SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Palm Islands Nature Reserve comprises three uninhabited Mediterranean islands and 500m of surrounding sea located approximately 5.5km northwest of Tripoli. The three islands, Sanani, Ramkine (Fanar), and Palm (Nakhl) Island, are Lebanon’s only true islands. This marine ecosystem is of global significance, because it is one of the few remaining breeding grounds for the endangered Loggerhead Turtle. The islands are also a resting place for 156 species of migratory birds (including many rare and endangered species). The islands are rich in beach flora and medicinal plants, and their coastal waters have an abundance of fish, sea sponges, and other sea life. Parts of the reserve are open for swimming and snorkeling during the summer months, while the rest of the year the islands remain a quiet haven for wildlife.