 Location &
Topography |
Libya is located in North Africa and it lies between
latitudes 33°N and 20°N and longitudes 8°E
and 25°E. It is bordered by Egypt to the east (1,150km),
Sudan to the southeast (383 km), Chad (1,055 km) and
Niger (354 km) to the south and Algeria (982 km) and
Tunisia (459 km) to the west and northwest respectively.
Libya is the fourth largest state in Africa with an
area of approximately 1,775,500 sq. km, three times
the surface area of France and twice the size of neighbouring
Egypt. It largely consists of barren rocky and sandy
desert; over 93% of the country is covered by desert.
Along the southern border near Chad rises the rugged
mountain range of Tibesti Massif, which contains Libya's
highest point, Tarsu Musa (3,376m). The Libyan seaboard
stretches for 1,750km along the Mediterranean coast,
from Zuwarah in the west to Al-Bardia in the east.
The northwest region, 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 northeastern region, known as Cyrenaica,
the land rises from the coastal plain to the Green Mountains
(Jabal al Akhdar) to a height of just under 3,000 feet.
| Climate |
Due to the lack of natural barriers, the climate is greatly
influenced by the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the
desert in the south. The coastal regions have a Mediterranean
climate with moderate temperatures and enough rain during
the winter months for grain farming. Average temperatures
in Tripoli range from 30°C in summer to 8°C in
winter. Rainfall is mostly during the winter months and
averages 380mm annually. Humidity in this region can be
very high reaching levels as high as 80%.
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The mountains of the Jabal Al-Akhdar attract considerably
more reliable rainfall in winter and early spring, while
in summer the heights are cooler than the surrounding
plains. Summers here are cooler than on the coastal
plain. Southern Libya has a desert climate with daytime
winter temperatures ranging between 15ºC 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 northwest a scorching, hot, very dry and sand
laden wind, known as "ghibli", blows from
the Sahara along the coast at the time of the spring
solstice. This causes a sharp drop in humidity and can
raise temperatures in a matter of hours between 40ºC
and 50ºC.
| Flora & Fauna |
Libya's narrow coastal strip, plus the Tripolitanian and
Cyrenaican highlands were once covered by dense evergreen
forest, some of which survives extensively in the latter
region. Libyan vegetation is mostly extremely sparse,
particularly in the desert areas. Oases support the growth
of date palms, olive trees and orange trees, and the Jabal
Nafusah Plateau is covered with shrubs such as asphodel
and wild pistachio. Other natural vegetation includes
tamarind, fig tree, acacia arabica, and, in the desert
regions, sparse scatterings of salt bush and grasses such
as alfalfa and esparto. The only forested area is the
Jabal al-Akhdar, where juniper and mastic trees can be
found, but this covers only about 1% of Libya's total
land area.
There are few mammals, naturally present in Libya,
though Roman mosaics of amphitheatres scenes suggest
that the ancient Libyans were familiar with large beasts,
possibly brought up from across the Sahara and hipped
on to Rome for the needs of the entertainment industry.
Currently fauna include desert rodents, hyena, wildcat,
porcupine and gazelle. Bird life consists of carrion-eaters
such as the vulture, and birds of prey such as the eagle
and hawk. Many other migrant birds are often blown into
the Sahara en route for less harsh destinations. Snakes
and scorpions are also present in desert areas. Libya's
chief animal inhabitant was once the dromedary camel,
but this is now in decline. The area is thought to have
been home to a much richer variety of wildlife in past
ages.
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