14 Facts About Libya We Bet You Didn’t Know

Flag of Libya

The Libyan flag

Libya came to bad light recently when reports about slave auction markets flooded the internet. According to the reporst, young West African Immigrants seeking to enter Europe through Libya were sold into slavery by Libyans. This caused a global outrage and the Nigerian government ran to the rescue of its citizens stuck there.

Libya might have been unknown to many before the recent bad publicity, therefore. here are some interesting facts about Africa’s 4th largest country(after Algeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan). you should know.

1. Tripoli, the capital of Libya, was in a position to help protect American ships from attack by Barbary pirates in the 19th century (since, after all, some of them were based there!) By paying protection to the Sultan, the U.S. ships sailed the Mediterranean unmolested. When the price went up, the two countries went to war, twice, in what came to be known as the Barbary Wars. Tripoli is also the largest city in Libya.

2. In Libya’s entire history, it only had one King. King Idris reigned from 1951 until he was overthrown by Colonel Gaddafi (also spelled Qadhafi) in 1969.

3. Although an Islamic nation today, Libya was an early Christian center historically.

4. Much of the central and eastern area of the country is covered by the Libyan Desert. The Libyan Desert is one of the most sun-baked and arid places on earth. There is no average rainfall — the land may go for decades with no rain and the highlands for five to ten years without it. , Libya’s 1,770 kilometers (1099 miles) of Mediterranean Sea coast is the longest of any North African country.

5. Oil was discovered in the 1950s in Libya.

6. Besides revues from oil exports; petrochemicals, iron, aluminum, and steel manufacturing accounts for 20 percent of Libya’s GDP.

7.Libya has proven oil reserves estimated at 48 billion barrels, making it one of the top 10 oil-rich countries in the world.
8.The Libyan dinar is the national currency.
9. Libya’s national language is Arabic but the people also speak Italian and English.
10.Popular sports are soccer, chariot races, and camel racing.
11.The biggest meal of the day for Libyan families is lunch and it is of great symbolic importance. Businesses, shops, and schools close for several hours so families may gather together to eat.
12. All meats eaten by Libyans must be halal. This means the animal was killed humanely and prayed over ritually according to Muslim customs.13. Food is eaten with three fingers on the right hand. The left is considered unclean. Good manners dictate you leave a little food on your plate to indicate that your host is a gracious and generous provider.

14.Libyans greet one another with “Salaam aleikum: (Peace be with you.) or “Sabbahakum Allah bi’l-khair” (May Allah give you a good morning.). They also ask a set of formal ritual questions about their families and health.

 

Source: The fact file