Sahel Alma
Etymology
Sahel Alma consists of two words in Arabic that mean, Sahel: Coast ساحل and Alma: On the water علماء. Some people also explain that Alma means العلماء - the scientists who used to visit the village to find fish fossils at the nearby fossil site of the same name.
Nature
Sahel Alma is famous for lemon fruit and its gardens are filled with lemon trees. Greengage, loquat and plums are also typically found there. During spring the scent of orange blossom is noticeable and orange blossom water as well as rose water are traditionally produced by the villagers. The water coming from the spring above the village (نبع رأس ألماء) irrigates all the planted terraces through canals that cater all the houses.
Religion
The village has a Maronite population following two parishes (St Nohra and St Doumit) under the Maronite diocese of Jounieh. The parish of St Nohra holds masses in the main church of St Nohra, and occasionally in the monastery of St Georges and the monastery of Baklouch.
References
- ^ "قرى لبنانية : ساحل علما". locate Lebanon. locate Lebanon. Retrieved 2017-11-26.