Nafusa Mountains: Difference between revisions

 

== Geography ==

The Nafusa Mountains form the boundary between the Libyan coastal plain, known as the Jafara, to the north, and the Tripolitanian Plateau to the south. The [[Formation (stratigraphy)|beds (strata)]] of the Tripolitanian Plateau slope downwards to the south and tilt upwards towards the north creating the highest portion of the plateau as the Nafusa mountains which rise to over {{cvt|750|m|sigfig=2}}.<ref>Asketell, J. M. and Ghellali, S. M. (1991) "A palaeogeologic map of the pre-Tertiary surface in the region of the Jifarah Plain: its implication to the structural history of Northern Libya" ''in'' Salime, M. J. ''et al.'' (ed.) (1991) ''The geology of Libya. Volume IV–VII : Third Symposium on the Geology of Libya, held at Tripoli, September 27–30, 1987'' Elsivier, Amsterdam, volume VI, pp. 2381–2406, {{ISBN|0-444-88844-6}}</ref><ref>El-Zouki, Ashour V. (1980) "Stratigraphy and lithofacies of the continental clastic (Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous) of Jabal Nafusah, NW Libya" ''in'' Salem, M. J. and Busrewil, M. T. (ed.) (1980) ''The Geology of Libya: Symposium on the Geology of Libya'' (2nd : 1978 : Tripoli, Libya) Academic Press, New York, volume II, pp. 394–418, {{ISBN|0-12-615501-1}}</ref><ref name= "Megerisi">Megerisi, Mohamed and Mamgain, V. D. (1980) "The Upper Cretaceous-Tertiary formations of northern Libya" ''in'' Salem, M. J. and Busrewil, M. T. (ed.) (1980) ''The Geology of Libya: Symposium on the Geology of Libya'' (2nd : 1978 : Tripoli, Libya) Academic Press, New York, volume I, pp. 67–72, {{ISBN|0-12-615501-1}}</ref> The plateau ends abruptly on the north with an escarpment which has up to {{cvt|350|m|sigfig=2}} of topographic prominence. A series of deep valleys which drain north toward the Jefara cut into this escarpment.<ref name="Megerisi"/> It extends about {{cvt|250|km|sigfig=2}} within Libya, from just east of the city of Gharyan (about {{cvt|60|km|sigfig=1}} south of Tripoli) in the east to the city of Wazzin at the Tunisian border in the west. Spurs and isolated upthrusts continue into Tunisia, but this region is almost unpopulated, in marked contrast to the situation in Libya.

 

== Economy ==

The mountain villages raise primarily goats, olives and grain, but also have fig and apricot orchards.<ref>{{cite news|last=Faul|first=Michelle|title=High-level US diplomat meets Libyan rebel leaders|url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/high-level-us-diplomat-meets-libyan-rebe|access-date=18 August 2011|newspaper=CNS News|date=23 May 2011|agency=Associated Press|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.is/20120724111021/http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/high-level-us-diplomat-meets-libyan-rebe|archive-date=24 July 2012}}</ref>

 

== 2011 Libyan civil war ==

The Nafusa Mountains became first a hotbed for anti-Gaddafi protests (with protests breaking out relatively early in Nalut and Zintan) and then a rebel stronghold, an island of rebel control in the mainly Gaddafi-controlled western part of the country. During the early stages, forces allied to the national transitional government succeeded in evacuating most non-combatants into Tunisia; the [[Wazzin]] border crossing was captured and held to ensure supply lines from Tunisia; all the mountain towns were retaken; and the front extended to the plains, cutting regime communications lines and allowing electricity to be restored. They were the first rebel combatants to be supplied with arms by air-drop.<ref>{{cite news|last=Spencer|first=Richard|title=France supplying weapons to Libyan rebels|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8606541/France-supplying-weapons-to-Libyan-rebels.html|access-date=18 August 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=29 June 2011}}</ref>

 

 

== References ==

 

== External links ==

 

{{Mountains of Libya}}

 

[[Category:Mountain ranges of Libya]]