Sabha, Libie

Sabha (Arabic: سبها‎ Sabhā) is a ceety in soothwastren Libie wi a population o 130,000. It wis historically the caipital o the Fezzan region an is nou caipital o the Sabha Destrict.^[1]

Owerview

Sabha is biggit on a plain saund aurie next tae a picturesque Lake Gaberoun, surroondit bi palm trees wi dates, which haes made the ceety increasingly popular wi internaitional tourists. In addition tae traditional camel-ridin, hirin an drivin jeeps tae veesit the surroondin auries haes acome increasingly popular. Wi a relatively lairge population, an growin fast, Sabha's importance is due tae its bein the air an road transport hub o the Fezzan, a military base, an the centre o a remarkable agricultural industry in the desert.

Sabha is famous for the Fort Elena castle,^[2] which is the castle featurt on the reverse o the ten dinars banknote o Libie. Fort Elena wis previously kent as Fortezza Margherita, biggit durin the Italian colonial period. Currently the Italian-biggit fort is a military institution.

Sabha is kent as the place whaur Libian leader Muammar al-Gaddafi annoonced "the dawn o the era o the masses".^[3]

Military

In a 2004 report bi the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Sabha base wis linked wi Libie's nuclear wappens programme.^[4]

Seba Oasis, near Sabha, wis the test site o the OTRAG rockets, efter launchin wis nae langer possible in Shaba North in Zaire (nou Democratic Republic o Congo). In Seba Oasis on Mairch 1, 1981 an OTRAG rocket wi a maximum heicht o 50 km (31 mi) wis launched.

Transport

An 800 km (500 mi) lang railwey haes been proposed frae Sabha tae the port o Misrata for iron ore transport.^[5] This railwey coud continue tae Niger an ayont.

See an aa

• Railway stations in Libie