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Libya is a crossroads of history, continents and ancient empires. Home to the Mediterranean’s richest store of Roman and Greek cities – Sabratha, Cyrene and, above all, Leptis Magna – each of which is overlaid by remnants of Byzantine splendour, it’s a place where history comes alive through the extraordinary monuments on its shores. Every corner of cosmopolitan Tripoli resonates with a different period of history. It’s where the Sahara meets the Mediterranean.
Libya is also home to Africa’s most exceptional and accessible desert scenery. The Sahara engulfs over 90% of the country, offering up vast sand seas the size of small European countries. Visit the enchanting oasis towns of Ghadames and Ghat, where the caravans once showcased the riches of Africa. Marvel at palm-fringed lakes surrounded by sand dunes in the desert’s heart. Be bewitched by extinct volcanoes, such as Waw al-Namus, where black sand encircles multicoloured lakes. Go deeper into the desert and experience Jebel Acacus, one of the world’s finest open-air galleries of prehistoric rock art.
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More than 90 percent of Libya’s population is a mixture of Berber and Arab ancestry. Berbers were the natives who occupied the land before the arrival of Arabs. An overwhelming majority of Libyans are Muslims. Most Libyans belong to the Sunni school of Islam, brought during the conquest by Arabs. Islam is central to Libyan life. Libyan life revolves around the regular religious practices advocated by Islam with most of the citizens attending regular prayers at mosques. Women pray at home.
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Libya. Warm sun, warm hearts. A great country with a great history, a country of breathtaking beauty. High mountain chains are just one of the beauties of its fabulous landscape with green fields and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches. The desert, watered by magnificent oasis, extends far into Africa. Fabulous villages and cities scattered amongst meadows, with oasis everywhere. Historical monuments forests, towering mountains...
and a warm Libyan Arab welcome. Libya's strategic, geographical position and profound history make it a vital link between the eastern and western parts of the Arab world, and between Europe and Africa. The country has known its ups and downs, but the historical monuments are a testimony of the great Libyan civilization of old. Look at the engravings of the AKAKUS mountains, the drawings in the MATCHANDOUSH caves.
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Lake Gabraoun
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Tripoli, or Tarabalus Al-Gharb (Tripoli of the West in Arabic), is the major city and de facto capital of Libya. The climate of Tripoli is Mediterranean with hot dry summers, cool winters and some modest rainfall. Weather can be variable, influenced by the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea which moderates daily temperature ranges. The old walled city of Tripoli, the Medina, is one of the classical sites of the Mediterranean. The basic street plan was laid down in the Roman period when the walls were constructed on the landward sides against attacks from the interior of Tripolitania. The high walls survived many invasions, each conqueror restoring the damage done. In the 8th century the Muslim ruler built a wall on the sea-facing side of the city. Three great gates gave access to the town, Bab Zanata on the west, Bab Hawara on the south east and Bab Al-Bahr in the north wall. The castle, Al-Saraya Al-Hamra, occupies a site known to be pre-Roman in the east quadrant of the old city and still dominates the skyline of Tripoli. Any tour of the old city should begin at the castle, entered from the land side near Suq Al-Mushir.
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Libya is a North African country. Arabs are the most populous ethnic group and various kinds of Arab music are popular such as Andalusi music, locally known as Maluf, Chabi and Arab classical music.
The Tuareg live in the southern, Saharan part of the country, and have their own distinctive folk music. There is little or no pop music industry. Among the Tuareg, women are the musicians. They play a one-stringed violin called an anzad, as well as a variety of drums.
Two of the most famous musicians of Libya are Ahmed Fakroun and Mohammed Hassan.
Among Libyan Arabs, instruments include the zokra (a bagpipe), flute (made of bamboo), tambourine, oud (a fretless lute) and darbuka, a goblet drum held sideways and played with the fingers. Complication clapping is also common in folk music.
Travelling Bedouin poet-singers have spread many popular songs across Libya. Among their styles is huda, the camel driver's song, the rhythm of which is said to mimic the feet of a walking camel.
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Like in most African nations, soccer is the most popular team sport in Libya. The country’s national team known as “the greens” participates regularly in regional tournaments. The team also participates in world cup qualifiers though it is yet to make it to the tournament proper.
Libya has twice featured at the Africa Nation’s Cup; in 1982 when the country hosted the tournament. “The greens” reached the finals and lost to Ghana in the finals. The team then featured at the 2006 even but failed to make it out of the group stages.
Other popular sports in the country are; athletics, swimming, martial arts and boxing.
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