| Zahle ((ar)زحلة(syc)ܙܗܠܥ) | |
 | |
| General view | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Lebanon |
|---|---|
| Region | Bekaa |
| Watercourse | Berdawni |
| Altitude | Between 900 and1 850 m |
| Area | 8 km² |
| Population | 60 000 hab. (2011) |
| Density | 7 500 inhab./km² |
| Postal code | 1801 |
| Telephone prefix | 981 8 |
| Spindle | Eastern European time |
| Location | |
 33 ° 50 ′ 33 ″ N 35 ° 54 ′ 34 ″ E | |
Zahle (زحلة in Arab and ܙܗܠܥ in Syriac) is a city lebanese, capital of the governorate of Baalbek-Hermel in the Bekaa plain. It is the fourth largest city in Lebanon after Beirut, Tripoli and Jounieh. The name Zahle is derived from an Arabic word meaning "slippery".
Understand
The city has 60,000 residents in 2011, 120,000 inhabitants with its suburbs, and approximately 200,000 inhabitants in its metropolitan area.
Zahlé is an important economic and administrative center in the Bekaa, with industrial, commercial, service and leisure activities. The city hosts the seat of the governorate of Bekaa, courts, hospitals, technical colleges and regional university centers, as well as the seat of the chamber of commerce and industry of Zahle and Bekaa.
Zahlé is especially recognized in Lebanon as a place of relaxation and family vacation, in particular for the many restaurants that line the Nahr el-Berdawni river.
Around Zahlé, on the foothills of Mount Lebanon, the inhabitants grow vines, cereals, fruits and vegetables. In the plains to the east are mainly cultivated vines and potatoes. The secret cultivation of cannabis is also a lucrative business.
The city of Zahle can be considered the largest Catholic city in the Near East - the majority of its population is of the Greek Catholic rite - since Ashrafieh, the Christian sector of the city of Beirut, is predominantly Orthodox.
Zahlé experiences a Mediterranean climate with slight continental influences, due to its altitude and its location in the rain shadow of Mount Lebanon. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool and rather rainy, with occasional snowfall.
