Lake Qaraoun

The Litani River

Note 420 million cubic meters is approximately 15 billion cubic feet or approximately 340,000 acre feet.

The upper Litani River, where the artificial lake or reservoir has been created with the dam at elevation of about 800 metres (2,620 feet), is in the inland region of the Beqaa Valley, whose elevation range generally lies between 650–1,600 metres (2,130–5,250 ft), with mountain peaks raising as high as 3,090 metres (10,140 ft).[3]

The Litani River drains the southern end of the Beqaa Valley plains (a continuation of the Jordan Rift Valley), crossing the southern periphery of the Mount Lebanon range and discharging into the sea north of Tyre, after traversing a length of 170 kilometres (110 miles) entirely in Lebanon. The hydrographical system of Lebanon consisting of 40 major streams is typecast into five regions, which includes the Litani River Basin formed by the Litani River in its eastern and southern part, with the river debouching into the sea at the southwestern end. The basin has a total catchment area of 2,120 square kilometres (820 square miles), which forms 20% area of the country, with about 1,600 km² (600 sq mi) intercepted at Lake Qaraoun by El Wauroun Dam for providing various benefits.[3][4] The artificial lake is created across the Litani River in its middle reaches. Litani River is the longest river in Lebanon at the southern end of the Beqaa valley.[1][2][3][5]

The Litani River, which lies entirely within the territory of Lebanon rises near the historic city of Baalbek (now the site hardly discernible due to high rate of water extraction in this reach for pumping and ancient city development) and flows through for 170 kilometres (110 mi) before it outlets into the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the 40 major streams in Lebanon and is the longest from the source to the Mediterranean Sea.[3]

The land on the periphery of the reservoir consists of agricultural lands on the eastern side where arable crops and olive orchards are seen. Grazing of sheep and goats is also noted. On the steep sloping western periphery of the lake there are fruit orchards and pasture land for grazing.[2]

Lake Qaraoun in the Litani River Basin at Qaraoun.

The Qaraoun reservoir or lake created by El Wauroun Dam on the Litani River has a water spread area of 11.9 km² (5 sq mi). It is the largest artificial lake in Lebanon, located in the southern part of the fertile Beqaa Valley, with a total capacity of about 220×10^⁶ m³ (0×10^⁹ cu ft) and effective storage (live storage) of 160×10^⁶ m³ (0×10^⁹ cu ft). The power generation is a primary benefit, which meets about 7%–10% of the power requirements in Lebanon. However, the stored waters also provide irrigation benefits with flows of 140×10^⁶ m³ (0×10^⁹ cu ft), as 110 million cubic metres is used in South Lebanon and 30 million cubic metres in Beqaa, while 20×10^⁶ m³ (0×10^⁹ cu ft) is used for domestic water supply in the Southern Lebanon. Controlled reservoir operation also provides flood-control benefits and prevention of water logging in an area of about 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres).[3][4]

During 1999–2000, the water quality of the reservoir has been investigated from 16 sampling points on the river and its tributaries, by the Ministry of Environment and the Litani River Authority as a part of an exercise to evolve management plan for the Litani River and Lake Qaroun's catchment. It has been noted that seven sewer networks drain directly into the river. Untreated sewage from the towns of Baalbek, Houch el Rafqa, Qaa er Rim, Zahle, Chtoura, Qabb Elias, Bar Elias, Joub Jannine and Qaraoun flow into the Litani River or its tributaries, apart from industrial effluents many factories related to manufacture of sugar, paper, lead, limestone crushers, agro-industries and also from poultry farms, tanneries and slaughterhouses. The pollution is noted by the high recorded values of BOD₅ (79 mg/L) and nitrates (1.7 mg/L) in the Litani River.[5]

The vegetation in the periphery of the lake consists of woodland, orchards, and low-growing scrub. During water-level variations in the lake, as the stored water is utilised for various beneficial uses, no submerged or emergent vegetation have been noticed. When the water level is at its lowest in the lake, a steppe-like land slope has been noticed with low vegetation of rocky shingle terrain where flocks of larks and lapwings are seen.[2]

The bird life in the reservoir area is very notable, as 20,000 migratory birds of species of raptors, storks, pelicans and others species of birds have been sighted. The ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), pallid harrier (Circus macrourus), greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) and sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) are some of the birds which are of conservation concern, according to the 2008 IUCN Red List.[2]

Full view of El Wauroun Dam and Lake Qaraoun.

The El Wauroun Dam, built in the middle reaches of the Litani River, has created an artificial lake at (33°34′11.63″N 35°41′51.18″E) with water-spread area of 1,190 hectares (2,940 acres). It is situated about 70 km (43 mi) downstream of the historic city of Baalbek.[7][8] The dam had been under planning since 1964. The Qaraoun village transferred a land area of 760 hectares (1,878 acres) for building the dam. The dam, which created the artificial lake or reservoir, is the largest dam built in Lebanon for multipurpose uses of hydropower generation (190 MW), irrigation of 28,500 hectares (70,425 acres), and drinking-water supply. It is a concrete-faced rockfill dam (CFRD) of 61 metres (200 ft) height built with crest level at elevation 801 metres (2,628 ft), with a dam length of 1,090 metres (3,576 ft), over karstic limestone formations. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 220×10^⁶ m³ (0×10^⁹ cu ft) at a maximum pond elevation of 858 m (2,815 ft).[8] The High Flood Level (HFL) in the reservoir is 862 metres (2,828 ft), where the area of the lake is 12.6 km² (5 sq mi). The average water level for power generation is 835 metres (2,740 ft), with the lowest level or the minimum draw-down level as 827 m (2,713 ft).[9]

The dam's upstream face is a concrete face of 47,000 m² (506,000 sq ft) area, with thickness of concrete face varying from 50 centimetres (1.6 ft) at the bottom to 30 centimetres (1.0 ft) at the top. The spillway of the dam is designed for an inflow flood discharge of 450×10^⁶ m³ (0×10^⁹ cu ft). The reservoir has a storage capacity of 220×10^⁶ m³ (0×10^⁹ cu ft) at maximum pond elevation of 858 metres (2,815 ft).[8]

The lake water is proposed to be integrated with a pumped-storage scheme planned under the "Qaraoun Lake-Marj et Taouil: Project". The plan is to utilise the water stored in this reservoir to be pumped to an upper reservoir, with a 50.6-metre-high (166 ft) dam at maximum water level of 1,679 metres (5,509 ft) to store water pumped from the Qaraoun Lake or reservoir) to maximize power generation during the daily lean period (off-peak hours) of power generation when load demand is low. In this mode of generation, the pumping will require 560 megawatts (750,000 hp), that would result in a generation of 388 megawatts (520,000 hp) of power.[9]

The archaeological site of Ain Jaouze overlooks Lake Qaraoun at the foot of Jebel Baruk on the west of the road from Chtaura to Jezzine.[10] Jesuit archaeologist, Auguste Bergy collected flints from the surface of this site, suggested to be similar to those of later neolithic Byblos.[11]

On the western periphery of the lake there are many restaurants and hotels which are popular during late spring and summer. During this time many large boats operate in the lake for lake viewing and also for fishing. In winter, when water level in the lake is high boats are operated to hunt for of birds such as wildfowl, mainly storks, heron, egrets and lark species.[2]