Bcheale
{{Short description|Village in Batroun District, Lebanon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bchaaleh
| native_name = بشعله
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = Lebanon
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Map showing the location of Bchaaleh within Lebanon
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Lebanon
| coordinates = {{coord|34|12|13|N|35|49|25|E|region:LB_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Lebanon
| subdivision_type1 = Governorate
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name1 = North Governorate
| subdivision_name2 = Batroun District
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| leader_party =
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| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_note =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1311
| elevation_min_m =
| population_total = 2800 registered voters
1800 residents
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 =
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| timezone1 = EET
| utc_offset1 = +2
| timezone1_DST = EEST
| utc_offset1_DST = +3
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code =
| area_code = +9616715
| area_code_type = Dialing code
| website = www.bchaaleh.com
| footnotes =
| elevation_max_m =
}}
Bchaaleh (Arabic: بشعله), alternatively spelled Bcheale, Bchealeh or Bshaaleh, is a village in the Batroun District of the North Governorate in Lebanon.{{cite book|author=Stefan Wild|title=Libanesische Ortsnamen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RUpAAQAAIAAJ|access-date=8 September 2012|year=1973|publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag}}{{cite book|author=Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft. Orient-Institut|title=Beiruter Texte und Studien|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l5ttAAAAMAAJ|access-date=8 September 2012|year=1967|publisher=F. Steiner in Kommission.}}
It had 1,456 eligible voters in the 2009 elections, and the residents mainly belonged to the Maronite Church.{{cite web|title=Municipal and ikhtiyariah elections in Northern Lebanon|url=http://www.localiban.org/IMG/pdf/iiMonthly-Municip-Mar10-E92.pdf|publisher=The Monthly|accessdate=7 November 2021|pages=18, 22|date=March 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603040803/http://www.localiban.org/IMG/pdf/iiMonthly-Municip-Mar10-E92.pdf|archivedate=3 June 2016}} The village is notable for being home for the Sisters Olive Trees of Noah, twelve olive trees believed to be among the world's oldest.{{Cite news |last=Kornei |first=Katherine |date=March 9, 2024 |title=These May Be the Oldest Olive Trees in the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/09/science/olive-tree-oldest.html |work=The New York Times}}
Geography
The village of Bchaaleh stands on a promontory, with views of the sea and across Douma. It is home to traditional houses and to Saint Stephan church, one of the largest in the region of Batroun. To the north-east of the village, a citadel is built on the ruins of a medieval fortress, erected itself on Phoenicians ruins destroyed by the Romans.{{Cite web|title=Bchaaleh {{!}} Les Plus Beaux Villages du Liban|url=http://www.pbvliban.org/village/bchaaleh/|access-date=2020-12-03|language=en-US}}
= Centennial olive trees =
{{Main article|Sisters Olive Trees of Noah}}
Twelve olive trees still live in the village of Bchaaleh, at more than 1200m above sea level. It is said that they are the oldest olive trees in the world.{{Cite news |last=Kornei |first=Katherine |date=March 9, 2024 |title=These May Be the Oldest Olive Trees in the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/09/science/olive-tree-oldest.html |work=The New York Times}} Different studies and research present data on the age of the Sisters Olive Trees of Noah in Bchaaleh. Some claim they are "between five and seven thousand years old".[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2012/Oct-31/193293-bechealehs-ancient-trees-still-producing-high-end-olive-oil.ashx#axzz2EYVZGXQO Bechealeh's ancient trees still producing high-end olive oil, article in The Daily Star (Lebanon)]
Etymology
Syriac origin, "Beit Chaali", meaning "the place of glorification and adoration".
Demographics
In 2014 Christians made up 99.14% of registered voters in Bchaaleh. 93.70% of the voters were Maronite Catholics.https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/الشمال/البترون/بشعله/المذاهب/
Solar power
In 2017 Bchaaleh installed a solar farm, and managed to avoid the worst effects of the 2021 Lebanese blackout.[https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/lebanon-crisis-electricity-bchaaleh-village-solar-power Lebanon crisis: How one village keeps the lights on thanks to solar power] by Elizabeth Fitt, 30 October 2021, Middle East Eye
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.localiban.org/article3822.html Bcheaali], Localiban
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161013010652/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/11685772 Photos of the Olive Trees of Bcheale on Panoramio.com]
- [http://www.sistersoliveoil.com Sisters olive trees of Noah website about the town of Bcheale]
- [http://oli-olea.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/lebanon-north-al-batrun-district.html OLEA - images of the olive trees of Bcheale]
- "[http://www.protect-lebaneseheritage.com/blog/2011/11/08/the-sisters-olive-trees-of-noah-the-last-sentinels-of-the-north/ The sisters olive trees of noah, the last sentinels of the north]"—article by the Association for the protection of Lebanese heritage
- [http://www.bchaaleh.com Village website]
- [http://www.accuweather.com/en/lb/bchaale/1277499/weather-forecast/1277499 Weather and climate] from Accuweather
- [http://www.pbvliban.org/village/bchaaleh/ Bchaaleh] from [http://www.pbvliban.org/ Les Plus Beaux Villages du Liban]
{{Batroun District}}
Category:Populated places in Batroun District