Halfayapass

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The Halfaya Pass ( ممر حلفيا = Mamarr Halfaya ) is located about 3 km from the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, near the Libyan border, and provides a natural passage through a there about 300 m high escarpment.

In ancient times, the pass was known as Catabathamus Magnus and was in the Hellenistic geography as the border between Asia and Africa. In the Roman Empire, he marked the border between the provinces Marmarica and Egypt. The medieval scholar al - Idrisi described the pass as عقبة السلوم ( ` Aqabat as- Salum ) " Graded ascent ", which is also the modern name of the nearby town of Shallum derived. Today the term is عقبة الكبير ( ` Aqabat al - Kabīr ) what about " Big rise " means common.

During World War II there were multiple heavy fighting around the strategically important Halfaya Pass during the Africa campaign. The soldiers on both sides embossed in the episode called " Hellfire Pass " or " Gluthöllenpass ".

• Pass in Egypt