Enfeh

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

Enfeh is a Greek Orthodox town, on the coast of North Lebanon, in El-Koura district (capital Amioun) 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.

Enfeh (or Anfeh) 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 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.

Along the length of the bay, the salt marshes add a typically picturesque note to the landscape, especially in places with the traditional wind wheel which pumps seawater better than the noisy and polluting diesel engine. 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.

It is a heterogeneous town. Its inhabitants come from various backgrounds and families, have different education levels, and adopt different beliefs. They also keep the traditions the town and the area have known for so many years.

Every summer, many festivals take place in Anfeh. 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 1 September are very popular events.

Anfeh harbors many interesting places like historical ruins, wonderful shore, churches, and beautiful landscapes.

Green landscapes of olive, almond, and grape trees give the town a beautiful nature and a rich resource for its people. Olives, olive oil, and grapes are very popular products in Anfeh.

Being on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Anfeh is a good place for swimming, sailing, and fishing. Fishing, by itself, is an art in Anfeh!

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.

Along the length of the bay, the salt marshes add a typically pretty note to the landscape, especially in places 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, salt provides an unlimited natural resource which can thus be obtained without endangering the environment.

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 walkers and swimmers who are drawn to its well-preserved view and always clear water.

Threats to Enfeh's Archaeology

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.

See also

• Metropolitan Elias Audeh
• El-koura

External links

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