GEOGRAPHY
Cities:
Capital--Tripoli (pop. 1.5 mil-lion). Other--Benghazi (800,000).
Terrain: Desert and semidesert;
hills south of Tripoli and east of Benghazi.
Climate: Mediterranean on
coast; arid.
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt
and Tunisia
total area: 1,759,540 sq
km
land area: 1,759,540 sq
km
comparative
area: slightly larger than Alaska
Land
boundaries: total 4,383 km, Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km,
Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Gulf
of Sidra closing line: 32 degrees 30 minutes north
International
disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in
February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad
and Libya belongs to Chad, and that Libya must withdraw from it
by 31 May 1994; Libya has withdrawn some its forces in response
to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains an airfield in the disputed
area; maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; claims part of northern
Niger and part of southeastern Algeria
Natural
resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Irrigated
land: 2,420 sq km (1989 est.)
current issues: desertification;
very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade
River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world,
is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara
to coastal cities
natural hazards: hot, dry,
dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days
in spring and fall; duststorms, sandstorms
international
agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
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