Bekaa Kafra


Bekaa Kafra is a Lebanese village located in the Bsharri District in Northern Lebanon. Bekaa Kafra is located in front of the village of Bsharri across the Kadisha Valley. It is the birth town of Saint Charbel. Bekaa Kafra has an altitude ranging from 1500 m to 2000 m at its highest point, making it officially the highest village in Lebanon and Middle-East.

Etymology

The name Bekaa Kafra comes from the Syriac and means "Flat spot" and the village that has a municipal council.

Climate

Bekaa Kafra has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. It is cold in winter for two reasons: Its location in Northern Lebanon, and its high altitude. Temperatures in winter average around 0 °C and can reach -10 °C to -30 °C. Temperatures in summer average around 18 °C, but they may reach 20 °C to 25 °C in July and August, but can also drop to as low as 6 °C at night. Snow in winter can accumulate up to 6 meters and occasionally more.

Highest Lebanese village

Bekaa Kafra is considered to have the highest village in Lebanon and the Middle East, as it rises 2200m elevation on average. Elevation indicator in Google Earth maps confirms this information.