Zuwarah, Zuwara, or Zwara (Arabic: زوارة) is a coastal city in north-western Libya.
Zuwara
زوارة | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
  Zuwara Location in Libya | |
| Coordinates: 32°56′N 12°05′E / 32.933°N 12.083°E | |
| Country |  Libya |
| Region | Tripolitania |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 55,893 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| License Plate Code | 9 |
Zuwara is primarily inhabited by indigenous Berber people of Libya. The local Berber dialect, known locally as Zuwari, is commonly spoken as a first language by the inhabitants of Zuwara.
Zuwara is famous for its beaches and seafood. It is situated 102 km (63 mi) west of Tripoli and 60 km (37 mi) from the Tunisian border. It is the capital of the Nuqat al Khams district. Zuwarah consists of 49 districts.
History
editThe settlement was first mentioned by the traveller Abdallah al-Tijani in the years 1306-1309 as Zwara al-saghirah ("Little Zwarah").[3] In the Catalan Atlas (1375) it was called as Punta dar Zoyara. The town is mentioned by Leo Africanus in the 16th century. It later served as the western outpost of Italian Libya (1912–43), being the terminus of the now-defunct Italian Libya Railway from Tripoli 105 kilometres (65 mi) to the east. Its artificial harbour shelters a motorized fishing fleet. Cereals, dates, and esparto grass (used to make cordage, shoes, and paper) are local products.
It was in 1973 in Zuwara that Muammar Gaddafi first proclaimed the Libyan "Cultural Revolution".
2011 Libyan civil war
editDuring the 2011 Libyan Civil War, the city was reported by Al Jazeera to be under control of the local anti-Gaddafi forces on 23 February 2011, and lost by the government of Muammar Gaddafi.[4] Thousands of anti-government protesters, gathered in the Zuwara town square on 24 February, repulsed another Libyan Army attempt to retake the city. Loyalist forces used the pro-government towns of Jumayl and Riqdalin to the south as bases for their attacks on the city.[5] However, from March onwards, the city was under the control of loyalist forces.[6] Amidst the August rebel coastal offensive, rebels took Zuwara on 18 August.[7]
In September[citation needed] 2011, and following the fall of the Gaddafi government, Zuwara was the first City in Libya to democratically elect its local council.[8]
Economy
editThe city's Port of Zwara is used as a transfer point for smuggled fuel by the militias who fight the government. Often these vessels fly the flag of Palau and are operated from a mailbox in the Marshall Islands.[9]
Climate
editZuwara has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh).
| Climate data for Zuwarah (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 31.8 (89.2) |
36.5 (97.7) |
39.2 (102.6) |
41.2 (106.2) |
47.0 (116.6) |
50.2 (122.4) |
47.0 (116.6) |
47.0 (116.6) |
46.0 (114.8) |
43.8 (110.8) |
39.0 (102.2) |
32.5 (90.5) |
50.2 (122.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) |
19.3 (66.7) |
21.1 (70.0) |
23.2 (73.8) |
26.1 (79.0) |
28.5 (83.3) |
30.9 (87.6) |
32.3 (90.1) |
30.7 (87.3) |
28.6 (83.5) |
24.2 (75.6) |
19.8 (67.6) |
25.3 (77.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.7 (56.7) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.6 (61.9) |
19.0 (66.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
24.9 (76.8) |
27.6 (81.7) |
28.6 (83.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
24.2 (75.6) |
19.1 (66.4) |
15.0 (59.0) |
21.0 (69.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.0 (48.2) |
9.8 (49.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
14.8 (58.6) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.3 (70.3) |
24.1 (75.4) |
24.9 (76.8) |
23.8 (74.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
14.1 (57.4) |
10.1 (50.2) |
16.8 (62.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.5 (36.5) |
1.0 (33.8) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
9.5 (49.1) |
14.0 (57.2) |
18.0 (64.4) |
16.0 (60.8) |
16.0 (60.8) |
10.8 (51.4) |
4.0 (39.2) |
3.5 (38.3) |
1.0 (33.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 33.1 (1.30) |
27.6 (1.09) |
15.5 (0.61) |
9.6 (0.38) |
4.6 (0.18) |
0.8 (0.03) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.7 (0.07) |
16.6 (0.65) |
22.0 (0.87) |
30.2 (1.19) |
43.2 (1.70) |
204.9 (8.07) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 4.1 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 26.0 |
| Source: NOAA[10] | |||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Wolfram Alpha
- ^ [Amraja M. el Khajkhaj, "Noumou al Mudon as Sagheera fi Libia", Dar as Saqia, Benghazi-2008, pp. 118-123][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Voyage du Scheikh Et-Tidjani dans la régence de Tunis pendant les années 706, 707 et 708 de l'hégire (1306-1309)", transl. by M. A. Rousseau, Journal Asiatique 1853, p. 121.
- ^ "Live Blog - Libya Feb 24". Al Jazeera English. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- ^ Draper, Robert (February 2013). "New Old Libya". National Geographic. p. 46.
- ^ NPR; "Militias In Libya Attack Protesters" Archived May 29, 2016, at the Wayback Machine; February 24, 2011; Accessed 2001-02-24.
- ^ "Rebels claim control of Libya's last functioning oil refinery". The Washington Post. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "The voice of Libya's minorities" Archived May 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine; November, 2011
- ^ "Whose Convenience? | Hudson". 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Zuara Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
Sources
edit- Terence Frederick Mitchell, Ferhat. An Everyday Story of Berber Folk in and around Zuara (Libya), Köln, Köppe, 2007 - ISBN 978-3-89645-396-9
External links
edit- Official Zuwara Municipality website - in Tamazight and Arabic
- official Zuwara website - in Arabic