| Cedars of Lebanon |
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| Friday, 13 February 2009 22:34 |
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LAND OF THE CEDARS The Arz –Rabb or the Cedars of the Lord are very few and very precious. The grove that you see today is a relic of the great forests that made Lebanon famous in ancient times. Cedar wood was also used in building the Phoenician fleet. Newly laid paths through the grove allow the visitor to view these majestic trees at first hand. The oldest reach a height of 35 meters and a circumference of 14 meters. The Cedars is also an important ski resort.The Lebanon Cedar is an evergreen coniferous tree growing up to 40 m (130 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) diameter. The crown is conic when young, becoming broadly tabular with age with more or less level branches. The shoots are dimorphic, with long shoots and short shoots. The leaves are needle-like, spaced out on the long shoots, and in clusters of 15-45 on the short shoots; they are 5-30 mm (1?4–1?3?16 in) in length, quadrangular in cross-section, and vary from green to glaucous blue-green with stomatal bands on all four sides. The seed cones are produced often every second year, and mature in 12 months from pollination; mature cones in late autumn are 8-12 cm (3–4?3?4 in) long and 4-6 cm (1?1?2–2?3?8 in) wide. History, symbolism and uses Cedar of Lebanon was important to various civilizations. The trees were used by the ancient Phoenicians for building trade and military ships, as well as houses and temples. The Egyptians used its resin for mummification, and its sawdust was found in pharaohs' tombs. The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh designates the cedar groves of Lebanon as the dwelling of the gods to where Gilgamesh ventured. They once burned cedar in their ceremonies. Jewish priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark of the Lebanon Cedar in circumcision and treatment of leprosy. Isaiah used the Lebanon Cedar as a metaphor for the pride of the world[17] According to the Talmud, Jews once burned Lebanese cedar wood on the Mount of Olives to announce the new year. Kings far and near requested the wood for religious and civil constructs, the most famous of which are King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem and David's and Solomon's Palaces. It was also used by Romans, Greeks, Persians, Assyrians and Babylonians.[18] Historically, extensive deforestation has occurred, with only small remnants of the original forests surviving. Deforestation has been particularly severe in the Lebanon and Cyprus; on Cyprus, only small trees up to 25 m (82 ft) tall survive, though Pliny the Elder recorded cedars 40 m (130 ft) tall there.[19] Extensive reforestation of cedar is carried out in the Mediterranean region, particularly Turkey, where over 50 million young cedars are being planted annually.[20] The Lebanese populations are also now expanding through a combination of replanting and protection of natural regeneration from browsing by goats.[21] The Lebanon Cedar has always been the national emblem of Lebanon, and it is seen on the Lebanese Flag. It is also the main symbol of the Cedar Revolution, along with many political parties in Lebanon such as the Kataeb, the National Liberal Party and the Lebanese Forces.[22] As a result of long exploitation, very few old trees remain in Lebanon, but there is now an active program to conserve and regenerate the forests. The forest of the Cedars of God in Bsharri and the Barouk forest are national reserves in Lebanon.[23][24][25] Extensive replanting is taking place in Turkey, where approximately 300 square kilometres (74,000 acres) of cedar are planted annually.[21] Horticultural useThe Lebanon Cedar is widely planted as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, often being planted in avenues, and as focal point trees in large lawns. LocationMap of the cedar's forests and the surrounding mountains (www.mount-lebanon.com)  |
