The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Official Name

  The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Capital
Tripoli
 
Location
The Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is located in northern Africa between 90° and 50° E longitude and 180° and 330° N latitude and boasts a Mediterranean coastline of approximately 1820 km in length. It borders Egypt to the east, Sudan to the south east, Chad and Niger to the south with Algeria and Tunisia to the west and north-west respectively.
 
Population
The population census in Libya reaches approximately 5,602,500
 
Area
1,759,540 Sq Km (679,362 Sq Mi)
 
Religion
Islam is the official religion in the great socialist people's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
 
Climate
Libya has two climatic zones,
(1) a Mediterranean climate along the coast and the northern areas which is generally characterized by warm dry summers with cold winters and variable precipitation up to 600 mm (24 inches) between October and March.
(2) a hot and dry desert climate in the south with rainfall seldom exceeding 500 mm (19 inches) annually.

Prevailing winds are from the north and east between May and October as well as from the north and west between November and April. Average temperature ranges in Tripoli are from 8 to 16 degrees Celsius (46 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 22 to 30 degrees Celsius (72 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) in August.
 
When to go
Coastal areas: all year round; in winter from December to March the weather is humid and can be rainy and cold.
Desert areas: from September to May; nighttime in winter can be very cold but sky and landscapes are generally clearer; in summer temperatures are generally very high.
 
Time lag
CET +1 hr / GMT +2 hrs
 
Language
Official language is Arabic, English language is widely spoken
 
Electricity
220V; Continental and European plugs. Visitors from countries with different specifications are advised to carry an adapter.
 
Clothes
We recommend comfortable attire and shoes: cotton tee-shirts and pants and an all-weather coat or jacket in summer; heavier pants and  coat in winter. Hats and sunglasses are highly recommended.
Shorts or sleeveless shirts are not permitted on religious sites (preferably bring clothes which cover upper legs and shoulders).
 
Vaccinations
None necessary.
 
Foods
Typical local dishes include couscous, fish, lamb cutlets, kebab, salads. Big hotels serve international cuisine.
 
Shopping
In the souks, one can find typical Arabic products like local carpets (the most famous is the Misurata carpet), silver products, multicolored hand made Ghadames sandals and other varieties of local products.
 
Photography
Taking photos is allowed in all archeological sites and museums. A fee of LYD5.00 (Libyan Dinar) is charged for cameras and LYD10.00 for video cameras. It is not permitted to photograph government buildings, military officers, persons or bridges.

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