Nafusa Mountains

P1F1

Dep1

The Jebel Nafusa (Arabic جبل نفوسة, Italian Gebel Nefusa, Berber Drar Infusen n ) is a coastal escarpment near Highlands in northwestern Libya. The territory is almost exclusively inhabited by Berbers.

Location

The Nafusa mountain range is located in the hinterland of Tripolitania, one of the three historical provinces of Libya's Great. It extends as an extension of Dahar highlands in Tunisia more than 350 km from the Tunisian border at Nalut on Yafran, Gharyan and Tarhuna to al - Chums on the Mediterranean Sea and includes the Djeffara level for the Sahara ( Hammada al -Hamra ) to the south from. A steep slope to the south leads on to the sand, gravel and scree of the Fezzan.

With its height of up to 850 m (highest point 981 m ) allows the raining clouds and agriculture in the Djeffara level without extensive irrigation systems.

History

Due to the favorable climatic conditions, cereals and olive trees have been cultivated since ancient times. Great recovery took agriculture especially under Roman rule since the 1st century BC The prosperity of the Roman ruling class was also evident in a variety of villas, which were built in the area of ​​Jebel Nafusa.

Especially since the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, the Jebel Nafusa was a refuge for the Berber tribes. So here reasoned Abu al - Khattab al - Maafiri in the 8th century imamate of Ibadis and conquered Kairouan in Ifriqiya. Even today live in the Jebel Nafusa groups of Ibadis.

At the beginning of the civil war in 2011, brought the tribes in the mountains against the Gaddafi regime and acquired in varied struggles, the control of the area, including through the cities of Nalut and Zintan. From here, took place on August 20, 2011, the decisive breakthrough to Tripoli, which had the collapse of the Gaddafi regime result.

Attractions

Apart from the many scenic attractions are located in the territory of the Nafusa mountains, the memory castles ( ksour ) of Nalut, Kabaw, Qasr Bou Neran and Qasr al - Haj.