TERRITORIAL PROFILE
Main Geographic Characteristics
Total Population 807,204 - 19.10% Of National
Surface 2,024.8  Km2 - 19.37% of National
The North Lebanon Governorate comprises 251 towns, of which 119 have municipalities and is divided into districts, or aqdya. The districts are listed below (capitals in parentheses): Tripoli (Tripoli) Akkar (Halba) Miniyeh-Danniyeh District (Miniyeh / Sir ed-danniyeh) Zgharta (Zgharta / Ehden) Koura (Amioun) Batroun (Batroun) Bsharri (Bsharri) Northern Lebanon uniquely blends the outdoors with extensive historical and cultural attractions. With the country’s highest mountain, Qornet es-Sawda (3,090m), as well as the highest ski resort. The Cedars, this region offers a rocky, rugged terrain that makes Lebanon unique in the Middle East. At the far northern end of the Mt. Lebanon range, the Akkar region is the most remote area of the country, housing traditional villages and beautiful scenery. It is mainly an agricultural region, constructed around the exceptionally-built heritage of the city, its culinary traditions, crafts and musical traditions. It includes snow covered slopes (winter sports); forests and natural wealth of all the mountain (summer vacation, eco-tourism); pilgrimage sites, and a beautiful sea façade between Tripoli and Jbayl. Three of Lebanon's seven protected areas are in the North possessing unique ecological characteristics rarely found in this part of the world.
Main Economic Characteristics
General Economic characterization The coastal zone of North Lebanon currently presents many opportunities for economic and social development supported by a vibrant environment. However, environmental, economic and social pressures exist. Isolated and disjointed mechanisms for management and planning put at risk the prospect of a secure and sustainable future development. Natural processes and human activities can have a significant impact on the health and productivity of the coastal environment. This affects the livelihoods, sustainability and security of the people of North Lebanon. Conflicts of interest between the various sectors in North Lebanon arise mainly when common natural resources are lost, overexploited, polluted, or degraded by one sector, thus prohibiting its use by other sectors. Weaknesses in development of Northern Lebanon The main weaknesses in the development of the North can be summarized as follows: • Urbanization: Urban growth is up to 200 per cent since the 1960s placing pressure on other forms of land use and infrastructure, as well as generating huge quantities of solid waste. Urban growth also places pressure on adjacent rural areas • Transportation and Infrastructure: Increased population and demands for resources places strain on supporting infrastructure and transportation routes, as well as encouraging urban sprawl. Transport routes close to the coast compromise the integrity of environmental systems. • Wastewater treatment and pollution: Wastewater treatment is quasi-absent in North Lebanon, and only around 42% of buildings and institutions are connected to the sewerage network. Discharges to the open environment threaten the integrity of coastal systems • Industrial Development: Unplanned industrial development leads to the building of physical structures on the coast altering coastal processes and affecting the health and quality of the environment. It also leads to pressures on supporting infrastructure.
Labor Market Data North Lebanon encompasses 17.5 of the labor force in Lebanon (10.6% of female labor force and 19.6% of male labor force). Economic activity in the mohafaza is 41.9% (15-64 years of age); female economic activity is the lowest in the country amounting to 11.2% (15 years and above) (2004 ). Unemployment rates in North Lebanon are estimated at 5% (7.4% for females and 4.6% for males), compared to a national average of 7.9% (15+ years). The unemployed in the region comprise 10.8% of the total in Lebanon. Most of the employment in the North Lebanon is in the private sector (83.1% of the labor force), which is close to a national average of 85.8%.  The labor force in North Lebanon is concentrated in three main professional categories, namely skilled work (23.1% of the labor force in the region), unskilled work (17.0%) and managers (11.0%), followed by drivers (8.6%), armed forces (7.5%), professionals (7.5%), service workers (7.8%), agriculture work (6.1%), intermediate professionals (5.9%), and office employees (5.4%). Most of the labor force in North Lebanon is concentrated in the services sector (30.8% of the labor force in the region) and trade (22.7%), followed by industry (14.7%), agriculture (11.7), construction (12.3%), transportation/telecommunication (6.4%), and others (1.2%). Employment in the army and in the agricultural sector are higher in Akkar Caza, registering 24% and 18%, respectively. Other important employment sectors in the caza include industry (9%), commerce (11%), education (9%) and construction (13%). Female economic activity is concentrated in education (42%), and agriculture (22%). Most of the labor economic activity in Minieh-Dinieh is concentrated in industry (22%), agriculture (21%) and commerce (16%), as well as public employment (9%), transport/telecommunication (8%) and education (7%). Most of the female economic activity is concentrated in education (43%), agriculture (16%) and industry (14%). In Tripoli, as an urban center, most employment is concentrated in commerce (25%) and industry (24%). However, female employment is concentrated in education (34%), health and social services (12%), house help (11%) and industry (10%). Skills in the area can be found in the Souks of Tripoli, which together with the Khan, form an agglomeration of various trades where tailors, jewelers, perfumeries, tanners and soap-makers work in surroundings that have changed very little over the last 500 years.  Other popular industries and crafts are Tripoli's famous sweets and traditional olive oil based soap, waterpipes and brasswork.  South of Tripoli, the village of Qalmoun is known for its brass industry. The roadside is lined with small workshops and showrooms where brass bowls, candlesticks and other objects are hammered out in the old tradition.
Poverty Indicators Living conditions in North Lebanon witnessed significant improvement in its standards of living between 1995 and 2004 where the percent of impoverished households declined from 42.8% in 1995 to 31.2% in 2004, while the percentage of poor individuals decreased from 26.2% to 23.3% for the same period. However, the mohafaza still houses 28.2% of all the poor in the country (down from 30.2% in 1995). The highest improvement was witnessed in housing and education-related indicators, whereas those related to income declined. In 1996 , 63.3% of households and 68.9% of individuals in Akkar Caza were poor, which made the Caza the third poorest in the country (of which 23.3% households and 25.4% very poor).  During the same period, Minieh-Dinieh was the 5th poorest Caza in the country, with 54.2% of households and 58.4% of individuals were poor (of whom 12.7% of households and 13% of individuals are very poor).  Tripoli Caza was the 12th poorest Caza in the country in 1996, housing 34.9% of households and 39.6% of individuals who were poor, of whom 7.1% of households and 7.5% of individuals who were very poor. More recent data of 2004 indicate that 58.4% of households in the Akkar-Minieh-Dinieh region have low satisfaction level, 35% have medium satisfaction and .7% have high satisfaction. As such the region is the second poorest region in the country in terms of human poverty. The region houses 16.9% of all households with low satisfaction . The region houses around 26% of all the extreme poor and 22% of the relatively poor .
Main Tourism Attractions
Akkar has a number of historic sites including roman ruins in Halba, Kherbet Hayyat, and Elat, old cemeteries in Borqayel and Hrar, ottoman castles in Khraibet Joundi and Akkar atika, old churches in Safinat Dreib, Qobayyat, Andakt and Kfartoun, Pheneacian ruins in Arqa, old mosque in Ouyoun Ghazal, Byzantine ruins in Mashha. Akkar also houses a number of restaurants and entertainment places. Minieh-Dinieh has a number of historic sites, the most important of which is Al-Hosn castle. In addition, the Caza has roman ruins in btarmaz, Crusader castle in Kfarhabbou, roman cemeteries in Nimreen, ottoman school in Bahfoun, crusader church in Assoun, Prophet Yacoub bariel place in Asoun, and Fakr Deen palace in Bahfoun. The Caza also houses a number of restaurants and two hotels. Tripoli has not been extensively excavated because the ancient site lies buried beneath the modern city of Al-Mina. However, a few accidental finds are now in museums. Excavations in Al-Mina revealed part of the ancient southern port quay and a necropolis from the end of the Hellenistic period. A sounding made in the Crusader castle uncover Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine and Fatimid remains Brief Description of Important Sites   Citadel: Overlooking the city is the imposing Citadel of Tripoli known as Qal’at Sinjil (Saint Gilles) which has been renovated and changed many times during its history.  Today the castle’s main features are an octagonal Fatimid constructions converted to a church by the Crusaders, some Crusader structures of the 12th-13th centuries, a number of 14th century Mamluke additions, as well as additions made by the Ottomans in the 16th century.  St. John Church: Significant remains of this Crusader church were found in the Maronite Cemetery of Saint John about 200 meters south of the Castle on Abu Samra hill. There are two joined chapels, the larger of which has a semi-circular apse. the smaller one, with a rectangular apse, was reserved for funerary use. The church was surrounded by a large Crusader cemetery.   Great Mosque: Begun in 1294 and completed in 1315, the Great Mosque was built on the ruined 12th century Crusader cathedral of St. Mary of the Tower. Its large courtyard is surrounded by porticos and a domed and vaulted prayer hall. Inside, one can still see elements of Western architecture from the old church, including the northern entrance and the Lombard style bell tower which was transformed into the minaret.   The Taynal Mosque: This important mosque was built in 1336 by Saif ed-Dine Taynâl on the site of a ruined Crusader Carmelite church. The adjoining domed mausoleum holds the tomb of the founder. Some elements of the original structure were re-used in the mosque, for example, the two rows of granite columns with late Roman capitals which stand in the middle of the first prayer hall.   Burtasiyat Madrassa Mosque: The beautiful Burtasiyat Madrassa-Mosque was built during the first quarter of the 14th century A.D. This domed structure has a square minaret erected above the entrance arch and is ornamented with double windows which have black and white stone arches. The dark stone portal is decorated with stalactites and the mihrab is covered with an ornate golden mosaic.   Khan Qash: This unique building in Lebanon was constructed during the second half of the 15th century to house Muslim mystics or Sufis. It is designed with an open courtyard and pool. The courtyard is surrounded by small rooms and a raised platform, or iwan, behind an arch of alternating black and white stones. The arch is supported by granite columns.   Kh`an-as-S`aboun: One of the most notable facets of historical Tripoli, still in use today. There are several khans in the souks. Kh`an-as-S`aboun built at the beginning of the seventieth century.  Originally it was intended to serve as a military barracks to garrison Ottoman troops and it was purposely built in the center of the city to enable the pasha to control any uprising.  Souk Al Haraj: A unique sight, this covered 14th century bazaar has a high vaulted ceiling supported by granite columns which may have originally been part of Roman or Crusader structures. A total of 14 granite shafts can be seen along the north, south and east sides. Today this space is occupied by sellers of floor mats, pillows and mattresses.   Marina:   In al-Mina, the port section of Tripoli, stand the ruins of four great guard towers built by order of the Mamluk sultans of Egypt to defend their inland city of Tripoli from sea attack.  Originally there were seven towers, three have practically disappeared. From the ruins of the destroyed Crusader port city, they collected the necessary building material in order to defend their vulnerable coastline against the Crusader’s return.
Main Infrastructures (highway, airport, railway etc. / markets / research and training centers etc.)
Main infrastructure Statistics for 1996 indicate that 54% of the houses in Akkar and 69% in Minieh Dinieh, and 75% in Tripoli are connected to public water network, while 21% in Akkar and 8%   in Minieh-Dinieh and 2% in Tripoli are not connected to any water source . More recent statistics indicate that 41% of establishments in Akkar are connected to the water network, whereas this percentage amounts to 84% in Tripoli and 53% in Minieh Dinieh . In 1996, only 25% of the houses in Akkar and 36% in Minieh Dinieh, and 96% in Tripoli are connected to public sewer network, while 64% in Akkar and 46% in Minieh-Dinieh and 0.5%  in Tripoli use cesspits . Statistics for 2004 indicate that 86% of establishments in Tripoli, 34% of those in Akkar, and 68% of those in Minieh Dinieh are connected to a sewer network . Information for 2004 available at for North Lebanon Mohafaza indicates that 61.5% of households derive potable water from the public network, whereas 18.3% and 9.8% of households use artesian wells and bottled water, respectively .  On the other hand, almost all households are connected to electricity network. Information on garbage collection available at the Mohafaza level indicates that 82.4% of households use dumps near the residence as a way of dumping waste.
Transportation To the north of Beirut, lies the main road to Tripoli, a route that also passed through such major towns as Juniyah and Jubayl.  Cross-mountain routes, which linked the northern Biqa Valley with Juniyah and Tripoli also exist.  Notwithstanding the need for continuous maintenance and upgrading, it may be concluded that the areas of ARTGOLD activities in Northern Lebanon are accessible by relatively good road networks, and travel time from Beirut varies between 1.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic and the time of the year. Another important road project from an economic perspective is the Tripoli - Syrian Border Connection which aims to improve the roads which connect North Lebanon with the Syrian border. It includes the construction of the eastern Tripoli ring road extending towards al Abdeh (20 kilometers to the north), and the widening and rehabilitation of two roads extending to Arida (along the coast), and to Abboudieh on the Syrian border.
Communication In terms of information and communication technology, statistics for 2004 indicates that only 2.4% of households in North Lebanon are connected to the internet, compared to a national average of 4.4%. In addition, a much lower percentage of heads of households in the regions, compared to the national average, have a mobile phone (24.6% for North Lebanon and 40.2% for Lebanon).   Similarly, only 13.2% of households in North Lebanon, compared to a national average of 23.9%, have personal computers.