[1][2] Lebanese mountains exceeding elevations of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level constitute 22% of the country's total land area.
[3] The Mount Lebanon range stretches from the northern region of Jabal Akkar southward, reaching elevations of 3,088 m (10,131 ft) at Qurnat as Sawda, Mount Makmel's highest peak, down to 1,091 m (3,579 ft) in Jabal Niha.
Numerous smaller hills create a transitional zone between the sea and the peaks.
The western face of the Mount Lebanon range features a series of narrow valleys that run parallel to each other, sloping westward towards the sea, and channeling various watercourses.
The eastern slopes descend toward the Beqaa Valley and are steeper compared to their western counterparts.