Bcheale
Bchaaleh
بشعله | |
|---|---|
Village | |
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| Country | Lebanon |
| Governorate | North Governorate |
| District | Batroun District |
| Elevation | 1,311 m (4,301 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,800 registered voters 1,800 residents |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Dialing code | +9616715 |
| Website | www.bchaaleh.com |
Bchaaleh (Arabic: بشعله), alternatively spelled Bcheale, Bchealeh or Bshaaleh, is a village in the Batroun District of the North Governorate in Lebanon.[1][2]
It had 1,456 eligible voters in the 2009 elections, and the residents mainly belonged to the Maronite Church.[3] The village is notable for being home for the Sisters Olive Trees of Noah, twelve olive trees believed to be among the world's oldest.[4]
Geography
[edit | edit source]The village of Bchaaleh stands on a promontory, with views of the sea and across Douma. It is home to traditional houses and to Saint Stephan church, one of the largest in the region of Batroun. To the north-east of the village, a citadel is built on the ruins of a medieval fortress, erected itself on Phoenicians ruins destroyed by the Romans.[5]
Centennial olive trees
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Twelve olive trees still live in the village of Bchaaleh, at more than 1200m above sea level. It is said that they are the oldest olive trees in the world.[6] Different studies and research present data on the age of the Sisters Olive Trees of Noah in Bchaaleh. Some claim they are "between five and seven thousand years old".[7]
Etymology
[edit | edit source]Syriac origin, "Beit Chaali", meaning "the place of glorification and adoration".
Demographics
[edit | edit source]In 2014 Christians made up 99.14% of registered voters in Bchaaleh. 93.70% of the voters were Maronite Catholics.[8]
Solar power
[edit | edit source]In 2017 Bchaaleh installed a solar farm, and managed to avoid the worst effects of the 2021 Lebanese blackout.[9]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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- ^ Bechealeh's ancient trees still producing high-end olive oil, article in The Daily Star (Lebanon)
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lebanon crisis: How one village keeps the lights on thanks to solar power by Elizabeth Fitt, 30 October 2021, Middle East Eye
External links
[edit | edit source]- Bcheaali Archived 17 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Localiban
- Photos of the Olive Trees of Bcheale on Panoramio.com
- Sisters olive trees of Noah website about the town of Bcheale Archived 26 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- OLEA - images of the olive trees of Bcheale
- "The sisters olive trees of noah, the last sentinels of the north"—article by the Association for the protection of Lebanese heritage
- Village website
- Weather and climate from Accuweather
- Bchaaleh from Les Plus Beaux Villages du Liban
