Lebanon, officially known as the
Lebanese Republic, is a country in the Levant region of Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has contributed to its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity. At just 10,452 km
2, it is the smallest recognized sovereign state on the mainland Asian continent. The official language, Lebanese Arabic, is the most common language spoken by the citizens of Lebanon.