Baabda District (Arabic: قضاء بعبدا,
translit: Qada' Baabda), sometimes spelled B'abda, is a district (qadaa)
in
Mount Lebanon,
Lebanon, to the south and east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut.
The district capital is town of
Baabda.
The region is also popularly known as Southern
Matn (Arabic: المتن الجنوبي, translit: ِAl Matn al Janoubi), as
distinct from
Matn District (Arabic: قضاء المتن الشمالي, translit: Qada' Al
Matn ash Shimali).
Area • Total 74.9 sq mi (194 km2)
Population • Total 500,000
The inhabitants of the Baabda district are mainly
Maronite Catholics, Shi'a Muslims and Druze. The Maronites are the
largest group, followed by Shi'a Muslims and Druze. However, Sunni
Muslims, Greek Catholics and Orthodox Christians also inhabit the
area. It is important to note that Shiite Muslims in the Baabda
district mostly inhabit the coastal area of the district which lies
directly south of Beirut. This area is also known as "Dahye" or the
southern suburbs of Beirut. The Druze on the other hand, live in the
mountainous area further inland.
As of the 2005 elections, Baabda has six seats
allocated to it in the Lebanese Parliament. Three of these seats are
allocated to Maronite Catholics, while two are allocated to the
Shi'a Muslims and one to the Druze.
Baabda Palace, headquarters of the
President of Lebanon is also located in Baabda.
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