Aammiq Wetland

Aammiq is what remains of the marshes that once covered much of the Bekaa floor, fed by springs at the foot of the Barouk range and flooded through the winter and spring. It is the only significant wetland left in the country and sits under one of the world's major raptor flyways: storks, pelicans and birds of prey pass over in large numbers in spring and autumn. A conservation project has managed the site with the landowning family since the 1990s.

The landscape

• The raptor migration - storks, pelicans and birds of prey passing in spring and autumn.
• The marsh - reedbed and open water on the Bekaa floor, at its fullest in spring.
• The Barouk backdrop - the cedar-topped range rising directly to the west.
• The breeding birds - herons, warblers and waders using the reedbed in summer.

When to go

March to May and September to November are the migration windows and the reason to come. By late summer much of the marsh is dry. Early morning gives the best activity.

Practical notes

Water levels vary sharply and a summer visit can find bare mud. Access is across private land and should be arranged rather than assumed. There are no hides and no visitor facilities on the marsh.

Nearby

The Chouf cedar reserve is above on the ridge, and Zahle is northeast.

Key facts