LIBYA – A Masterpiece of Beauty from Sahara Desert

Posted on: February 1, 2025 Posted by: Nabeel Rashid Comments: 1

Libya is a country famous for its rich, diverse and strong culture. Libya was home to the great civilizations of the world in different eras, therefore we find influences of multiple civilizations in Libyan culture. Ancient Libya belonged to Berbers and Greeks, followed by the Romans. Then, Islamic era began with the Umayyads, followed by Abbasids and Ottomans. Then, Libya was ruled by Italians and now Libya is enjoying the modern age. The amalgamation of multiple civilizations makes Libya an exceptional masterpiece.

The majority of the Libyans are Arab Muslims and the official language of the country is Arabic. You may find a variety of dialects within the Arabic language in different regions of the country. Apart from Arabic, some people also speak Italian, English and Berber languages but at a minor level. The national animal of Libya is the Barbary lion, and the national bird is the hawk.

ONE OF THE TOP OIL PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN AFRICA:

Libya is listed among top oil producing countries in Africa. The Libyan economy heavily depends on the export earnings from oil they produce. Libya’s largest oil field is the El Sharara oil field, which is located in the Murzuq Desert.

THE UBARI LAKES:

In the heart of the Sahara Desert, the Ubari Lakes also known as Awbari Lakes are the lakes surrounded by dunes and palm trees, which makes them; an eye-catching and an incredible beauty that should be explored at least once if you are visiting Libya for the first time.

THE AL-SAHABAH MOSQUE (مسجد الصحابة):

The Al-Sahabah Mosque (مسجد الصحابة) is a famous Mosque located at the Maydan Al-Sahabah Square in the city of Derna, Libya. The Mosque was built in the 1970s on the historical site of a 7th-century cemetery containing the graves of the martyrs, who lost their precious lives in the battle of Mamma during the conquest of Maghreb against the Byzantine Empire in 688.

The tombs of the 3 famous Sacred personalities are located in the cemetery attached to the Al-Sahabah Mosque along with the graves of seventy Muslim Soldiers who took part in that battle.

This beautiful Mosque was designed from Ottoman and Mamluk architectural style. Al-Sahaba Mosque is a must visit place, if you are visiting for the first time.

HOME TO 5 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES:

Archaeological Site of Cyrene:

The Archaeological Site of Cyrene includes the remains of the Greeks, Romans and the Hellenic world. This masterpiece is the major source of attracting international tourists to Libya despite the ups and downs in the country politically and economically.

Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna:

The Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna is located100 kilometers southeast of Tripoli. This is a historical site that gives us the glimpse of one of the most beautiful cities of the Roman Empire including the glimpses of ruined public monuments, harbor, storehouses, shops, residential districts and market-place.

Archaeological Site of Sabratha:

Archaeological Site of Sabratha located in the district of Zawiya, Libya is famous due to its rich historical significance and eye-catching ruins. It offers us well-preserved sites of the Roman Empire including temples and theater, museums and Mausoleums.

Old Town of Ghadamès:

Ghadames is one of the oldest pre-Saharan cities of the world and stands as an oasis. The Old Town of Ghadames is also famous as the “Pearl of the Desert”. It is a must visit place to explore the beautiful local architecture and a lot more.

Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus:

The World Heritage site of Tadrart Acacus is a mountain range (part of the Sahara) located in the desert of the Ghat District in western Libya near the border of Algeria. This is the location where you explore thousands of cave paintings that reflect the culture, traditions and lifestyle of countless different Saharan civilizations that were settled here in different time periods over the centuries.

BEACHES IN LIBYA:

Libya has many attractive beaches having soft sands and clear waters. Some of the famous beaches in Libya are Derna Beach, Marsa Matruh, Sabratha, Djerba, Sirte beaches, Kuriat, El Ferdan, and Al Olwiya.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIVE KHATIJA FROM LIBYA:

SPORTS:

When we talk about sports, football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in entire Libya; followed by the other sports including horse racing, automobile racing and tennis.

MUSIC:

Libyan music shows their diverse culture and we find a variety of music within Libya. The popular music in Libya is none other than folk music. Some of the famous types of folk music are Maluf, Zukra and Tuareg music. Traditional Classical Arabic Music is played at wedding ceremonies and different national and religious festivals. Apart from folk music, other genres of music include Pop Arabic Music and Libyan Reggae.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIVE KHATIJA FROM LIBYA:

CUISINE:

TEA:

Libyan tea is famous all over and it is considered a regular part of their life. It is prepared by mixing the tea leaves with sugar along with water and it is boiled for around 20 to 30 minutes. As a result, you find hot delicious tea that looks like a black syrup.

This tea is served with Khobza and Sumec.

MBAKBAKA:

Mbakbaka is a famous food in Libya. This is also known as Libyan pasta. It is prepared from meat, onion, tomato paste, garlic, spices and macaroni. This is a must try dish. It is guaranteed that Mbakbaka is different in taste from all the pastas which you have ever tried in your life.

COUSCOUS:

Couscous is a traditional Berber dish of semolina which is famous throughout North Africa including Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Morocco. When we talk about Libyan Couscous, it is prepared by meat (preferably beef or lamb), onions, potatoes, carrots, chickpeas, vegetables, zucchini, tomato paste, and spices.

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https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/362/gallery/&index=25&maxrows=12 https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/287/gallery/&index=1&maxrows=12

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