Qurnat as Sawda'

Qurnat as Sawdā’ is the highest point in Lebanon and the Levant, at 3,088 meters above sea level.

Geography & Climate

Qurnat as Sawda experiences an Alpine-Tundra like weather, with cool temperatures even in the summer. Summer highs usually hover around 10â€"15 degrees Celsius during the day time, but go down to around 0â€"5 degrees at night. Winter is a very long period on this mountain (Octoberâ€" late-April) with average highs of only âˆ'20 °C and nighttime lows that can plummet to âˆ'45 °C. Snowfall is around 10â€"12 meters every year, and doesn't melt until mid-June. Frosts are also very common during the summer, with some nighttime lows going to around âˆ'5 °C. Lebanon peaks above 1800 m are covered with snow almost 4 months a year, and the peaks above 2,500 m are covered around 6 months a year.

The mountain peak is known to experience many avalanches which are, in fact, extremely deadly. Also, the steepness of the slopes can go up to 75 degrees.

References in Medieval Religious Literature

In Jacobus de Vorgaine's Aurea Legenda, the summit of Mount Lebanon (Qurnat as Sawda') is the site on which Noah, after having survived the flood, replanted a sacred tree. Vorgaine states that the tree's seeds were given to Seth by an angel in the Garden of Eden and placed in Adam's mouth upon his passing such that his blood could feed its growth.

See also

• Geography of Lebanon

References

External links

• Peakbagger.com: Qurnat as Sawdā’