Ehden
Profile Altitude:
1200m
Distance from Beirut: 105km
Getting there
From Beirut, take the highway to Chekka tunnel, Amioun, Kousba, Tourza, Jbaa
than Ehden. |
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Ehden
Horsh Ehden is a mountainous
ecosystem on the Northern Mount Lebanon chain. It ranges from 1300m to 1950m
in altitude and is located 3.5km north of Ehden and 100km from the capital
Beirut.
After much lobbying by the Friends of Horsh Ehden the forest was declared a
Nature Reserve by the Lebanese government in March, 1992 (decree# 121). The
area set aside for the reserve comprises 1000 hectares of public land of which
350 are forested. Horsh Ehden is internationally acknowledged to be the
southernmost limit for the growth of the species of Cilician Fir Abies
cilicica.
This unique forest is a mixture of trees. More than 35 different species
notably conifers, such as the Cedars, the High Juniper broadleaves such as the
maple and the endemic wild apple.
A number of water sources can
be found in Horsh Ehden, the most important of which are Ain Al-Baq, Nabaa
Jouït and Ain Al-Baiada.
The wilderness qualities of parts of Horsh Ehden and of the adjacent mountain
areas provide the ideal setting for walks, cross country skiing and other
related activities. The summer resort of Ehden lies at an altitude of 1500m,
surrounded by breathtaking mountains overlooking the timeless Kadisha valley.
A trip to Ehden is not
complete without a visit to the "Midan", a historic public square surrounded by
typical Lebanese architecture filled with cafes, patisseries and restaurants.
Whether it is lunch or dinner you are seeking, "Mar Sarkis" is one of many
quaint outdoor restaurants specializing in Lebanese cuisine. If your taste seeks
something different, Ehden boosts a wealth of hotels, small restaurants, bistros
and night-clubs.
And for a lasting memory of your trip, catch the sunset at Saïdit El Hosn from
which you can see the whole of the north of Lebanon, stretching from the Syrian
coast to Chekka .
Origins of the name "Ehden"
The origins of the name,
Ehden are obscured by time and myth.
One explanation is that it
is derived from the word "adon" referring to the mountains. Equally Patriarch
Stephane El Douaihy wrote that it was derived from biblical Eden. His work on
the subject is kept in Vatican Library.
Information From the Ministry of
Tourism
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Lebanese Famous Cities
