Libya

Ruins of the ancient city of Sabratha

Sahara Desert

history

Archaeological evidence indicates that from as early as the 8 millennium BC, Libya's coastal plain was inhabited by a Neolithic people who were skilled in the domestication of cattle and the cultivation of crops.

geography

With an area of almost 1.8 million square kilometers (700,000 sq mi), 90% of which is desert. The capital, Tripoli, is home to 1.7 million of Libya's 5.7 million people.

climate

The climate is mostly dry and desertlike in nature. However, the northern regions enjoy a milder Mediterranean climate. Both coastal areas have a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters. Libya has the distinction of being the location of the world's highest official temperature.

libyan desert

The Libyan Desert, which covers much of eastern Libya, is one of the most arid places on earth. The Sahara dominates the landscape of Libya, covering about 95 per cent of the country. The Sahara is by far the world's largest desert. It covers about 3-1/2 million square miles (9 million square kilometers) of North Africa, stretching more than 3,500 miles (5,630 kilometers) from west to east and 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers) from north to south.

culture

Libya is culturally similar to its neighboring Maghrebian states.Libyans consider themselves very much a part of a wider Arab community. Libyan Arabs have a heritage in the traditions of the nomadic Bedouin and associate themselves with a particular Bedouin tribe. The tradition of folk culture is still alive and well, with troupes performing music and dance at frequent festivals, both in Libya and abroad. Tuareq music and dance are popular in Ghadames and the south. Libya's has beautifully- preserved archaeological sites-especially Leptis Magna.

Leptis Magna

Tuareq Music

Coffee plantation

people

More than half the population is urban, concentrated to a greater extent, in the two largest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi. Most Libyans are ethnic Berbers and Arabs.The main language spoken in Libya is Arabic, which is also the official language. Tamazight, i.e. Berber languages), which do not have official status, are spoken by Libyan Berbers. Most rural Libyans wear traditional clothing. The men wear a loose cotton shirt and trousers covered by an outer cloak, and a flat, brimless, tight-fitting cap. The women wear a full-length robe. Rural Libyans for example, live in extended families, with grandparents, parents, and children sharing a home.

Traditional Libyan Music