Libya Tunisia

Author: Zhou Min, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: Libya: Natural Geography: Area 1,759,540 square kilometers. Located in northern Africa. It borders Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, Algeria and Tunisia to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. The coastline is about 1,900 kilometers long. Over 95% of the territory is desert and semi-desert. Most areas have an average elevation of 500 meters. There are plains along the northern coast. The country has no permanent rivers or lakes. Wells and springs are widely distributed, serving as the main water sources. The northern coastal region has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with warm winters and abundant rainfall, while summers are hot and dry. The average temperature in January is 12°C, and in August, it is 26°C. In summer, it is often affected by the hot, dry wind from the southern Sahara Desert (known locally as "Jbeli wind"), with temperatures reaching over 50°C. The average annual precipitation is 100–600 millimeters. The vast inland areas have a tropical desert climate with dry, hot, and little rainfall, and significant seasonal and diurnal temperature differences. The average temperature in January is around 15°C, and in July, it is above 32°C. The average annual precipitation is less than 100 millimeters. The central Sebkha is the world's most arid region. In Tripoli, the temperature in January ranges from 8°C to 16°C, and in August, from 22°C to 30°C. Population: 6.22 million (1999), mainly Arabs (approximately 83.8%), with others being Egyptians, Tunisians, and Berbers. The majority of residents are Muslim, with Sunni Muslims accounting for 97%. Arabic is the official language, while English and Italian are also spoken in major cities.