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Enfeh
—  City  —
File:Enfeh3.jpg
Enfeh Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 34°21′0″N 35°44′0″E / 34.35°N 35.733333°E / 34.35; 35.733333Coordinates: 34°21′0″N 35°44′0″E / 34.35°N 35.733333°E / 34.35; 35.733333
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	North Governorate
District	Koura District
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code
Dialing code	+961

Enfeh(Arabic: انفه‎), or Enfe, Anfeh, Anfe, is a Greek Orthodox village in the Koura district of the North Governorate of Lebanon at Latitude 34°21'0"N and Longitude 35°44'0"E. Enfeh borders the villages of chekka, Al-Qalamoun , barghoun and zakroun. It is located 65 Kilometers north of Beirut and 15 Kilometers south of Tripoli. Its total area is 4,937,721 m2, and its population is around 6,500.

History[link]

[edit] Ancient History

Remains from at least 3,000 years of human occupation lie tangled among the myrtle and brambles of this 400-meter-long peninsula near Tripoli. While Enfeh has witnessed only minor excavation, Phoenician and Roman walls, wine presses, mosaic floors, and two seventh-century-A.D. chapels lie bare beneath the intense sun and wind. Today's village of Enfeh is built around the ruins of several short-lived cities going back to the pre-Phoenician period. Natural dwelling caves abound on the surrounding hill of Al-Gheer; the original city lies on a small near-island about half a kilometer into the sea. Its outstanding feature is that it is the only town throughout the eastern coast of the Mediterranean to be carved out of its rocky surroundings. Some of the carvings go all the way back to the Phoenician period, and possibly earlier, as witness to the fact that the name of Enfeh appears in the Tell-Amarna tablets of ancient Egypt; (see letter no. 2 by Yapa-Hadda). The remains of subsequent settlements include dwelling caves, places of worship, cisterns, water tanks and wine presses, as well as steps and roads all carved in the rock. One ancient quarry, known as the Great Trench, was used by the Phoenicians as a dry dock; it served for defensive purposes during the Crusader period. Enfeh, as a cell or a hive sculptured out of the ground, is surrounded by walls and fortifications of enormous stones hauled from the nearby quarries. The Phoenicians used the place as a shipyard for the construction of their vessels. Several waves of conquerors have passed over Enfeh, Greeks, Romans, byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamlouks, Ottomans and others, each leaving their traces in this strategic point of the mediterranean cost.

Old Churches[link]

Enfeh harbors a number of ancient churches, the oldest of which contains remnants of its original Byzantine frescoes; it is rather poetically called 'Saydet el Reeh," or Our Lady of the Wind. Also in Enfeh is Lebanon's sole surviving Romanesque Church which was built by the Crusaders. Large numbers of presses and jars of a wide range of styles and origins, made of clay, have been found both inland and under water and continue to be discovered to this day. According to archeologists, they are evidence of Enfeh's once pre-eminent manufacturing and commercial position.

Geography[link]

climate[link]

Enfeh has a Mediterranean climate caracterized by four notably different seasons with a moderate nice weather during spring time. Summers are mainly hot, while winters are cold and rainy.

Demographics[link]

its population is estimated to be around 6,500, not including the thousands of emigrant families and young individuals.

Global Emigration[link]

One of the many Lebanese villages where the number of inhabitants is a speck compared to the number of villagers abroad. Global emigration occurred as far back as the mid 19th century with records showing young men and families migrating to the new world mainly Australia and the Americas (North and South). The emigration continues till the present day. Some families are extinct and others are greatly reduced in number. However in the diaspora, if you visit any major city or town specially in Brazil, Argentina, Australia, or the USA you will almost certainly find someone whose ancestors come from this village. During holidays specially summer many of the empty houses are joyfully cleaned and return to life with visiting families.

Religion[link]

Enfeh is primarily Eastern Orthodox, and there are several historical churches and local shrines throughout the village. Enfeh is home of Metropolitan Elias Audeh, the current Metropolitan bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church for the Archdiocese of Beirut. Few years ago, there was only greek orthodoxs in enfeh, However, a small community of Sunni Muslims has been recently added by the municipality as residents of enfeh.

Economy[link]

Salines[link]

Wide areas of enfeh and its surrounding are covered by salines. Along the length of the bay, the salt marshes add a typically pretty note to the landscape, especially with the traditional wind wheel which pumps seawater. The production of sea salt is a staple of the local economy. "White gold", as it is called, provides for an inexhaustible natural resource which can thus be extracted without endangering the environment.

Fishing[link]

Around 415 inhabitants practice fishing on a regular basis. The 80 full-time fishermen own their boats and maintain them. Fishing is the livelihood and main source of income for many families in Anfeh. Fishing boats have sought shelter in the natural harbor of Nhayreh in bad weather conditions. The large terraces on Anfeh's rocky coast shelter underwater species feeding on the seaweed and attract large numbers of fish. That place also attracts many anglers willing to fill their baskets with different types of fish. Fishing, by itself, is an art in Anfeh, inherited by its ancestors.

Agriculture[link]

Fruits consist mainly of: Olive trees producing quality table olives and olive oil, and Grapes (seedless and non seedless).

[edit] TOURISM

Enfe, attracts a lot of tourists, especially during summer time, for its beautiful picturesque landscape of small white houses, windmills, and salines on its rocky beaches along the mediterranean cost. its historical monuments, old churches, and archeological site of its peninsula, make it one of the top touristic destinations of the lebanese northern cost.

Touristic Equipements[link]

Enfe is well equiped to recieve tourists. it has a number of sea food restaurants, as well as cafes and bars. its two biggest beach resorts, the famous Marina Del Sol and Las Salinas, are equiped with a hotel service, a number of beach bars and restaurants, and each with its own health club open all year, as well as beach studios mostly occupied by locals during summertime, and by students of nearby universities during winter.

Summer Festivals[link]

A number of traditional festivals take place during summer in Enfeh, like Saint John's Week (Eid Mar-Youhanna) on the first week of July, Virgin Mary's Day (Eid Al-Saydeh) on the 15th of August, and Saint Simon's Day (Eid Mar-Semaan) on September 1st. People from all over the region, mainly from el-koura, gather in town, partying beside the sea, with amazing firework shows.

EDUCATION[link]

Enfeh is equiped with two public schools. Private schools are available in the surrounding region of el-koura, and in the nearby city of Tripoli. The three top universities of northern lebanon, are around 5 to 10 minutes by car, like balamand university, usek in chekka, and USJ in al-qalamoun.

SPORTS[link]

hiking and swimming[link]

Lying between the natural harbor of Nhayreh and the archaeological peninsula, the Anfeh creek consists of an attractive rocky shore shaped as a perfect semi-circle at whose bottom lie many sandy underwater caves. It has become a haven for hikers and swimmers who are drawn to its well-preserved view and always clear water. Many swimmers enjoy the wavy clear sea of enfeh, others prefer the olympic swimming pools that are available for practicing outdoor in summer and indoor in winter.

diving[link]

enfeh is known for its clear water, one of the cleanest waters on the lebanese coast, home to a wide variety of fish. the archaeological peninsula hides many secrets in its bottoms below sea level, attracting curious divers. There are diving teaching centers in town, mainly in the beach resorts of Marina del sol and Las salinas.

surfing[link]

The waves of enfeh's sea are not big enough for surfing, and its rocky shore doesnt help much. although its mostly windy weather during summer, makes it a top destination for [[wind surfingc. equipement rental are available in town, or can be asked at the beach resorts of Marina del sol and Las salinas. Recently the wind of enfeh is attracting the new small kite surfing community of lebanon, a sport that is gaining fast popularity in the region.

Volley ball[link]

Even though, enfeh is a very maritime village, nautical sports are not the only sports practiced in town. Volley ball is also very popular and competitive. the main team, Al-Intilaq club, won the national Lebanese volleyball championship of 2005, the first northern team to ever win this championship. A Volleyball playground is built on a part of saint john's monastery land, where Every summer (usually in the month of August), hundreds of people gather there to watch Volleyball games among many of the strongest teams in Lebanon, Syria, and other neighbouring countries. Beach volley ball is also very popular among new generations.

Transportation[link]

Roads[link]

Easily accessible from the main Beirut-Tripoli highway, taking the Enfeh exit. Although it is also reachable by taking the chekka exit and heading north, or the balamand exit and heading south. The roads are satisfactory and well maintained by the municipality. The road through town is the old main road that connects beirut to tripoli, now called the seaside road, parallel to the old train railway.

Threats to Enfeh's Archaeology[link]

The ancient archaeological site was put in danger by a proposed expansion to the adjacent port that would have compromised its historical integrity. Even after the project was sidelined, development pressures from nearby communities continue to threaten the long-term preservation of the site.^[1]

See also[link]

• Metropolitan Elias Audeh
• El-koura

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/travel/cities/asia/middle%20east/lebanon/enfeh.html
• http://www.lebanon-hotels.com/tourism/ENFEH/

v t e Koura District, North Governorate Capital: Amioun Towns and villages 1. Aaba 2. Afsdik 3. Ain Akrine 4. Ali-al-Mouran 5. Amioun 6. Anfeh 7. Badebhoun 8. Barghoun 9. Barsa 10. Bdebba 11. Batroumine 12. Bishmizzine 13. Bhabouch 14. Bishriyata 15. Bkomra 16. Bneyel 17. Bohssas 18. Btourram 19. Btouratige 20. Bkeftine 21. Bnehran 22. Bsarma 23. Btaaboura 24. Bziza 25. Charlita 26. Chira 27. Dahr-al-Ain 28. Darbechtar 29. Darchmezzine 30. Deddeh 31. Fih 32. Ijdebrine 33. Kaftoun 34. Kifraya 35. Kelbata 36. Kelhat 37. Kfaraakka 38. Kfarhata 39. Kfarhazir 40. Kaferkahel 41. Kfarsaroun 42. Kousba 43. Maziriit Toula 44. Mitrit 45. Mijdel 46. Nakhleh 47. Rachedbine 48. Ras Maska 49. Ras Osta 50. Wata Fares 51. Zakroun 52. Zakzouk