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Baakline بعقلين | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Blue waterfall of Shallalat Al Zarka | |
  Baakline Location within Lebanon | |
| Coordinates:33°40′47″N35°33′30″E / 33.67972°N 35.55833°E /33.67972; 35.55833 | |
| Country |  Lebanon |
| Governorate | Mount Lebanon Governorate |
| District | Chouf District |
| Government | |
| Area | |
• Total | 14 km2 (5 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 915 m (3,002 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 750 m (2,460 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 17,000 |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Dialing code | +961 |
| Website | www |
Baakleen, also spelledBaaqlîne orBaakline (Arabic:بعقلين), is a prominentDruze town located in theChouf District ofMount Lebanon, about 45 kilometers southeast ofBeirut, Lebanon. Situated at an elevation of 850 to 920 meters, it has a population of around 30,000 and covers an area of 14 square kilometers, with approximately 2,870 homes. The town is surrounded by several neighboring villages, includingDeir al-Qamar,Beit ed-Dine,Ainbal,Deir Dourit [ar],Symkanieh, andJahlieh.
Founded in the 12th century by theMaan emirs, Baakline served as their capital until the early 17th century when its most famous EmirFakhreddin II, moved toDeir el Qamar. Today, Baakline is an importantDruze city and seat of the sect's religious leader. The beautiful grand serail, the main administrative building of Baakline beforeWorld War II, has been restored and transformed into apublic library. In the area of the Serail are someDruze religious buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries, including, ancient tombs and Ain Aldiaa water source.
The roots of Lebanon as we know it today go back to Baakline. Around the year 1120 A.D., Amir Maan Ibn Rabeaah, the great grandfather of Amir Fakher Eddine Al Maani the second who established “Lubnan Al Kabeer”, settled in Baakleen. He was supported by his in-laws, the Tanoukhyeen. Amir Maan was married to the daughter of Amir Noaaman Al Tanoukhy. Historians agree that Baakleen was the capital of the Maani Emirate.
Due to water shortages in Baakline, the Maani Amirs were attracted to NeighboringDeir Al Kamar (according to Druze archives, called Dar Al Kamar), where they built many palaces and amosque that still stands in the middle of the town square carrying the name of AmirFakher Eddine Ibn Othman Ibn Al Hajj Younis Al Maani (1493 AD).The last of the Maan family Amirs was AmirAhmad who died in 1697 A.D. and with his death, the rulers of the Emirate became theShihab family who were tied to the Maan family through intermarriages and alliances.
Under theOttoman rule, Baakline came back to the forefront as one of the “Qasabat” or major towns. It served as the summer capital for the Druze “Qaem Makqam” or the local governor in the name of theOttoman Sultan.
On 21 April 2020, nine peoplewere killed.
In 2014,Druze made up 97.25% of registered voters in Baakleen.[1]
The blue waterfall is called Shallalat Al Zarka, by which the restaurant in this place holds the same name.[2][3]
One can also see other magnificent waterfall and river in the village of Baakline.[4]
Authority control databases: National |
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