Zuwarah

Zuwarah, or Zuwara or Zwara (Berber language: At Willul or Zwara,[3][4] Arabic: زوارة‎) is a coastal Berber-speaking city in Libya.

For the city in Iran with the same Arabic name, see Zavareh.
Zuwara

زوارة

At Willul / ⴰⵜ ⵡⵉⵍⵍⵓⵍ
City
Seal
Zuwara
Location in Libya
Coordinates: 32°56′N 12°05′E
Country Libya
RegionTripolitania
Elevation0 ft (0 m)
Population
 • Total55,893
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)

Zuwara or At Willul 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. Its population speaks Zuwara Berber, a Zenati Berber language.

History

The settlement was first mentioned by the traveller al-Tidjani in the years 1306-1309 as Zwara al-saghirah ("Little Zwarah").[5] In a Catalan sailing manual (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
Further information: Libyan Crisis (2011–present)

In the 2011 Libyan Civil War battles, 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.[6] 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.[7] However, from March onwards, the city was under the control of loyalist forces.[8] Amidst the August rebel coastal offensive, rebels took Zuwara on 18 August.[9]

In September 2011, and following the fall of the Gaddafi government, Zuwara was the first City in Libya to democratically elect its local council.[10]

Climate

Zuwara has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh).

Climate data for Zuwarah
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 17.0
(62.6)		 18.5
(65.3)		 20.3
(68.5)		 22.4
(72.3)		 25.1
(77.2)		 27.8
(82.0)		 30.2
(86.4)		 31.5
(88.7)		 29.2
(84.6)		 26.3
(79.3)		 23.2
(73.8)		 18.1
(64.6)		 24.1
(75.4)
Average low °C (°F) — 10.2
(50.4)		 13.6
(56.5)		 16.3
(61.3)		 19.5
(67.1)		 20.8
(69.4)		 22.4
(72.3)		 21.0
(69.8)		 21.0
(69.8)		 17.1
(62.8)		 12.1
(53.8)		 7.3
(45.1)		 —
Average precipitation mm (inches) 32
(1.3)		 20
(0.8)		 16
(0.6)		 13
(0.5)		 5
(0.2)		 1
(0.0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 10
(0.4)		 29
(1.1)		 32
(1.3)		 44
(1.7)		 202
(8.0)
Source: Climate-data.org

See also

References
  1. Wolfram Alpha
  2. [Amraja M. el Khajkhaj, "Noumou al Mudon as Sagheera fi Libia", Dar as Saqia, Benghazi-2008, pp. 118-123]
  3. Chaker Salem, Ferkal Masin, « Berbères de Libye : un paramètre méconnu, une irruption politique inattendue », Politique africaine, 2012/1 (N° 125), p. 105-126. DOI : 10.3917/polaf.125.0105. URL : https://www.cairn.info/revue-politique-africaine-2012-1-page-105.htm
  4. Canciani, D., Ghaki, M., Habouss, A., Serra, L., Taifi, M., & Yacine, T. (2016). La lingua nella vita e la vita della lingua. Itinerari e percorsi degli studi berberi. Miscellanea per il Centenario di studi berberi a «L’Orientale» di Napoli. Scritti in onore di Francesco Beguinot., 5. URL : https://unora.unior.it/retrieve/handle/11574/174177/34757/SB5.pdf
  5. "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.
  6. "Live Blog - Libya Feb 24". Al Jazeera English. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  7. Draper, Robert (February 2013). "New Old Libya". National Geographic. p. 46.
  8. NPR; "Militias In Libya Attack Protesters" Archived May 29, 2016, at the Wayback Machine; February 24, 2011; Accessed 2001-02-24.
  9. "Rebels claim control of Libya's last functioning oil refinery". The Washington Post. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  10. "The voice of Libya's minorities" Archived May 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine; November, 2011

Sources
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