Physical Geography

Except for two strips of land along the coast, one in the northwest and one in the northeast, Libya lies entirely within the Sahara. Much of the country lacks physical variety, consisting primarily of stony plateaus, gravelly plains, and vast expanses of shifting sand dunes. Only occasional oases and rock outcrops break the monotony of the terrain, which generally varies from 500 to 3,000 feet (150 to 900 m) in elevation. The highest point is Bette, a peak in the Tibesti massif near the Chad border, which reaches 7,434 feet (2,266 m).

Libya has no permanent rivers but has numerous wadis, broad gulleys that contain water briefly after rains. Sizable reserves of groundwater occur along the Tripolitanian coast and in some parts of the desert. The largest of these underground sources is at the Kufra Oasis in the southeast. Salt marshes and dry salt lakes fringe the coast, especially along the Gulf of Sidra.

Most of Libya has a desert-type climate, marked by extreme aridity and wide daily variations in temperature. Rainfall averages less than 5 inches (130 mm) annually, and large areas receive no rain for several years at a time. Temperatures in summer reach well over 100° F. (38° C.) at midday, then drop to between 60° and 70° F. (16° and 21° C.) at night. Winters are cooler, with occasional nighttime frosts.

In the coastal areas of the northwest and the northeast, where the influence of the sea overcomes that of the desert, a Mediterranean-type climate prevails. Summers are generally hot and dry, with temperatures averaging near 80° F. (27° C.). Winters are mild to cool and moderately rainy. Annual rainfall usually varies from 10 to 20 inches (250 to 500 mm) depending on location and elevation, but severe droughts occur every few years. The ghibli, a hot, dry, sand-laden wind, blows from the desert, mainly in spring and fall. It usually lasts only one to four days, but can raise temperatures considerably and cause considerable damage to crops.

Throughout most of the country vegetation is either nonexistent or limited to desert and semidesert grasses and shrubs. Date palms and citrus trees grow in the oases and along the Tripolitanian coast. The only true forests occur in high, relatively well-watered parts of the northeast, where cypress, juniper, and wild olive trees grow.