Yammoune Lake

Yammoune sits in a closed basin at around fourteen hundred metres on the western edge of the Bekaa, fed by karst springs that come out at the foot of the mountain. It fills with snowmelt in spring and drains through sinkholes and irrigation through the summer, so its size varies enormously through the year. A nature reserve covers the lake and the slopes around it, with oak woodland, wetland birds and the ruins of a Roman temple beside the water.

What you actually see

• The lake - a shallow basin fed by karst springs, largest in spring.
• The springs - water emerging at the foot of the mountain wall.
• The Roman temple - ruins beside the shore, reused as a shrine.
• The reserve - oak woodland and wetland on the slopes around the basin.

When to go

April to July is when the lake is full and the surroundings green. By September it can be much reduced or nearly dry. Snow closes the access roads in winter.

Honest expectations

By late summer the lake often shrinks to a fraction of its spring size and can disappoint. Facilities are minimal. The drive up from Baalbek is on poor mountain roads.

Nearby

Baalbek is southeast on the plain, and the Cedars are over the ridge.