Ghat, Libie

Ghat (Arabic: غات‎ Ġāt) is ceety an the caipital o the Ghat Destrict in remote sooth-wastren Libie.

History

In historical times, Ghat wis a major terminal point on the Trans-Saharan trade route an a major admeenistrative center in the Fezzan. It wis a stranghold for the Kel Ajjer Tuareg federation whose territory covered maist o sooth-wastren Libie - includin Ubari, Sebha an Ghadames - plus sooth-eastren Algerie (Djanet an Alezi).

Frae the 5t century BCE tae the 5t century o the modren era, the Fezzan wis hame tae the Garamantian Empire, a ceety state which operatit the Trans-Saharan trade routes atween the Carthaginians -- an later the Roman Empire -- an the Sahelian states o wast an central Africae. Durin the 13t an 14t century, portions o the Fezzan wur pairt o the Kanem Empire, while the Ottoman rulers o North Africae assertit their control ower the region in the 17t century.

Beginnin in 1911, Ghat an the Fezzan wis occupee'd bi Italy. Housomeivver, Italy's control o the region wis precarious till at least 1923, wi the rise o the Italian Fascist regime. The Italians wur resisted in their early attempts at conquest bi Berber an Arab adherents tae the militant Sanusiya Sufi releegious order. Italian control o Ghat wis especially precarious for a lang time, due tae the strang active presence o the britherhuid o the Senussi. Tae defend their positions, Italians built a fortress that dominates the ceety frae the hill o Koukemen. This fort is still staundin as a tourist destination o the ceety.

Durin the Seicont Warld War, Ghat wis occupied bi Fraunce frae 1943 till 1 Januar 1952, when the Unitit Naitions General Assembly passed a resolution statin that Libie shoud become independent. Fezzan Province wis then absorbed athin the borders o the Kinrick o Libie.

Tourism

The fortress o Ghat

Ghat is an important tourist destination due tae the existence o prehistoric rock paintins an engravins in the neighborin Tadrart Acacus an Tassili N'Ajjer muntains, in addition tae the beauty o the surroondin desert landscapes. A major tourist attraction in the toun itsel is the Fortress o Ghat, Koukemen.

Ghat Airport is the local airport in Ghat. It is served bi Ghadames Air Transport tae Sebha.

Veelages an seicontary oases o Ghat

• Serdeles
• Tahala
• Fewat

Neighborin veelages

• Adales
• Albarkat
• Fewat
• Dejjan
• Tahala
• Serdeles
• Isayan
• Djanet, locatit in Algerie.
• Tin Alkum, locatit in Algerie.

See an aa

• Libian Ceevil War
• Berber
• Tuareg
• Green Sahara

References

• Jami Bey, "Ghat and its Surroundings", The Geographical Journal Vol. 34, No. 2 Aug. 1909, pp. 171–173