10+ Things You Should Know About Yammouneh In Lebanon

“I, Emperor Adriano, make the area of Yammouneh a protected reserve and shall forbid anyone to cut Juniper trees therein.” (134 AD)

Take a road trip for a bit over 2 hours from Beirut to secluded Yammouneh in the district of Baalbek and walk where ancient civilizations did and left their marks.

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Between the two mountains of Makmel and Mounaytra, Yammouneh is a peaceful remote location with ancient history and plenty of nature to discover.

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#1 Yammouneh Nature Reserve

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Yammouneh nature reserve is a special and physically diverse place. Classed as a nature reserve since 1999, Yammouneh is popular for activities like hiking, camping, picnics, and exploration.

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#2 Protected Throughout History

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The land was also declared protected by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in year 134 AD as the following was found engraved on a rock in the upper west side of Yammouneh: “I, Emperor Adriano, make the area of Yammouneh a protected reserve and shall forbid anyone to cut Juniper trees therein.”

#3 Ancient Traces

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The valley holds traces of many ancient civilizations such as Phoenician, Roman, and Arab.

There are a Roman temple and Byzantine ruins. What remains of the temple today is a wall of limestone blocks that goes below the lake level, where there were supposedly the subterranean chambers dedicated to goddess Astarte (Venus).

A group of ruins of an ancient fort located there is said to have served as the summer house for Emperor Adriano.

#4 Lebanese Lake Fish

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The lake is home to Lebanon’s only endemic fish , Pseudophoxinus Libani.

According to Phoenician mythology, the goddess of love and beauty, Astarte, turned herself into a golden fish in Yammouneh lake when Typhon (the brother of Adonis) waged war against the heavens.

#5 Sacred Yammouneh Lake

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The Yammouneh lake is filled by the Nabaa El Arbaain, "the spring of the Forty Martyrs."

As mentioned above, in Phonecian mythology, the goddess Astarte turned herself into a golden fish here. There is a small village on the south side of the lake.

#6 Rivers & Water Pools

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According to the Yammouneh Tourism Association, it is rich in waters and includes 84 water springs, four permanent rivers, and two seasonal streams.

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