Qaraoun Lake

Qaraoun Lake is an artificial lake or reservoir located in the southern region of the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. This lake was created by the Lebanon government near the village of Qaraoun by building a 200 ft high concrete-faced rockfill dam in the middle reaches of the Litani River. The lake was created in 1959 and has been a tourist attraction for these few years. The special thing is, this rock-fill dam is the largest in Lebanon, and the Litani River is also the longest in Lebanon. Therefore, if you visit the lake, you will have the chance to also visit two of the “biggest” attractions in Lebanon.

When you visit Qaraoun Lake, you can enjoy the crazily wide view that’s perfect for taking panorama pictures. Across the lake, you can also witness the view towards Mt Hermon or Jabal el Shaikh. When winter comes, the lake has a majestic view that is just like what comes out of a fairy tale.

Moreover, the Qaraoun Lake is a habitat for some 20,000 migratory birds which visit it annually, which is great for those who are interested in animals and nature. During late spring and summer, many large boats operate in the lake for lake viewing and also for fishing. In winter, boats are operated to hunt for birds such as wildfowl, mainly storks, heron, egrets, and lark species.