Yammouneh Nature Reserve

Yammouneh is the site of an ancient sacred lake and Roman temple. The turnoff for Yammouneh, near the town Chlifa, takes you twenty-seven kilometers over rugged empty foothills; a good introduction to the beautiful, but remote Yammouneh valley.

A great water cavern west of the temple fills the lake each year, although at other times it may appear almost dry. Luxurious Roman villas used to occupy the area between the cavern and the temple and numerous altars, statues and other elements have been discovered nearby.

All that remains of the temple today is a retaining wall of limestone blocks which goes down to the lake level. Beneath are supposed to be subterranean chambers. Presumably dedicated to Venus-Astrate, legend has it that when Typhon made war against the heavens, it was at Yammouneh that Venus changed herself into a fish.

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