Cave Art of Acacus in Ghat, Libya
Ancient rock paintings in the Libyan desert are considered so important they've been declared a world heritage site, but they are slowly being eaten away by vandalism.
Thousands of cave paintings and carvings, going back up to 14,000 years, have made Libya's Tadrart Acacus mountain massif famous and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The art, painted or carved on rocks sandwiched by spectacular sand dunes, showcase the changing flora and fauna of the Sahara stretching over thousands of years.
Highlights include a huge elephant carved on a rock face as well as giraffes, cows and ostriches rendered in caves dating back to an era when the region was not an inhospitable desert.
But many paintings are now destroyed or damaged by graffiti sprayers or people carving in their initials.
Tourists who have stayed away from Libya's hot spots over the past four years are even less likely to return now that one of the country's treasures is being defaced and in some cases, destroyed.
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THE DESERT ( Acacus Mountains ) LIBYA
جبال أكاكوس أو تدرارت أكاكوس هي جبال صخرية تقع في جنوب غرب ليبيا وضمن الصحراء الكبرى، وأقرب مدينة إليها هي غات الأثرية.
The Acacus Mountains or Tadrart Akakus (Arabic: تدرارت أكاكوس / ALA-LC: Tadrārt Akākūs) form a mountain range in the desert of the Ghat District in western Libya, part of the Sahara. They are situated east of the city of Ghat, Libya and stretch north from the border with Algeria, about 100 kilometres (62 mi). The area has a particularly rich array of prehistoric rock art.
14,000-year-old rock art vandalised in lawless Sahara
(16 Feb 2018) LEADIN:
Ancient rock drawings in Libya have been damaged by graffiti and other vandalism.
The 14,000 year-old pictures in the Tadrart Acacus area are so important they are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
STORYLINE:
The golden sands of the Sahara stretch out towards the Acacus mountains in southwestern Libya.
The area is located near the ancient city of Ghat near the Algerian border. And in this strange landscape lie some of the country's greatest treasures.
Tourists crowd around the rock formations to get a peek at a window into ancient civilisations. Drawings - some up to 14,000 years old - decorate the stone. The depections of cattle and humans are a hint to the lives of people who lived in the Tadrart Acacus area long ago.
And they are so highly regarded, this place is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
But tour guides are reporting worrying damage.
The rock art has been defaced by graffiti and tourists have sprayed the pictures with water to make them appear more clearly in photographs.
Names recently written in Arabic can be found alongside ancient drawings.
Tour guide Yahya Saleh is certain he knows who to blame for the vandalism.
No one enters here from other countries, only the Libyans. The Libyans are the ones who write on the effects, he says.
Our Libyan youth come here to hunt deer and then they write and scrawl their memories on the antiquities. These monuments are history, this is what the Libyans will live with, and they treat them this way?
He points to words etched inside a picture of livestock that he is sure was not here a year ago.
Libya descending into chaos following the uprising that toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
And looking after this art has not been a priority for a country beset with a myriad of other problems.
But Saleh warns the site must be preserved.
People do not know the value of this, he says.
The important thing to do is to put somebody to protect them, because if this issue persists, then they will be gone within two years.
Libya is like a huge, open-air museum of history because of its many archaeological sites - five are on the World Heritage List.
But the country has been ravaged by conflict and many of these precious places have been attacked, shrines have been destroyed, sites looted and antiquities stolen.
But the awe-inspiring landscape of the Tadrart Acacus still stuns visitors - even those who come from Libya.
I have visited half of the world, but this is the first time I have seen such scenes, and I cannot believe that I am in my country, in Libya, says Ismail Shobana.
Domestic tourists like Shobana are the only people likely to come here now.
Poor security means foreigners are not prepared to venture into Libya.
So those who make their living from the industry have had to get creative to drum up business.
We had the idea of trying to activate local tourism in Libya by designing and carrying out trips like the ones we were doing for foreigners but for Libyans instead, explains Hisham Al-Adoly, a tour guide.
But he says even Libyans have had security concerns.
Security is unstable and unsettled in some areas, there was explicit fear. But when we explained the situation to them and called friends and people in the south, they were reassured in terms of security, Al-Adoly says.
Maintaining tourist interest in these ancient rocks and their art is crucial.
As long as people still value the site, there remains some hope that it can be protected for future generations and for a time when Libya is once again stable.
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World Konnect:Primitive cave paintings of Akakus losing its luster
Akakus Mountain range, in Libya...a world Heritage site that has thousands of cave paintings in varied styles...is losing its luster because of vandalism and human activities. Need to save this ancient heritage.
#WORLDKONNECT
Tadrart Acacus, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tadrart Acacus is a desert area in westernLibya and is part of the Sahara. It is situated close to the Libyan city of Ghat. Tadrart means 'mountain' in the native language of the area (Tamahaq language). It has a particularly rich array of prehistoric rock art. The Acacus has a large variation of landscapes, from differently coloured sand dunes to arches, gorges, rocks and mountains. Major landmarks are the arches of Afzejare and Tin Khlega. Although this area is one of the most arid of the Sahara, there is vegetation, such as the callotropis plant. The area is known for its rock-art and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 because of the importance of these paintings and carvings. The paintings date from 12,000 BC to 100 AD and reflect cultural and natural changes in the area. There are paintings and carvings of animals such as giraffes, elephants, ostriches and camels, but also of men and horses. Men are depicted in various daily life situations, for example while making music and dancing.
Boscaioli nel deserto del tadrart acacus
Boscaioli nel deserto del tadrart acacus
Archaeological Site of Sabratha (UNESCO/NHK)
A Phoenician trading-post that served as an outlet for the products of the African hinterland, Sabratha was part of the short-lived Numidian Kingdom of Massinissa before being Romanized and rebuilt in the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D.
Source: UNESCO TV / © NHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai
URL:
Libya 1 Akakus
Documentary Libya Akakus
Ghadames
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This article is about the town; for the former Libyan district see Ghadames District.Ghadames or Ghadamis /ɡəˈdæmᵻs/ is an oasis Berber town in the Nalut District of the Tripolitania region in northwestern Libya.The indigenous language of Ghadames is Ghadamès, a Berber language.Ghadamès, known as 'the pearl of the desert', stands in an oasis.
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www.elbaeumberto.com Tadrart Acacus 4
Libia giovedi 13 novembre 2008
Libya Travel Guide - An African Exceptional Experience
Libya Travel Guide - An African Exceptional Experience
Libya (Arabic: ليبيا ), is a country in North Africa. In the north it has a Mediterranean Sea coast, with Egypt to the east and Tunisia to the west. It also has land borders with Algeria, Chad, Niger and Sudan. More than 90% of the country is desert or semi desert. Archaeological evidence indicates that from as early as 8,000 BC, the coastal plain of Ancient Libya was inhabited by a Neolithic people, the Berbers, who were skilled in the domestication of cattle and the cultivation of crops.
Within Libya as many as five different climatic zones have been recognized, but the dominant climatic influences are Mediterranean and Saharan. In most of the coastal lowland, the climate is Mediterranean, with warm summers and mild winters. Rainfall is scanty. The weather is cooler in the highlands, and frosts occur at maximum elevations. In the desert interior the climate has very hot summers and extreme diurnal temperature ranges.
Regions & Cities of Libya :
Cyrenaica (Benghazi, Shahhat, Tobruk)
the north eastern region on the Mediterranean Sea
Saharan Libya (Gaberoun, Ghadamis, Sabha, Ghat)
huge southern desert region with amazing scenery and some of the hottest temperatures recorded anywhere in the world
Tripolitania (Tripoli, Gharyan, Misratah, Surt)
the north western region on the Mediterranean Sea with the capital city and ancient Roman ruins
Tripoli - the capital
Benghazi
Gharyan
Ghadamis
Misratah
Sabha
Shahhat— Ancient city of Cyrene, a World Heritage site, is nearby
Surt
Tobruk
In Tripoli, it is surprisingly hard to find a traditional Libyan restaurant. Most serve western-style cuisine, with a few Moroccan and Lebanese restaurants thrown in. There are also a number of good Turkish restaurants, and some of the best coffee and gelato outside of Italy. There are some wonderful Libyan dishes you should taste in case you are fortunate enough to be invited to a Libyan dinner party or wedding (be prepared to be overfed!). A favourite cafe for the local expatriate community is the fish restaurant in the souq. For the equivalent of a few US dollars, you can enjoy a great seafood couscous. A local speciality is the stuffed calamari.
Major cities have a range of accommodations available, from shabby hotels to 4 star establishments. Prices vary accordingly. While it seems to be diminishing with the arrival of more tourists every year, Libyans have a strong tradition of taking travellers into their own homes and lavishing hospitality on them. This is certainly true in smaller towns and villages.
Libya is an ancient crossroads of civilisations that bequeathed to the Libyan coast some of the finest Roman and Greek ruins in existence, among them Leptis Magna, Cyrene and Sabratha. Libya also has some of the most beautiful corners of the Sahara Desert, from seas of sand the size of Switzerland and sheltering palm-fringed lakes (the Ubari Sand Sea) to remote massifs adorned with prehistoric rock art (the Jebel Acacus), labyrinthine caravan towns (Ghadames) and an isolated black-as-black volcano (Wawa al-Namus) in the desert's heart.
A lot to see in Libya such as :
Grand Erg Oriental
Red Castle Museum
Gabal El Uweinat
Jebel Akhdar, Libya
Nafusa Mountains
GaberounMartyrs' Square, Tripoli
Arch of Marcus Aurelius
Great Man-Made River
Alfornaj Rotary
Gurgi Mosque
Benghazi Cathedral
Port of Tripoli
Port of Benghazi
Haruj
Wadi el Kuf Bridge
Mosque of Omar ibn al-Khattab
Molay MOHAMMAD
Al-Majidya Mosque
Sabratha Theatre
el-Manar Palace
Lake Gaberoun
Luna Park
Gheriat esh-Shergia
Anfiteatro Romano Di Leptis Magna
Benghazi Zoo
Hadrianic Baths
23rd July Lake
Tomb Of The Struggler Omar Al-Mukhtar
Temple of Zeus
Arkenu structures
Ancient Sabratha
Vella Selene
Abuscabh Project
Leptis Magna Theater
Sabratha Ancient Theatre
Al-Quba Al-Falakia
Severan Forum
Janzour Museum
Karamanly House Museum
Jebel Sherif
Museum of Libya
An Nasr Forest
Waw an Namus
Libya is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Libya . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Libya
Join us for more :
Top 10 Most Beautiful Places In Libya | things to do in Libya
Top 10 Most Beautiful Places In Libya
Top 10 most beautiful places in Libya. 10) Tadrart Acacus, Ghat District, Libya. Source: common.wikipedia.com. 8) Cyrene, Libya. Source: prweb.com. 7) Leptis Magna, Khoms, Libya. 6) Ghadames City, Ghadames District, Libya. 5) Dirj, Libya. 4) Benghazi, Cyrenaica, Libya. 3) Assaraya al-Hamra, Tripoli, Libya
Thanks for watching.
Libya 4x4 Acacus 4 of 9 KB4x4.pl
Cave Art for my Patrons!
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www.elbaeumberto.com L'Arco, Tadrart Acacus
Libia venerdi 14 novembre 2008
Reminiscing Libya: Tadrart Acacus.wmv
Tribes make their home in unforgiving desert
(13 Feb 2018) LEADIN:
The Sahara desert is harsh environment - but that doesn't stop people making their home in it.
Many members of the Tuareg tribe survive there and would never consider moving to a town or city.
STORYLINE:
Looking out over the unforgiving landscape of Tadrart Acacus.
Desert life near the town of Ghat in the far south-west of Libya is not easy.
But some families have chosen to set up home here in search of safety away from the big cities plagued by chaos and violence.
They must survive on little money and limited health care.
But Mohamed Abdelkader, an Acacus resident, says people have adapted to the desert.
Despite the lack of doctors and difficult health conditions, and of course living in the desert is difficult itself, they are not prepared to live in cities.
Their lives are simple.
The toilet block is a basic stone building with few creature comforts.
Cooking is done in the open air, over fire pits.
Despite the primitive lifestyle, Abdelkader says the real problem comes when someone gets ill. Even if it's just a case of the flu, without medicine or doctors the situation is difficult.
The nearest place to get food are the towns of Ghat and Awaynat, which are considered the gates of Tadrart Acacus and its residents are all from the Tuareg tribes.
Maintaining a food supply is difficult.
The desert residents make occasional trips to the towns to stock up, but that costs money they don't have.
Their main income comes from the animals they graze.
The source of their livelihood is the sale of sheep in the cities and they get a little money in return to meet their needs, says Abdelkader.
Many have lived in the desert for decades - sometimes for their entire lives.
But they are still subject to the same financial uncertainties as their urban counterparts.
Everything we buy is on credit, we run up debts with shops until we get our salaries, says desert resident Hamouda Hassan.
The salary he refers to is a payment from the government.
These people are so poor, they rely on state support from the social insurance system.
But the country's economic crisis means there are currency shortages so it's difficult to get the money.
We want the banks to return to normal work like they used to: everyone goes to their bank to take the salary and leaves, says Andeline Amghar.
The people who live in the harsh Saharan environment are from the Tuareg and Tabu tribes, minorities in Libya.
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Martyrs' Square, Tripoli Libya 03/07/2011
www.elbaeumberto.com Tadrart Acacus 2
Libia mercoledi 12 novembre 2008
discrimation in USA and libya
alaa describing a situation of race and gender discrimination in USA and Libya respectively