Neither irrigation nor electricity and even tourism disappeared … What happened to Lake Qaraoun?

Lake Qaraoun, the largest and most important lake in Lebanon, which was the source of irrigation of crops and the generation of electricity to the surrounding villages, and a tourist destination, facing an unprecedented crisis today.

All of these advantages have almost disappeared, and the scene became completely different, as the numbers reveal a worrying reality. The level is 849.90 meters, with a stock of 136.68 million cubic meters, or a difference of more than 82 million cubic meters compared to the current year. This crisis is directly reflected in the production of hydroelectric energy, and the data indicate that the Abdel -Al factory usually provided the network with more than 50 megawatts to feed the western Bekaa villages, Jezzine, Rashaya, Al -Tafah region, the highest This year, it stopped production completely due to the scarcity of water. The agriculture was also greatly affected, as the summer season of irrigation in the Bekaa is threatened as a result of the lack of good water, which endangers the crops at risk. The tourism impact cannot be ignored as well, as the spaces and water complexes in Anjar, Shamsin and Bradouni are dry, which reduces the movement of visitors and stops tourism activity in the region. The reasons for this crisis are due to several factors, including the decline in the amounts of rain, Poor water resources management, unorganized sanitation pollution, environmental encroachments, great pressure on natural resources, in addition to the effect of climate change and intense agricultural activities, increased demand due to population growth, and the lack of environmental awareness. The available solutions are clear and include water resources management better, the application of the water law accurately, the equipment of the sewage system, the activation of the four water institutions to ensure the sustainability of these Biocytes, while strengthening environmental awareness programs and using modern irrigation technologies to reduce waste. Lake Qaraoun needs today to move and long -term strategy, to ensure their continuity as a vital economic, tourist and environmental resource in Lebanon, if possible before we missed it.