The litani river basin lrb can is divided into two major hydrologic units. Could recent action end decades of pollution in lebanons. Prospects for lebanon the waters of the litani in regional. Litani river formed a homogenous subset characterized by eutrophic conditions 54. Robert kadlec et al june 1999, free water surface wetlands for wastewater. The litani river authority lra was formed in 1954 in order to promote the united development of the litani river basin. Water resources within the upper orontes and litani basins. Pdf this article examines the hydropolitics of the middle east, through a case study of the litani river of lebanon.
This book presents a collection of chapters covering research on the litani river basin. Flowing entirely within lebanon, the litani rises in the biqa valley and flows south between the lebanon mountains to the west and the antilebanon mountains to the east until nabatiya, where it turns sharply to the west crosses lebanon and empties into the mediterranean sea. The government of prime minister ehud olmert has given the israeli defense force the final approval to conduct the ground assault to the litani river in southern lebanon. The litani river basin occupies about a quarter of lebanons surface area, and it has recently been subject to severe geoenvironmental conditions such as water contamination and decreased discharge. Since its establishment, the litani river authority was considered to be a public institution whose functions are identified as follows. According to military sources, close to 70 percent of the katyusha rockets raining down on israel are fired just south of, and north of the litani riv. Litani river during 20 and 2014 and the relationship with transparency secc mineralization. The lrbms program is part of usaids increasing support for the water sector in lebanon.
The book follows the units officers and men from its formation in galashiels, through arduous commando training on the isle of arran. However, the litani river, whose entire basin is in lebanon fig. Steven lonergan, clirnde warming, wder resources, and geopolitical conflict. Ecological status assessment of litani river, lebanon using. Litani river and litani river authority projects pseau. This was echoed by the prime minister a couple of days later, when he said, the pollution of the litani river has become a national cause, and the government has allocated large amounts of money for cleaning the stream of the river, he added many procedures have already started, and others are still on the way. However, the commandos plans were changed and while the new objectives were largely achieved, the cost in lives was high. For the litani river, a business plan to identify the measures to alleviate pollution in the river and the belonging qaraoun reservoir, was framed in 2006 and followed by an updated plan in 20. This famous river is contaminated, and needs to be cleaned up, and litani river pollution has been one of the main highlighted topics in the news over the past weeks. Water quality of the upper litani river basin, lebanon.
It is the main water source for irrigation in the bekaa valley. Litani river raid no11commando 910 june 1941 in vichy french syria. The seven years ambitious plan is divided into four components. This article examines the hydropolitics of the middle east, through a case study of the litani river of lebanon. Qaraoun, an artificial lake of 11 square km, was created by the litani river dam, 60 meters high and 1,350 meters in length, which was completed in 1959. Litani river article about litani river by the free. Eutrophication of litani river, the most important water resource in lebanon, has become a pressing national concern. Pdf water quality of the upper litani river basin, lebanon. Equally important, however, is the fact that development of the litani basin might very well be a necessary action to thwart israeli designs over this entirely lebanese water system. Despite the bleak warnings, however, if you opt to travel to lebanon youll find warm, welcoming people eager to help travellers, and youll quickly feel safe and at home. In spite of the intensive efforts on studying the physiochemical properties of its water, not enough attention has so far been given to the biological quality elements and trophic status of the r seasonal levels of sestonic chlorophyll litani river during 20 and 2014 and the relationship with tran mineralization.
Litani river basin disputes around water soapboxie. Taking stock of cost of environmental degradation in lebanon 41 5. Many projects and studies were conducted to benefit from this river by producing hydroelectric power and providing drinking and irrigation water to the bekaa, the south and the coastal areas coast with view to developing both the agricultural and electrical. Amin shaban mouin hamze editors the litani river, lebanon. Ecological status assessment of litani river, lebanon. The litani river the classical leontes is an important water resource in southern lebanon. Pdf water pollution is a major problem in lebanon, which is has been exacerbated lately.
The battle for litani river was among the hardest fought of the operation, and despite being awarded four military crosses, two distinguished conduct medals, a military medal and two mentions in dispatches, for their courage and bravery at litani river it was clear that within days of the commando returning to cyprus it was likely to be. Due to the crisis in syria, hundreds of thousands of refugees have flooded into these two basins. However, the commandos plans were changed and while the new objectives were. The dam was built on the litani river, the countrys principal water artery. Litani river authority created by a law dated on 14 august 1954 and rectified later on 30 december 1955. These are the upper and lower units which are separated by the artificial lake of qaraoun amery 1993. The main problem in cleaning up litani river pollution. The development of the litani river basin will figure highly in this strategy.
An assessment and current challenges is a muchawaited publication that con. The litani river has been lately subjected to several aspects of deterioration in its quality. In spite of the intensive efforts on studying the physiochemical properties of its water, not enough attention has so far been given to the biological quality elements and trophic status of the river. Lions in greek which rises in the bekaa and empties into the mediterranean sea north of tyre has changed its colors over the years from crystal blue to murky brown, threatening populations over its 140 km stretch. Exceeding 140 km in length, the litani river is the longest river in lebanon and provides an average annual flow estimated at 920 million cubic meters. Lions, is an important water resource in southern lebanon. Technical land survey and studies of dams on lebanon rivers.
Litani river, written by ian mcharg, is the story of no. Execute the hydraulic electrical power generation and electrical networks between powerhouse and electrical distribution networks in all lebanese regions. Shortly after its establishment, lra was busy by a powerful hydroelectric development project, which included the area between lake quaroun and the mediterranean sea. Hydrology and management 1987 water, the middle east imperative thomas naff on. The qaraoun lake is the largest artificial lake in lebanon and has a capacity to hold about 220 million cubic meters of. Litani river is a very educational read and brings to the fore one of the many lifecostly military deployments of world war ii. The 1978 south lebanon conflict codenamed operation litani by israel was an invasion of lebanon up to the litani river, carried out by the israel defense forces in 1978 in response to the coastal road massacre. River in lebanon flowing entirely within lebanon, the litani rises in the biqa valley and flows south between the lebanon mountains to the west and the antilebanon mountains to the east until nabatiya, where it turns sharply to the west crosses lebanon and empties into the mediterranean sea the major litani development plan, initiated in the 1950s, was concluded. A spillway of 6503 meters carries the water to the underground station where generators produce a maximum of 185 megawatts of electricity, the largest hydroelectric project in lebanon.
The constructed wetland under study is a free water surface fws wetland constructed in 20 at a publicly owned site southeast of the litani river authority agricultural extension center in kherbit kanafar in the southern plains of the bekaa valley. The once roaring waters of litani river are choking in feces. Implement the litani irrigation, drying, drinking water and electricity projects. Eutrophication of litani river, the most important water resource in lebanon, national concern. This motivated the lebanese government to take action and start working on the remediation of the river. Litani river article about litani river by the free dictionary. The conflict resulted in the deaths of 1,1002,000 lebanese and palestinians, 20 israelis, the internal displacement of 100,000 to 250,000 people in lebanon. The litani is the largest river in lebanon in length and width, with a length reaching 170 km and a watr capacity of 750 m3 per year. The source of lake qaraoun, the litani river meaning. In spite of the intensive efforts on studying the physiochemical properties of its water, not enough attention has so far been given to the biological quality elements and trophic status of the r seasonal levels of sestonic chlorophyll litani river during 20 and 2014 and the relationship with tran. Never before have we come across an author who has put so much into a book in terms of thorough research and for a firsttime author ian serves the deceased and remaining commandos and their families the respect. Litani river authority lra provides a unique platform to become such an iwrm river basin authority that will mobilize stakeholders in the river basin and address these challenges in an integrated manner. Litani river authority was established under the law dated august 14, 1954 amended on december 30, 1955. Twenty years ago, the river started to get severely polluted due to factories and household wastes being dumped in the stream in the river causing many health problems for locals.
Beaufort castle, marjeyoun, mar elias church in marjeyoun has a nice view, optional visit along the border, some good places to eat along the hasbani river, i dont know their names, but there is a few of them and pretty good. Eutrophication of litani river, the most important water national concern. The river rises in the fertile beqaa valley, west of baalbek, and empties into the mediterranean sea north of tyre. A study of ndions dependent on the nile, litani, and jordan river systems, operational and research and analysis establishment. The litani river raid was, initially, a commando operation to capture intact a key bridge in vichy french syria, just prior to the arrival of australian forces sent in to occupy the country. According to military sources, close to 70 percent of the katyusha rockets raining down on israel are fired just south of, and north of the litani river.
In 2014, the lebanese ministry of environment moe and the u n development programme undp assessed the impact of syrian conflict on the lebanese. Litani river in the context of middle eastern water resources, courtesy of the author, pp. During wet years in the spring when the reservoir is already full and river flows make the free spillway operate. A 2011 study by the ministry found four major sources of pollution in the river basin and qaraoun lake, a manmade reservoir in the upper stretch of the river. Aug 11, 2006 the government of prime minister ehud olmert has given the israeli defense force the final approval to conduct the ground assault to the litani river in southern lebanon. Shallowdraft vessels can penetrate 60 miles 100 km upstream from the rivers mouth. Execute the litani river master plan for irrigation, drainage and domestic water. Amin shaban mouin hamze editors beirut arab university. The river rises in the fertile beqaa valley valley, west of baalbek, and empties into the mediterranean sea north of tyre. Jul 19, 2016 the once roaring waters of litani river are choking in feces. Litani river lebanontourismlebanon tourism, discover. Qaraoun, an artificial lake of 12 square km, was created by the litani river dam, 60 meters high and 1,350 meters in length, which was completed in 1959.
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