Zgharta District (Arabic: زغرتا) is a district (qadaa) of the North Governorate, Lebanon.
The administrative center is the town of Zgharta. The district has 57 populated areas with 30 municipalities covering 37 villages. Some areas share the same municipality such as Ehden/Zgharta, Kfarsghab/Morh Kfarsghab or Miziara/Harf Miziara. And there is one Municipalities Union.
The district spreads from near the coast at 40 meters above sea level up to 2,800 meters of altitude at its highest point. The highest populated part of the district is overlooking the Qozhaya Valley, the northern branch of the Holy Valley, Qadisha, a UNESCO Heritage Site. The district has also the Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve. This part of the district is highly touristic, especially the area around the Monastery of Mar Sarkis, Ehden and the Monastery of Qozhaya.
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.
The officially registered persons in the district are estimated to 90,000 (est. 1998). Around 50% of the district population lives in the economic pole of Zgharta: Zgharta, Rachiine, Kfardlakos, Kfarhata, Mijdlayiah, Ardeh, Harf Ardeh. The majority of the population is Maronite Catholics, with a minority of Greek Orthodox, Armenians, Sunnite Muslims and others.
[edit] Towns and villages
