meters in height and 2.5 meters in diameter. In ancient times it was used locally and exported to distant markets. The wood, oils, and resins of the Lebanon cedar were of exceptional quality. The Phoenicians used the lumber for building commercial and military vessels, the oil was used as an insect repellant or as a base for paint. The resins were incorporated by the Egyptians as one of the crucial ingredients in their mummification process.