Zgharta District

Zgharta Alzawieh District
District
زغرتا الزاوية
Zgharta Alzawieh District
Location in Lebanon
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	North Governorate
Capital	Zgharta
Area
• Total	70 sq mi (182 km2)
Population
• Estimate  (31 December 2017)	81,490
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

Zgharta Alzawieh District (Arabic: زغرتا الزاوية) is a district (qadaa) of the North Governorate, northern Lebanon.^[1] Its capital is the city of Zgharta.

The administrative center is the city of Zgharta. The district has 101 populated areas with 30 municipalities covering 37 villages. Some areas share the same municipality such as Ehden/Zgharta, Kfarsghab/Morh Kfarsghab, and Miziara/Harf Miziara. And there is one Municipalities Union.

The district has a population of around 81,490.

The district elevation is about 40 meters along the coast line and clmbs up to a height of 2,550 meters at the highest point of the Mount Lebanon mountain range.

The highest populated part of the district overlooks the Qozhaya Valley, which is the northern branch of the Holy Valley of Qadisha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve is in the mountains within the district. This higher part of the district is a visitor destination, including the Monastery of Mar Sarkis and the Monastery of Qozhaya areas.

Agriculture stays the main activity of the district with an important olive oil production in the coastal area and fruits (apple and pears) in the mountain area. The recent years saw the development of a modest service sector around the economic pole of Zgharta.

Tourism also plays a big role in the district's economy. The main tourism hotspot in the is undoubtedly Ehden, which sees an influx of tourists every summer, as many people from around the country visit the mountain town. There are many religious tourism sites, such as the Monastery of Qozhaya, Mar Mema Church (the oldest standing Maronite church in the world), Saydet Al Marahem in Miziara and the famous Saydet El Hosn (Lady of the Fortress) in Ehden^[2].

The officially registered population of the district was estimated to 90,000 in 1998. Around 50% of residents live in the economic pole of Zgharta: Zgharta, Rachiine, Kfardlakos, Kfarhata, Mijdlayiah, Ardeh, Harf Ardeh. The main other significantly populated areas are Miryata and Miziara.

According to registered voters in 2014: