The harsh desert-like high mountain terrain seen here is actually a water super-well. Snow forms a thick blanket in winter, a lot of which is absorbed into the depths of the Western Lebanon mountain range making its way to springs. It is hard to imagine given the stark and dry scene, and a reminder that what you see is not always what you get.
The significance of these marshes in Ammiq cannot be more emphasized. They provide a crucial pit-stop for breeding and food for millions of migratory birds, all under the grace of Jabal Al-Sheikh (aka Mount Hermon).