Lebanon is a small, mountainous country in Western Asia, located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital, Beirut, is often called the 'Paris of the Middle East.' Lebanon's geography is unique in the region because it has no deserts; instead, it is dominated by two mountain ranges—the Lebanon Mountains and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains—separated by the fertile Beqaa Valley. The country is famous for its ancient cedar trees, which are the national symbol and appear on the flag. These trees were used in antiquity for building ships and temples. Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, and it is one of the few places in the Middle East where you can ski in the mountains and swim in the sea on the same day. Its history is a mosaic of civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Romans, and Ottomans.