Oct 16, 2018 the litani river presents an example of the influence of urbanisation on water quality in lebanon. 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. The book follows the units officers and men from its formation in galashiels, through arduous commando training on the isle of arran. Water quality of the upper litani river basin, lebanon. Jul 19, 2016 the once roaring waters of litani river are choking in feces. Leontes is an important waterway in southern lebanon. Physicochemical evaluation of the upper litani river. Litani power and irrigation project toggle navigation. Lions, is an important water resource in southern lebanon. The litani river authority lra was formed in 1954 in order to promote the united development of the litani river basin. 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. However, the commandos plans were changed and while the new objectives were largely achieved, the cost in lives was high. Michigan daily digital archives september 21, 1977 vol.
With an estimated population of 375,000 in 2010 and doubled by 2016 due to the syrian refugee crisis, the total per capita water availability is. Water questionwhich direction does the litani water flow. With the objective of assessing water quality in lebanon, many studies have been conducted on specific rivers such as litani haydar et al. Al assis more wellbehaved sister is the litani river, which flows from north to south. The litani is a very important water source for both the bekaa valley as well as southern lebanon. Bassam jaber consultant and former director general at the moew, ms. Lebanon litani power and irrigation project english. 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. The land here is sloping, often steep, and does not allow the river to create an alternative course. It is the main water source for irrigation in the bekaa valley. The river in its northern part flattens between the mountlebanon and antilebanon mountain chains, thereby spanning between several mountain ridges in the southern part.
Pdf physicochemical evaluation of the upper litani river. It is located in lebanon, east of the mediterranean basin, which is known to have diverse geophysical and environmental characteristics. Most tents have been damaged by the weight of the snow and some are completely destroyed, rona halabi, a spokesperson for the international committee of the red cross, told the lancet. This has been observed in the upper and lower basins of the litani river. Lebanon litani power and irrigation project english abstract.
The source of lake qaraoun, the litani river meaning. Litani river authority lra, lebanon ventures onsite. The dam was built on the litani river, the countrys principal water artery. It originates in the bekaa valley from the oleik spring approximately 1,000 masl west of the ancient city of baalbeck flowing southward then westward until it discharges into the mediterranean sea near the city tyre. Litani river basin disputes around water soapboxie. Welcome to the river viewer online edition riverview yacht club. It springs up from the same fertile bequaa valley of east lebanon and proceeds along a course of about 140 total kilometers entirely within lebanese territory which makes it the longest lebanese river. 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. Execute the litani river master plan for irrigation, drainage and domestic water.
The litani watershed draining most of the bekaa plain 4 figure 2. Water allocation optimisation of the litani river basin tu. A list of the gaging stations maintained by the geological survey near the mouths of the large rivers of the united states is given in table is the list includes the. The litani river drains the central and south bekaa valley, and the qarauon dam is located at the southern end of the valley. Steven lonergan, clirnde warming, wder resources, and geopolitical conflict. This study aims to assess the seasonal variations in water quality in the upper litani river.
The end result of this study was to construct six water treatment plants. Youth when it first starts out, a river is still small and narrow, a mountain spring whose waters run quickly downwards towards the valley. To protect the litani from widespread pollution, the lra initiated legal actions which lead to the prosecution of different stakeholders for polluting this river. 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. The litani river may be considered the most important river not only for lebanon but also for the whole region. At united nations headquarters in new york, secretarygeneral kurt waldheim issued a report from u. The litani river starts to form in the shamistar housh elrifka. The results indicated significant levels of pollution in many of the investigated sites. The qaraoun lake is the largest artificial lake in lebanon and has a capacity to hold about 220 million cubic meters of water. A series of actions pursued by the litani river authority lra have built momentum, producing an unexpected change in lebanons lingering water pollution crisis. In spite of the efforts of the lebanese government aided by international development programmes to control pollution in and around the litani river basin, the problem has become more severe as urbanisation planning and effective wastewater and. As a quick overview, the rushed reader can simply refer to the executive. Exceeding 140 km in length, the litani river is the longest river in lebanon and.
The litani river presents an example of the influence of urbanisation on water quality in lebanon. The litani river, draining the southern half of lebanons bekaa valley, is a major source of electricity, agricultural output, and drinking water for the nation. Nabil amacha, head of water monitoring and environmental studies, mr. An assessment and current challenges is a muchawaited publication that con. It was selected to explore the influence of the diverse physical and topographical features on its hydroclimatological response to global and regional climate. The major physiochemical and microbiological properties of water were analyzed from representative sites along the litani river tributaries.
The litani river is lebanons longest and largest river flowing entirely within its boundaries. Water accounting in the litani river basin food and agriculture. The lakes water irrigates about 30 percent of the countrys. A broader view of the litanis pollution crisis american university. The report contains a detailed swot analysis, information on the companys key employees. Its water resources have been harnessed for human uses since the 1960s through the construction of the qaraoun dam. It said that in four days through monday, the see israel, page 7 reactors survive appropriation. Execute the hydraulic electrical power generation and electrical networks between powerhouse and electrical distribution networks in all lebanese regions. Access is allocated within two business days of purchase and lasts one year. The main problem in cleaning up litani river pollution. The litani river basin occupies about a quarter of lebanons surface area, and it has recently been subject to severe conditions such as contamination and decreased discharge. Water accounting in the litani river basin remote sensing for water. This motivated the lebanese government to take action and start working on the remediation of the river. Physical characteristics and water resources of the litani.
Litani river lebanontourismlebanon tourism, discover. Nov 22, 2011 the litani river basin is the focus of this study. 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. With 189 member countries, staff from more than 170 countries, and offices in over locations, the world bank group is a unique global partnership.
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. Winter has hit bekaa before, but this storm was definitely more fierce than what we witnessed over the past years, especially the flooding of the litani river. Litani river formed a homogenous subset characterized by eutrophic conditions 54. Pdf this article examines the hydropolitics of the middle east, through a case study of the litani river of lebanon. What is the average water temperature in the litani. The aims of this study are to assess the seasonal variations in water quality in the upper litani river basin, including the qaraaoun lake. This article examines the hydropolitics of the middle east, through a case study of the litani river of lebanon. How often do you go skinny dipping off the litani and where. Abstractthe research has focused on the physical and chemical characteristics of the litani river.
The development of the litani river basin will figure highly in this strategy. The main thesis is that the desire to obtain additional water sources has been a primary influence on. 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. Downstream the river flows through a narrow valley, a canyon in some places dropping 800 m to sea over some 70 km. The physical, and chemical and microbial characteristics. 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. Litani river raid no11commando 910 june 1941 in vichy french syria. Lebanon takes a step in addressing water pollution. This includes the major physiochemical characteristics. 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. Litani river in the context of middle eastern water resources, courtesy of the author, pp. The main sources of irrigation water are the litani river and the litani awali complex of water resources.
Shallowdraft vessels can penetrate 60 miles 100 km upstream from the river s mouth. Pdf physiochemical and microbial assessment of water. Wapor annual precipitation mmyr for the litani river basin. Litani river is a very educational read and brings to the fore one of the many lifecostly military deployments of world war ii. Interannual temperature and precipitation variations over. The river cuts through the lebanon mountains in a 280 deep gorge and ends in the mediterranean sea midway between sayda and tyre. Holotype of ouratea sipaliwiniensis sastre family ochnaceae.
Litani river, with a 2110km 2 catchment area about 20% of lebanon and a 174km length, releases an average annual discharge of about 385 mm 3 year. Shallowdraft vessels can penetrate 60 miles 100 km upstream from the rivers mouth. Jul 17, 2008 a river cannot be fed by sea water, usually its fed by springs of melted snow and it ends up in the sea, so the water flows from the river to the sea. Michigan daily digital archives march 18, 1978 vol. Physiochemical and microbial assessment of water quality in the upper litani river basin, lebanon.
These are the upper and lower units which are separated by the artificial lake of qaraoun amery 1993. The river rises in the fertile beqaa valley, west of baalbek, and empties into the mediterranean sea north of tyre. Average basic prepaid price per minute in the arab region 11 figure 6. Nabil amacha, head of water monitoring and environmental.
Shortly after its establishment, lra was busy by a powerful hydroelectric development project, which included the area between lake quaroun and the mediterranean sea. Since the litani river is an important source for the lebanese economy, the economic efficiency principle is assumed to be the most important principle in optimising the water allocation. This means that the optimal water allocation is achieved when the profits from the deviation of water are maximised. Enjoy unrestricted access to all content and features, including. The litani river the classical leontes is an important water resource in southern lebanon. Evolution of the ict sector in agriculture in lebanon 24.
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. A photograph of the measuring cableway on the columbia river near the dalles, oreg. Typically, the litani river is the largest one in lebanon. The litani power and irrigation project consists of.
Please note that this is a trial program and may end. On sundays, the river is enjoyed by scores of children, swimming in it as happily as if they were on a beach somewhere at a fancy resort. The litani river has been lately subjected to several aspects of deterioration in its quality. With an estimated population of 375,000 in 2010 and doubled by 2016 due to the syrian refugee crisis, the total per capita water availability is around 800. Nasser nasrallah, president of the association of ibrahim abdel al, mr.
Prospects for lebanon the waters of the litani in regional. Litani river basin is one of the key river basins in lebanon and it is experiencing water scarcity with the annual renewable water resources being 606. The river rises in the fertile beqaa valley valley, west of baalbek, and empties into the mediterranean sea north of tyre. Assessing water quality management options in the upper. A study of ndions dependent on the nile, litani, and jordan river systems, operational. It rises west of baalbek in the fertile beqaa valley valley and empties in the mediterranean sea north of tyre, one of lebanons largest cities. 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.
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. The litani river is the largest river in lebanon and drains the central and south bekaa valley. The seven years ambitious plan is divided into four components. The once roaring waters of litani river are choking in feces. Elias hawi, head of water resources department at lra, mr. Water pollution and urbanisation trends in lebanon. However, the litani river, whose entire basin is in lebanon fig. The river originates west of baalbek and flows south through the bekaa valley. The litani river basin is today experiencing increasing water demands, groundwater overexploitation, and extensive pollution. It is often torrential, that is to say its rate of flow. Its pretty cold arround 15c if you average all year long. Water samples were collected from six sites along the litani river path. Jan 19, 2019 winter has hit bekaa before, but this storm was definitely more fierce than what we witnessed over the past years, especially the flooding of the litani river.
Litani river article about litani river by the free dictionary. Projected drawdown of the litani river basin water tables 2030 6 figure 4. Aug 10, 2010 the litani river, mentioned in the news every time there is talk of lebanon, packs breathtaking beauty. In 2000, it was estimated that 44 percent of the area was irrigated from surface water, 22 percent from groundwater deep wells, recharge wells and springs and the remaining part from mixed surface water and groundwater figure 4. 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. Pdf water quality of the upper litani river basin, lebanon. The litani river basin lrb can is divided into two major hydrologic units.