Libya is an affluent North African nation that is almost 90% desert. Libya shares borders with Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan and Egypt. The entire Northern part of the country borders the Mediterranean Sea. The country is slightly larger than Alaska and her capital is Tripoli. Libya’s population is approximately 5.8 million.
Libyan Climate and Landscape
The Libyan terrain is mainly barren and flat with a few scattered undulating plains, plateaus and depressions. The climate resembles many Mediterranean nations along the cost and gets hotter and drier as you move inland.
Libyan Sites to Visit
Despite the harsh climate, Libya has many memorable sites worth seeing including the dunes in the Sahara, beaches and ancient Roman ruins. Leptis Magna, the ruins of an ancient Roman city with beautiful architecture is one of the most popular destinations in Libya. The beautiful seaside city of Sabratha with its many fountains and temples is also a favoured destination. Further inland visitors can get to view the saline lakes and breathtaking Zallaf dunes.
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Libyan People and Languages
The official languages in Libya include Arabic, Italian and English, spoken in most major cities. The population is mainly Berber-Arabs (97%) while Greeks, Italians, Egyptians Maltese, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians and Tunisians make up the remainder. Much of the population resides along the Mediterranean coast in the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi.
Other Facts from Libya
Libya has a significant amount of oil and natural gas deposits. Due to effective management of these resources, the country has the highest per capita income in Africa. In addition to this, the country has the largest water development project, the Great Man-made River project. The project draws water from aquifers in the desert to the coastal cities. However, the former leader Qaddafi had the nation undergo a major international embargo from 1992 to 2003. The country’s main export revenue is generated from the oil sector but almost 20% is drawn from manufacturing and construction sectors. However, due to very adverse climatic and soil conditions, the country continues to import as much as 75% of food for local consumption. The national literacy level is very high at 83%.
