If one travels
from Beirut to Hermel, 143km. away, but before reaching
there turns to the west, one comes to Ain Zarqa, the
abundant spring which is the source of the river Orontes,
in Arabic El-Assi, the rebel. Only a short distance
from the source of the river Litani, which flows southwards,
the Assi, the rebel, runs to the north, entering Syria
passing by Homs and Hama, crossing the Southern Gharb
and reaching Antioch, before turning towards the Mediterranean,
north of Lattiqiyeh. The Orontes rises up between
the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges at the
height of Heliopolis, Baalbek. It waters the land
for some 500 kilometers, and so may be compared to
the Garonne in France. According to Strabo, for some
eight kilometers the Orontes flowed underground between
Amapaea and Antioch, but in fact it only runs through
a narrow enclosing gorge, where it is almost inaccessible,
just after Hama, the ancient Epiphanie.
Its
valley is highly fertile allowing an abundant agriculture
with cereals, fruit trees, vines, and trees for oils
and nuts. 450km. long, the river draws water from
the mountains of North Lebanon, from the Nossairi
Mountains and then from its tributary the Afrine.
Its outlet was at Antioch, the capital of the East
in the Roman Empire, with a very important port, of
which some imposing quays can still be seen. Its waters
still turn day and night the famous Norias or water
wheels which provide water for several townships.
There is lively tourist activity. At a height of some
ninety meters in the ravine near Ain Zarqa there are
the hollowed cells of the monastery of Saint Maroun,
which may be reached by climbing up the rocks.
There
are some characteristic falls, such as those of Dardara,
name of a conifer abundant in the region, with a bridge
over the river of the same name. Those who practice
the now popular sport of canoeing have an opportunity
to enjoy themselves. There is a cedar forest, and
archaeological sites at Brissa, a Byzantine church
and a Mesopotamian monument with cuneiform inscription,
and water wheels, the most famous of which is that
of Al-Aninya not far from an ancient bridge of the
same name linking Syria with Lebanon. There is a natural
barrage a couple of kilometers from the Dardara bridge,
around which many tales have been woven. The tunnels
bored through the rock by Queen Zenobia supplied water
to the ancient city of Palmyra, Tadmor in Arabic.
Hundreds
of vehicles daily come to this source for their passengers
to spend the day in the valley with its restaurants,
inns and suppliers of sporting equipment for boating
and swimming. There are tanks for fish-farming. All
here is rich, welcoming and smiling.
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Orontes
River - Nahr el Assi: >> View
Movie << (2009-05-01)
