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Akakous: part of the desert situated in the southwest of Libya, near the Algerian border. It is the highest massif of this part of the country We find there enormous rocks in strange forms, but this place is especially known for its rock paintings, giving evidence of a human colonization in a time of Prehistory where Sahara was not still the desert " the biggest of the world ". It was an oasis of greenery in which evolved giraffes, elephants whose presence is proved by the numerous parietal paintings. This site, very appreciated by the lovers of Prehistory and the big spaces, is classified world patrimony of Unesco.
Aramat: It is a part of the desert with immense dunes covered by poor vegetation; nevertheless it is sufficient for many animals can survive. This zone is well known with their rocky engravings.
Old City of Ghat: It is an Oasis situated in the extreme South-West of Libya, it is a strategic site of caravans’ passage. This site shows the daily life of touargues and their culture. Indeed, every year and at the end of December there is the Touargues Big Festival of Libya. Between folkloric dances, traditional sings and costumes of parade, this great manifestation is a good enjoyment of eyes.
Lacks region: Situated in Oubari dune, this region is known by its lacks, especially the lack Um El Ma and lack of Mandara, it is a veritable oasis nested in hollow of impressive dunes. You will swim in the desert into a salty water with recognized virtuous to the skin health.
Nalut : Berber city known for its ksar (strengthened attic). A recent restoration returned all its stamp to this disused attic where the inhabitants put, during centuries, under cover the bags of cereal, the oil and olives.
Ghadamès: this oasis is classified world patrimony of Unesco, situated on the border of Libya, Algeria and Tunisia. Old Cydamus of the Roman, it was a strategic place of the caravan business. Its charm, the warm reception of the inhabitants (who invite gladly the tourists to drink a tea or to have lunch), and the sympathy of guides make a place of inescapable visit as far as the city is near the desert.
Matkhendush: stony desert including the most important rock paintings and engravings of the southwest of Libya.
Germa : Roman oasis area of lakes: situated in the erg Oubari, this region is known for its lakes, notably the lake Um El Ma and the lake Mandara, the real oases nested in the hollows of impressive dunes. You Can bathe in full desert in a salt water in vertues recognized for the health of the skin.
Sabratha: Roman site, classified world patrimony of Unesco, known for its impressive splendidly preserved theater, as well as for its rich mosaics exposed in both museums of the site.
Leptis Magna: home town of the Roman emperor Septime Sévère, the incredible, known wealth among others for its grand theater with sight on the sea, for its basilica in the sculptures of a rare sharpness, for them " thermes of the ocean " decorated with frescoes, for its market, for its immense arc... The site, classified world patrimony of Unesco, extends over 400 hectares and sheltered 100 000 inhabitants in the Roman time. It is the inescapable site to be visited in Libya of the North.
The mountain of Waw Al-Namus is an extinct volcano, in the center of the Sahara desert. It has a splendid view that sticks in mind for thousands of years. It gives you a feeling as if you were on the moon.
It is really a place that no one can forget.
Tripoli or Oea in antiquity is the largest city in Libya. It is located in the western side of Libya with a population of over 1.5 million. It was first established on the Mediterranean coast along with Sabratha and Leptis Magna by the Phoenicians in 600B.C with the sole purpose to serve as trading posts. As time passed, both Sabratha and Leptis Magna declined, while Tripoli remained a post and commercial center. It is called Tarabulis in Arabic. It is also called Tarabulis Al-Gharb or Tripoli of the west in order to distinguish it from Tarabulis Lebanon. Some historians called it the white city because its buildings were painted white. It is known now by Arous Al-Bahar wa Al-Nahr or The Bride of The Mediterranean and The Manmade River.
Tripoli's climate is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. The summers are hot and dry with a temperature of 30c.while the winters are warm and wet with a temperature of 8c.Tripoli has many classical sites. The old walled city of Tripoli has a street plan that was laid down in the Roman era. Al-Saraya Al-Hamra or The Red Castle is a tourist and residents' attraction. It is located in the center of the city. There are also some wonderful Souqs (markets) in the old city such as Al-Mushier and Al-Turk.
Tripoli is famous for a number of historical mosques like Karamanli and Gurgi mosques. It is also got 3 great gates: Bab Zanata on the western side of the city, Bab Hawara on the south and Bab Al-Bahr on the north.
Today, Tripoli is proud of its past and present, views the future with much optimism.
Location: 180 miles app. east of Djerba (Tunisia), 130 miles app. west of Misrata.
Apollonia was the port of Ceryne.It is located on the Mediterranean sea of about 20 Kms north of Cyrene. It is also known as Sousa and marked by ruins that go back to the Roman era. It established in the 7th century BC.
Apollonia has many significant monuments. The Greek theatre, the Roman baths, the Basilica Walls and the Byzantine Palace are among its highlights.
Location: near to Al-Bayda, 115 miles north-east of Benghazi, 12 miles north of Cyrene.
Ptolemais "Tolmieta", is located 35Km to the east of Tocra. It was founded in the 3rd century BC.
It contains underground Cisterns, Columned Palace, Amphitheatre, Baths and museum.
Location : 65 miles north-east of Benghazi.
Qasr Libya is the Site of a Byzantine fort and church dating back to the reign of the Emperor Justinian (6th century AD). A floor of stunning mosaic panels was discovered in 1957, the majority of which are now housed in the on-site museum.
The collection of mosaics is considered one of the world’s finest and, intriguingly, depicts pagan subjects as well as human and animal figures. One panel depicts the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Location : 30 miles west of Al-Bayda, 115 miles north-east of Benghazi
Tobruk or (Plynus) is located 165 Kms east of Derna and 470 Kms east of Benghazi. It was founded by the Greeks to serve as a harbor. Tobruk was a battlefield for wars between the Allied and axis partners during the Second World War. The allied cemeteries including the French, Knightsbridge and the German cemeteries are still present in Tobruk.
Location : 250 miles east of Benghazi
Benghazi is an old city on the Mediterranean North East Libya. Benghazi's old name (given to her in the year 347 BC) was "Barneek" which is the name of a beautiful and brave princess who became the queen of her people during the Greek rule of the North African region. Benghazi saw good times and bad times during the Greek, the Roman and the Byzantine eras before the Arabs conquered the city in the beginning of the 7th century.
In 1450 a man named Ghazi or "Seedi Ghazi" as the locals called him moved to "Barneek" and died there after contributing good deeds to the city and to her people, so the people named the city after him "Bani Ghazi", "Banghazi" or "Benghazi". In 1578 the Turks invaded Benghazi and it was ruled by the Karamanlis from 1711 till 1835 when the Ottomans started their rule of the city till 1911.
The Italians invaded Benghazi and the whole country of Libya in October 1911 and the city became under the Italian occupation till 1942 when the Allied forces defeated the Italians with the help of the Libyans and the city became under the rule of the British.
Benghazi is the second capital of Libya (the first is Tripoli.) During World War II Benghazi was bombed more than 1000 times and saw a lot of destruction. After Libya's independence the city was rebuilt and became one the most attractive cities in North Africa.
Location : 600 miles east of Tripoli.
Al-Hammada Al-Hamra plateau is located in the northwest of Libya.
It is a very large area which covers 60000 square kilometers.
More than 400 meteorites were found in this fascinating place which is distinguished by rocks and stones, added to the area a special beauty which makes it one of the most attractive spots in Libya.
Deep in the desert lies Ghat, 350 miles south of Ghadames. It is an antique town inhabited by the famous tribe of Tuareq. It served as a trading post for desert caravans going through Ghadames and Tripoli.
The old mosque is one of the outstanding sites in the old town.
In addition to the old town, there is a new town located nearby.
It is a marvelous town, especially during December when an annual traditional festival is held. The inhabitants show their culture, customs and music mixed with colorful folk dancing.
It is a good chance to ride a camel and feel the warm hearts of Toureq who are well known for their hospitality towards visitors.
Location: 450 miles south of Ghadames.
Deep in the interior is Fezzan, home of the finest natural gallery of prehistoric rock are in Africa. Sabha is the largest oasis and the major city in the Fezzan Region.
It is situated in the middle of the desert where visitors may spend an enjoyable time in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere between golden sand dunes, green palm trees, clear water springs and the ancient ruins and civilization that surround it.
The modern city of Sabha may be reached via a modern highway network across the desert or by air from Tripoli and Benghazi.
It is built on the ruins of an ancient city where past civilizations such as that of the Garmantes thrived. Their drawings and engravings on the rocks of the Akakus Mountains and their earliest artifacts date back to the first millennium B.C., telling the story of the great original Libyan civilization that flourished in this part of the country.
Further north, across the sand-sea and the huge dunes one reaches the magnificent oasis of Gabroun which has been restored in order to cater for travelers. The original inhabitants, the Dawada, also known as the "Worm Eaters" have now moved to an area closer to the highway.
Obari is a desert town, located in Fezzan region, southwest of Libya. It is marked by wonderful lakes surrounded by sand dunes and palm trees.
There are about 13 lakes in Obari. The most important lakes are: Gabrawn , Mandra , Om Almaa and Bahar Al-Daud.
These lakes are known for their high salinity, reaching 3 times that of the sea.
Gabrawn is the largest lake in the area.It is surrounded by trees and lines of high sand dunes.
Teuchira is Probably founded in the 7th century BC (its origins are cloudy), Teuchira was a port city of the Greeks. During the Ptolemaic period, its importance was reflected in its status as one of the five cities of the Pentapolis, together with Cyrene, Apollonia, Ptolemais and Berenice (modern Benghazi). As with other cities of the region, it succumbed to the Arab invasion of 643 AD and was the final site of defence of the governor of Cyrenaica.
There is little to see at Teuchira compared to Ptolemais, Cyrene and Apollonia, but it is located on a pleasant coastal site. There is an interesting fortress which affords a good view of a nearby shipwreck. Entrance to the site is through the entrance of an old Turkish fort.
Location : 45 miles north-east of Benghazi.
Ghirza was an Arab town which developed and flourished during the early centuries A.D. in a semi-desert area and in hard climatic conditions, only through the sheer will of the inhabitants. Ghirza settlement is located in the Werfella area South-East of Tripoli and one hour drive from the town of Bani Walid. It is bounded by Wadi Ghirza in the North before the latter meets Wadi Zamzam.
The origin of the name Ghirza is unknown, but it is probable that its original name was Gerisa, which is one of the towns in the Sirt area listed by the historian Ptolemy. No other historical reference to the town has been found.
The ruins of Ghirza are considered archeologically important in the Libya as they are built to a local pattern yet influenced by architectural styles prevailing at the end of the Hellenic era. The tombs themselves belong to Libyan personalities, since the names Fadil, Numera and Nasif were found engraved on the main tomb in the Northern cemetery.
Also included in the ruins are a group of houses located on the left side of the wadi, 300 m from the confluence with Wadi Zamzam. Yet another part of the ruins contains a group of cemeteries built in the form of tombs and obelisks. The first of these is the largest and architecturally most important. It is located on the Northern road and is in the shape of a mausoleum tomb with a square base along the East-West axis. All the tombs are constructed out of limestone blocks quarried in the same area.
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