#discoveringtheworld

Lebanon 🇱🇧

Basic facts

Official name: الجمهورية اللبنانية (al-Jumhūrīyah al-Lubnānīyah) (Republic of Lebanon)

Capital city: Beirut

Population: 5.3 million (2023)

Demonym: Lebanese

Type of government: unitary parliamentary republic

Head of state: vacant (President)

Head of government: Najib Mikati (Prime Minister)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $78.23 billion (2022)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 31.8% (medium) (2011)

Human Development Index: 0.723 (high) (2022)

Currency: pound (LBP)

Fun fact: It hosts the highest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer.

Etymology

The country’s name comes from Mount Lebanon, whose name derives from the Phoenician root lbn, meaning “white”.

Geography

Lebanon is located in West Asia and borders Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

There are two main climates: Mediterranean-influenced humid continental in the center and east and hot-summer Mediterranean in the rest. Temperatures range from 11 °C (51.8 °F) in winter to 30 °C (86 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 20.9 °C (69.6 °F).

The country is divided into nine governorates (muḥāfaẓāt), which are further divided into twenty-five districts (aqdyah). The largest cities in Lebanon are Beirut, Tripoli, Jounieh, Zahlé, and Sidon.

History

2500-64 BCE: Phoenicia

1650-1180 BCE: Hittite Empire

1550-1069 BCE: New Kingdom of Egypt

550-332 BCE: Achaemenid Empire

332-64 BCE: Seleucid Empire

64 BCE-394 CE: Roman Empire

394-635: Byzantine Empire

619-629 CE: Sasanian Empire

636-661: Rashidun Caliphate

661-750: Umayyad Caliphate

750-1517: Abbasid Caliphate

1099-1291: Kingdom of Jerusalem

1102-1289: County of Tripoli

1250-1516: Mamluk Sultanate

1516-1842: Emirate of Mount Lebanon

1516-1918: Ottoman Empire

1843-1861: Double Qaim-Maqamate of Mount Lebanon

1860: civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus

1915-1918: Great Famine of Mount Lebanon

1920-1926: State of Greater Lebanon

1923-1946: Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon

1926-1943: Lebanese Republic

1943-present: Republic of Lebanon

1948: Arab-Israeli War

1975-1990: Lebanese Civil War

1976-2005: Syrian occupation

1985-2000: South Lebanon conflict

2005: Cedar Revolution

2006: Lebanon War

2006-2008: protests

2007: Lebanon conflict

2011: Intifada of Dignity

2019: 17 October Revolution

2020: Beirut explosion

2021: Beirut clashes

Economy

Lebanon mainly imports from the European Union, Türkiye, and China and exports to the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland. Its top exports are diamonds, polyacetals, and gold.

It has natural gas, limestone, oil, and salt reserves. Services represent 83% of the GDP, followed by industry (13.1%) and agriculture (3.9%).

Lebanon is a member of the Arab League, la Francophonie, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Demographics

95% of the population is Arab, while Armenians make up 4%. The main religion is Islam, practiced by 55% of the population, 27.6% of which is Sunni.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 1.7 children per woman. 89% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 78.3 years and the median age is 31.3 years. The literacy rate is 96.7%.

Languages

The official language of the country is Arabic. French is spoken by 40% of the population.

Culture

Lebanese culture has Persian, Greek, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, and French influences. Lebanese people are very gregarious.

Men traditionally wear a shirt, a dark vest, baggy pants (sherwal), a belt, and a headdress. Women wear a shiny dress (gambaz), a wide belt, and a conical hat with a long piece of silk (tantur).

Architecture

Traditional houses in Lebanon are made of stone and wood and have flat roofs and terraces.

Cuisine

The Lebanese diet is based on fish, meat, pulses, and vegetables. Typical dishes include bamieh bi-zeit (okra and tomato stew), kibbeh (fried balls made of spiced meat and bulgur), sayadieh (seasoned fish and rice), sfouf (an almond-semolina cake), and tabbouleh (a salad of bulgur, onion, tomatoes, and parsley).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Christian and Muslim countries, Lebanon celebrates Epiphany, Armenian Christmas, St. Maroun Day, Feast of the Annunciation Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Assumption, Christmas Day, Islamic New Year, Ashura, Mawlid, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. It also commemorates New Year’s Day and Labor Day.

Specific Lebanese holidays include Rafic Hariri Memorial Day on February 14, Liberation and Resistance Day on May 25, and Lebanese Independence Day on November 22.

Independence Day

Other celebrations include the Aerial and Circus Arts Festival, the Baalbeck International Festival, which features dance and music performances, and the Beiteddine Art Festival.

Baalbeck International Festival

Landmarks

There are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Anjar, Baalbek, Byblos, Ouadi Qadish (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab), Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli, and Tyre.

Ouadi Qadish and the Forest of the Cedars of God

Other landmarks include Jabal Moussa, the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, the Moussa Castle, Our Lady of Lebanon, and the Tripoli Citadel.

Tripoli Citadel

Famous people

Amin Maalouf - writer

Elie Saab - fashion designer

Fares Fares - actor

Jackie Chamoun - skier

Khalil Beschir - racing driver

May Ziade - poet and writer

Nadine Labaki - actress

Najwa Karam - singer

Ragheb Alama - singer

Rima Fakih - model

Rima Fakih

Eswatini 🇸🇿

Basic facts

Official name: Kingdom of Eswatini/Umbuso weSwatini (English/Swazi)

Capital city: Lobamba and Mbabane

Population: 1.2 million (2023)

Demonym: Swazi

Type of government: unitary absolute monarchy

Head of state: Mswati III (Monarch)

Head of government: Russell Dlamini (Prime Minister)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $13.79 billion (2023)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 54.6% (high) (2016)

Human Development Index: 0.610 (medium) (2022)

Currency: lilangeni (SZL) and rand (ZAR)

Fun fact: It is home to the oldest mine in the world.

Etymology

The country’s name comes from king Mswati II.

Geography

Eswatini is located in Southern Africa and borders South Africa to the north, west, and south and Mozambique to the northeast.

There are three main climates: monsoon-influenced humid subtropical in the center and east, hot steppe in the southeast, and subtropical highland in the west. Temperatures range from 4 °C (39.2 °F) in winter to 32 °C (89.6 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 20.9 °C (69.6 °F).

The country is divided into four regions (tifundza). The largest cities in Eswatini are Manzini, Mbabane, Big Bend, Malkerns, and Nhlangano.

History

1670-present: Kingdom of Eswatini

1881: independence

1894-1902: South African Republic

1903-1968: Swaziland Protectorate

Economy

Eswatini mainly imports from South Africa, China, and India and exports to South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. Its top exports are cane sugar, odoriferous substances, and binders for foundry molds.

Agriculture is a major source of revenue. Services represent 50% of the GDP, followed by industry (37%) and agriculture (13%).

Eswatini is a member of the African Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Southern African Customs Union, and the Southern African Development Community.

Demographics

The Swazi represent 84% of the population, while the Zulu account for 10%. The main religion is Christianity, practiced by 89.3% of the population, 88.8% of which is Protestant.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 2.4 children per woman. 24.6% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 59.6 years and the median age is 23.7 years. The literacy rate is 88.4%.

Languages

The official language of the country are English and Swazi, which is spoken by 95% of the population. Tsonga and Zulu are minority languages.

Culture

Swazi culture is known for its handcraft industry, which ranges from pottery to jewelry. Swazi people are proud and very friendly.

Men traditionally wear a rectangular piece of cloth with colorful motifs (lihiya) and a neckband (ligcebesha). Women wear a colorful lihiya and a headdress.

Architecture

Traditional houses in Eswatini are beehive-shaped and their walls and roofs are made of dry thatched grass.

Cuisine

The Swazi diet is based on beans, corn, meat, and vegetables. Typical dishes include emasi (fermented milk), inyama lebilisiwe (boiled meat with vegetables), sishwala (a maize porridge served with beans, meat, and vegetables), umbidvo wetintsanga (pumpkin leaves with ground nuts), and umncushu (a dish of beans and corn kernels with peanuts and tomatoes).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Christian countries, Eswatini celebrates Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. It also commemorates New Year’s Day and Labor Day.

Specific Swazi holidays include King’s Birthday on April 19, National Flag Day on April 25, King Father’s Birthday on July 22, Umhlanga Day on September 4, Independence Day on September 6, and Incwala Day on the last week of December or the first week of January.

Incwala Day

Other celebrations include the Marula Festival, a beer festival where the king and queen are presented with gifts, and the MTN Bush Fire Festival, which celebrates arts and music.

Marula Festival

Landmarks

There are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Landmarks include the Mantenga Falls, the Mahamba Church, the Mowane Gorge, the Ngwenya Mine, and the Sibebe Rock.

Sibebe Rock

Famous people

Bongani Khumalo - soccer player

Carl Crack - musician

Luke Hall - swimmer

Malla Nunn - writer

Nandipha Mntambo - artist

Noma Dumezweni - actress

Phumlile Ndzinisa - athlete

Richard E. Grant - actor

Tiffany Simelane - model

Zola Maseko - movie director

Tiffany Simelane

Oman 🇴🇲

Basic facts

Official name: سلطنة عُمان (Salṭanat ʿUmān) (Sultanate of Oman)

Capital city: Muscat

Population: 5.5 million (2023)

Demonym: Omani

Type of government: unitary absolute monarchy

Head of state and government: Haitham bin Tariq (Sultan)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $200.29 billion (2023)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 30.7% (medium) (2018)

Human Development Index: 0.819 (very high) (2022)

Currency: Omani rial (OMR)

Fun fact: It fought the shortest war in history against the United Kingdom.

Etymology

The country’s name derives from the Arabic ʿāmin or ʿamūn (“settled people”), as opposed to the nomadic Bedouins.

Geography

Oman is located in West Asia and borders Saudi Arabia to the north, the United Arab Emirates to the northeast, the Arabian Sea to the south, and Yemen to the west.

The country has one main climate, hot desert. Temperatures range from 17 °C (62.6 °F) in winter to 40 °C (104 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 27.3 °C (81.1 °F).

The country is divided into eleven governorates (muḥāfażah), which are further divided into 60 wilayats (wilāyat). The largest cities in Oman are Muscat, Seeb, Salalah, Bawshar, and Sohar.

History

550-330 BCE: Achaemenid Empire

240-628 CE: Sasanian Empire

628-632: State of Medina

632-661: Rashidun Caliphate

661-750: Umayyad Caliphate

749-1959: Imamate of Oman

931-932, 933-934: Qarmatians

967-1053: Buwayhid State

1053-1154: Seljuk Empire

1154-1406, 1443-1470: Nabhani dynasty

1395-1967: Sultanate of Seiyun

1515-1650: Portuguese Empire

1550-1551, 1581-1588: Ottoman Empire

1600-1696: Yarubid Imamate

1696-1856: Omani Empire

1856-1970: Sultanate of Muscat and Oman

1954-1959: Jebel Akhdar War

1965-1976: Dhofar War

1970: coup d’état

1970-present: Sultanate of Oman

2011: protests

Economy

Oman mainly imports from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and India and exports to China, India, and South Korea. Its top exports are crude oil, concentrated milk and cream, and cigars.

Oil is responsible for 50% of the GDP, and cement also plays a crucial economic role. Services represent 53% of the GDP, followed by industry (45.2%) and agriculture (1.7%).

Oman is a member of the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Demographics

81% of the population is Arab, and there are African, Baloch, and South Asian minorities. The state religion is Islam, practiced by 88.9% of the population, 47.2% of which is Sunni.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 2.7 children per woman. 84.5% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 76.9 years and the median age is 25.6 years. The literacy rate is 91.1%.

Languages

The official language of the country is Arabic. The spoken dialects are Dhofari Arabic, Gulf Arabic, and Omani Arabic. Balochi, Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Urdu are also spoken.

Culture

Omani culture is more diverse than that of other states of the Persian Gulf. There is a long tradition of shipbuilding.

Men traditionally wear a long-sleeved, ankle-length robe (dishdashah), a rounded cap (kummah), and a dagger (jambiya). Women wear a long dress with embroidery (kandoorah), loose-fitting pants (sirwal), and a headscarf (lihaf).

Architecture

Traditional houses in Oman have mud brick and stone walls and flat roofs.

Cuisine

The Omani diet is based on fish, meat, rice, and vegetables. Typical dishes include halawet Ahmad (small nests of vermicelli with condensed milk, coconut, and pistachio), mashuai (fish with lemon rice), mushaltat (flatbread stuffed with cheese, honey, or meat), qabuli (rice with camel meat and chicken), and sakhana (a soup made of dates, milk, molasses, and wheat).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Muslim countries, Oman celebrates Islamic New Year, Mawlid, Israʾ and Miʿraj, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha.

Specific Omani holidays include Accession Day on January 11, Renaissance Day on July 23, Women’s Day on October 17, and National Day on November 18 and 19.

National Day

Other celebrations include the Muscat Festival, which features camel races, circuses, fireworks, and performances; the Salalah Tourism Festival, which includes cultural shows, games, and music, and the Sultan Camel Race Cup.

Muscat Festival

Landmarks

There are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Aflaj Irrigation Systems, Ancient City of Qalhat, Archeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm, and Al-Ayn, Bahla Fort, and Land of Frankincense.

Bahla Fort

Other landmarks include the Ad Dimaniyat Islands, the Al Alam Palace, the Raʾs al-Ḥadd Turtle Reserve, the Royal Opera House, and the Smahan’s Mountain Nature Reserve.

Ad Dimaniyat Islands

Famous people

Abdulaziz Mohammed Majid al-Farsi - doctor and writer

Ahmad al-Harthy - racing driver

Amad al-Hosni - soccer player

Buthaina al-Yaqoubi - athlete

Fatma al-Nabhani - tennis player

Jokha al-Harthi - writer

Maryam al-Zadjali - painter

Muzna al-Musafer - movie director

Nasser bin Salem al-Rawahi - poet

Sham Maskari - rapper

Muzna al-Musafer

Saint Lucia 🇱🇨

Basic facts

Official name: Saint Lucia

Capital city: Castries

Population: 179,285 (2023)

Demonym: Saint Lucian

Type of government: unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Head of state: Charles III (Monarch)

Head of government: Philip J. Pierre (Prime Minister)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $3.45 billion (2023)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 51.2% (high) (2016)

Human Development Index: 0.725 (high) (2022)

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Fun fact: It holds the record for the most Nobel Prize laureates per capita.

Etymology

The country’s name comes from Saint Lucy of Syracuse. According to the legend, French sailors were shipwrecked on the island on the patron day of Saint Lucy.

Geography

Saint Lucia is located in the Caribbean and belongs to the Lesser Antilles. It lies between Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The island has a tropical rainforest climate. Temperatures range from 23 °C (73.4 °F) in winter to 31 °C (87.8 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 27 °C (80.6 °F).

The country is divided into ten districts. The largest cities in Saint Lucia are Castries, Bisée, Vieux Fort, Micoud, and Soufrière.

History

1000-500 BCE: Ciboney

800 CE: arrival of the Arawak

1500: first European sighting

1626-1762, 1763-1778, 1783-1796, 1802-1814: French control

1762, 1778, 1796, 1803: English occupation

1814-1838: English control

1838-1958: British Windward Islands

1958-1962: West Indies Federation

1962-1979: associated state of the United Kingdom

1979-present: Saint Lucia

Economy

Saint Lucia mainly imports from the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and the European Union and exports to the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom. Its top exports are beer, bananas, and jewelry.

Tourism accounts for 65% of the GDP. Services represent 86.9% of the GDP, followed by industry (10.9%) and agriculture (2.2%).

Saint Lucia is a member of the Caribbean Community, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.

Demographics

85.3% of the population is black, 10.9% is mixed, and 2.2% is Indian. The main religion is Christianity, practiced by 90.3% of the population, 62.5% of which is Catholic.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 1.7 children per woman. 19% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 78.9 years and the median age is 34.2 years. The literacy rate is 100%.

Languages

The official language of the country is English. Saint Lucian Creole French is spoken by 95% of the population.

Culture

Saint Lucia is a blend of African, East Indian, English, and French influences. Jwé is a form of folk music that includes game songs and storytelling.

Men traditionally wear a white shirt, a checkered vest, and black pants. Women wear a long, checkered dress with lace and a matching hat.

Architecture

Traditional houses in Saint Lucia have colorful wooden walls, tin roofs, balconies, and porches.

Cuisine

The Saint Lucian diet is based on beans, fish, meat, rice, and vegetables. Typical dishes include bouyin (a stew of red beans, meat, and vegetables), callaloo soup, green bananas and salt fish, Johnny cakes (cornmeal pancakes), and rice and peas (rice with kidney beans or vegetables).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Christian countries, Saint Lucia celebrates Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Corpus Christi, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. It also commemorates New Year’s Day (two days), Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day.

Specific Saint Lucian holidays include Independence Day on February 22, Emancipation Day on August 1, and National Day on December 13.

National Day

Other celebrations include Creole Day, which features food and performances; La Magwit, the daisy festival, and La Woz, the rose festival.

Creole Day

Landmarks

There is one UNESCO World Heritage Site: Pitons.

Other landmarks include the Anse Chastanet Marine National Park, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, the Government House, and the Pigeon Island National Park.

Government House

Famous people

Daren Sammy - cricketer

Derek Walcott - poet

Dunstan St. Omer - painter

Jane King - poet

Joseph Marcell - actor

Julien Alfred - athlete

Marie Selipha Sesenne Descartes - singer

Monét X Change - drag queen and singer

Rameau Poleon - musician

Sherri Malaika Ayesha Henry - swimmer

Derek Walcott

Cook Islands 🇨🇰

Basic facts

Official name: Kūki ‘Airani/Cook Islands

Capital city: Avarua

Population: 17,044 (2023)

Demonym: Cook Islander

Type of government: unitary constitutional monarchy

Head of state: Charles III (Monarch)

Head of government: Mark Brown (Prime Minister)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $299.9 million (2020)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 46.5% (medium) (2016)

Human Development Index: 0.829 (very high) (2018)

Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Fun fact: No building can be taller than the tallest coconut tree.

Etymology

The country’s name comes from James Cook’s last name. Their name in Cook Islands Māori is a transliteration of the English name.

Geography

The Cook Islands is located in Polynesia, between American Samoa and French Polynesia, and is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.

The islands have a tropical rainforest climate. Temperatures range from 22 °C (71.6 °F) in winter to 29 °C (84.2 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 24.7 °C (76.4 °F).

The country is divided into ten island councils. The largest cities in the Cook Islands are Avarua, Amuri, Omoka, Mangarei, and Motu Koe.

History

900-1200: first settlements

1595: the first Europeans arrive

1858-1888: Kingdom of Rarotonga

1888-1901: Cook Islands protectorate

1891-1901: Cook Islands Federation

1901-1907: Colony of New Zealand

1907-1947: Dominion of New Zealand

1947-present: Cook Islands

1965: self-government in free association with New Zealand

Economy

The Cook Islands mainly imports from New Zealand, Fiji, and the United States and exports to Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Its top exports are copra, papayas, and citrus fruits.

Tourism is the main source of revenue. Services represent 82.1% of the GDP, followed by industry (12.7%) and agriculture (5.1%).

The Cook Islands is a member of the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum.

Demographics

78.2% of the population is Cook Island Māori, while Part-Māori people account for 7.62%. The main religion is Christianity, practiced by 79.8% of the population, 62.8% of which is Protestant.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 2 children per woman. 73.5% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 77.1 years and the median age is 33.4 years. The literacy rate is 95%.

Languages

The official languages of the country are Cook Islands Māori and English. The former is spoken by 86.4% of the population, and the latter by 76.2%.

Culture

Artistic quilting, weaving, and woodcarving are common art forms. Cook Islander music is characterized by heavy drums and ukeleles.

Men and women traditionally wear a short, fringed grass skirt (pāreu kiri‘au), waist band (titi), a flower crown (‘ei katu), and collars.

Architecture

Traditional houses in the Cook Islands are made of wood and have thatched roofs.

Cuisine

The Cook Islander diet is based on fish, fruit, rice, and seafood. Typical dishes include eke takare (octopus curried in coconut milk), ika mata (raw fish marinated with lemon and served with coconut milk), poke (a pudding made with banana and coconut milk or papaya), rori (sea cucumber fried with butter, garlic, onions, and spices), and roti rukau (a dish of taro leaves with coconut sauce and onion).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Christian countries, the Cook Islands celebrates Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. It also commemorates New Year’s Day on January 1 and 2.

Specific Cook Islander holidays include Anzac Day on April 25, which commemorates those who died in war; the King’s Birthday on the first Monday in June; Ra o te Ui Ariki on the first Friday in July, which is the day of the Council of High Chiefs; Constitution Day on August 4, and Gospel Day on October 26.

Ra o te Ui Ariki

Other celebrations include Motu2Motu Aitutaki, a rowing race; Te Maeva Nui, which features choirs, float parades, and traditional dance performances, and Te Mire Tiare, a festival with flower float parades.

Te Mire Tiare

Landmarks

There are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Landmarks include the Aitutaki Lagoon, the Aroa Lagoonarium Marine Reserve, the Maitai Shipwreck, the Maire Nui Gardens, and Te Rua Manga, a towering spire.

Maitai Shipwreck

Famous people

Helema Williams - sailor

Jacqueline Evans - marine conservationist

Joan Gragg - artist and educator

Mike Tavioni - artist and writer

Patricia Taea - athlete

Sam Pera Jr. - weightlifter

Stan Wright - rugby player

Tungane Broadbent - artist

Wesley Roberts - swimmer

William Taramai - athlete

Jacqueline Evans