General Information
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Offical Name:
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Capital:
Tripoli
Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses), governed by the populace through local councils
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
coordinates:
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Population:
5,765,563
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)
Time:
GMT +2
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Desert oases and the water supply
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In Libya's desert region, the three largest oases are Al-Kufrah, Ghat and Ghudamis. Here, underground water resources are tapped by means of shallow wells.
Wadi Ki'am is Libya's only permanently-flowing river, and is only about 2km in length, flowing from its spring source in the western province down to a lagoon reservoir close to the seashore. All other wadi's run dry during the hot weather, but flash floods are common during the rainy season.
The Wadi Derna in Cyrenaica contains flowing water for a large part of the year, and provides water for irrigation of the surrounding land. In consequence, this is a comparatively fertile area. The spectacular gorge which runs through the Green Mountains in the north-east is formed by the waterless Wadi Al-Kuf. more ...
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Climate
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The coastal region has a mediterranean climate, with average temperatures in Tripoli ranging from 30°C (86°F) in summer to 8°C (46°F).
Rainfall is mostly during the winter months and averages 380mm (15 inches) annually. Coastal towns can be humid, with levels as high as 80% in Tripolitania.
The mountain regions experience more rainfall, particularly during the winter and early spring. Summers here are cooler than on the coastal plain.
Southern Libya has a desert climate with daytime winter temperatures ranging between 15 and 20°C, falling below zero at night. During the summer months there is virtually no rainfall and temperatures soar to over 50°C.
In the north-west a scorching wind, known as the ghibli, blows from the Sahara along the coast at the time of the spring solstice. This causes a sharp drop in humidity and a dramatic rise in temperature.
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Topography
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Libya is situated in northern Africa, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Egypt lies to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, Nigeria to the west and Tunisia to the northwest.
Libya is one of Africa's largest countries, and largely consists of barren rocky and sandy desert, which is part of the Sahara. Along the southern border near Chad rises the rugged mountain range of Tibesti Massif, which contains Libya's highest point, Bette Peak (2,286m; 7,500 feet).
The Libyan seaboard stretches for 1,750km along the Mediterranean coast, from Zuwarah in the west to Al-Bardia in the east. This is the country's most densely populated area. The coastal plain is often marshy.
The north-west region, once known as Tripolitania, rises from the narrow coastal plain in a series of steps until it reaches the Jafara Plain and the Jabal Nafusah Plateau. Land here rises to between 2,000 and 3,000 feet above sea level.
In the north-eastern region, once known as the province of Cyrenaica, the land rises from the coastal plain to the Green Mountains (Jabal al Akhdar) to a height of just under 3,000 feet.
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Arts and Traditions of the People
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Traditional handicrafts are a time-old activity of the Libyan man reflecting his specific craftsmanship and taste. In their rich diversity, the Libyan popular arts offer a most unique combination of the arts of Africa, the traditions of the Mediterranean, and the Arabo-Islamic art-forms.
Of outstanding importance in the wide range of Libyan handicrafts, woolwork is a most ancient tradition.
Lovely blankets in various vivid colours, famous Libyan rugs or "Klims", Bedouin women's costumes of immaculate whiteness, so many examples of the variety and beauty of Libyan hand-loom weaving.
No less noteworthy, mainly in urban areas, is embroidery and, in particular, silver embroidery on a dark-red or sky-blue back-cloth, a speciality of Tripoli mostly used for the making of cushions and bedspreads to decorate the rooms of newly-wed couples.
Similarly, Libyan jewellery offers some gorgeous specimens of the finest craftsmanship. Both these traditional arts reach their perfection in the manufacturing of saddles whereby the Libyans reveal their interest in , nay their passion for horsemanship. Craftsmen of this type show remarkable skills in executing saddle work embroidered with silver and gold threads and decorater field in which Libyan craftsmen show admirable artistry is the production of matted baskets and trays interlaced with orange, red and green woolen strings.
As to leather handicrsfts, they are part of a common African heritage and artisans of this specialty, whether in Gharian, Ghadames or Sebha, turn out a rich and colourful variety of footwear, handbags and other leather made articles.
Likewise, a wide scope is provided to ascertain Libyan traditional creatveness in the arts of architectural decorations such as stone-engraving, wood-carving and so on. The most original and certainly the finest creations in this field are those we find in Ghadames, a wealth of geometrical red designs set against an immaculate white background. No doubt that they stand out, thanks to their provocative colours,original designs and fine craftsmanship, as a living illustration of the progress and masterful artistry achieved by popular and traditional handicrafts in Libya.
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