Misurata

It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a band of sand dunes and occupies a coastal oasis above an underground water table. The town originated about the 7th century as a caravan supply centre. By the 12th century, as Thubactis, it was engaged in interregional commerce. International trade developed through the port of Qasr Ahmad, or Misurata Marina (now closed), lying 7 miles (11 km) east on Cape Misratah, but the town reverted to a local market under Ottoman Turkish rule. By the 20th century, irrigation had greatly increased agricultural production, and the town, on the federal coastal road, became a main market and administrative centre.

Misurata City is 0ne of the trade centers that the Phoenicians started building in the tenth century BC on the northern western part of the Libyan coast. Thus it is now three thousand years old.

The city was known in the old ages by the name of Cephale Tobactus, which means cape Misurata. It derived its importance from being on the cross roads of vital routes and amidst an agricultural area mentioned by the name of Cephale Promentium in ancient documents called Stade Somas Marcie Magna (the longest distances in the great sea) in the fourth century BC. This means that it was mentioned in those documents in a period that goes back to an era of two thousand three hundred and fifty years ago which is considered one of the oldest references in which the coastal suburb of Qasr Ahmed where the port of Misurata is located was mentioned and was found so far. The geographer Strabo described it in the first century BC that it is a high head covered with bushes forming the great gulf of Sirt. What was mentioned by Plotemeus the famous geographer in the name of the Treron Akron for it is formed of three capes from the main land springing in the sea and inhabited by the tribe Misurata. So it was named after the name of this tribe and it is the name that is given to it now, it was also known by the name Dat Arrimal (the sandy one) for it has plenty of white and yellow sand dunes.

Misurata City lie s on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea 211 km East of Tripoli and 825 km west of Benghazi. The location of the city forms a mixture of a dualism of sea and sand for it is surrounded by the sea from the north and east and from the south it is surrounded by the golden sands combined with the long palm trees, the shady olives and the green plains which encircle the center of the town with its modern buildings, wide streets, large factories such as the iron and steel complex and carpets and textile factories and a number of establishments, companies and trade centers.

Misurata city is the third largest of the Libyan cities with a population of 300,000. It witnesses now a big boom in all scopes of life thanks to the great first of September revolution which was the main factor behind the great development that took place in the city as well as the whole of the country.

Besides its distinguished location, which makes it a starting point for the exchange of commodities and materials with the rest of the cities of the country, Misurata enjoys a new infrastructure in the field of services such as roads, electricity and communications. It is also the seat of many national companies such as the Libyan Ports Company, Iron and Steel Company, the Libyan publishing, distribution and Advertising Company. Besides that it has branches of public and private sector banks and one locally and privately owned bank.

Old Misratah is characterized by Arab architecture and narrow arched or covered streets. The modern town, however, is a mixture of Turkish and European buildings with a public garden and tree-lined avenues. The town's market economy is supplemented by light manufactures (textiles and hardware) and handicrafts (carpets, basketry, and pottery). It is linked by the coastal highway that connects Tripoli with Banghazi and Cairo. Misratah is an educational centre with several seminaries, a technical college, and a primary-teacher-training institute and hospital facilities. Pop. (380,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate),

Eat and Sleep
Misrata has excellent offerings of hotels and restaurants. You can get a little chalet at the beach for US$6 for one night (official exchange rates), while those with money can find first class places. Misrata is even better as restaurants are concerned.

Transportation
Buses and taxis connect Misrata with Benghazi and Tripoli. There are air flights, too, but due to the lack of spare parts, these are not recommended.

Going Next
500 km south: Houn
250 km southeast: Sirte
200 km northwest: Tripoli