Bayda, Libya
Bayda
البيضاء El Beida | |
---|---|
City | |
UTC+2 (EET) | |
License Plate Code | 2 |
Bayda, or Elbeida (
History
Bayda's history stretches back to classical antiquity, when it was known as Balagrae.[10] The 2000-year-old ruins of the ancient Greek colony of Cyrene are located nearby in Shahat.[11][12][13][14]
One of the greatest attractions in the city is the tomb of a famous companion (
The modern city was built in the 1950s. It was originally intended to be the new capital of Libya and most of the necessary government buildings were constructed there. Eventually, the plan to move the capital from Tripoli to Bayḍāʾ was dropped.[15]
During the
Name
Bayḍāʾ means "white" in
When the settlement was first founded by the Greeks, it was known as Balagrae. During
Geography
The city is famous for the valleys and forests nearby, which are not found in the other cities of the 'Green Mountains'—
Native habitat
The Akhdar
The Akhdar Mountains are part of the larger Jabal al Akhdar Plateau, an area of 15,000 square kilometres (5,800 sq mi), with a length of 200 km (120 mi) from the Albakur in the west to the Valley of Bef to the east of Derna, and a width of 75 km (47 mi). Beaches stretch along the chain for about 350 kilometres (220 mi), in a diverse terrain with many coastal bays and inlets.[19] Bayda is famous for the neighboring locale of Susa, a seaside resort on the Mediterranean Sea.
Agriculture
Cultivated plants include many fruit trees, including apples, grapes, nuts, and other fruits estimated at about four million trees, as well as many medicinal and herbal plants, such as
Climate
The city of Bayda has a mild Mediterranean climate (Csb, according to the Köppen climate classification) with an average annual precipitation of 540 millimetres or 21 inches. It is famous for recurring snow falls and heavy rains, where the temperature rises in the summer time to 30 °C (86 °F), but in the winter snow and freezing temperatures can occur. The city is in a Mediterranean-Berber/Arab area about 241 kilometres (150 mi) south of Crete, and is referred to as the City of Snow, which distinguishes it from the rest of the cities of Libya. The altitude added to the northern location sustains the nival precipitation (even if hardly accumulates), different from other near coastal areas. The region of Jabal al-Akhda is characterized by a moderate climate, being cooler in the winter with an average annual rainfall of about 540 millimetres or 21 inches.[21]
Climate data for Bayda | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.8 (53.2) |
12.9 (55.2) |
15.6 (60.1) |
19.6 (67.3) |
23.4 (74.1) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.5 (77.9) |
23.7 (74.7) |
19.0 (66.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
20.6 (69.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 7.9 (46.2) |
8.4 (47.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
13.7 (56.7) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.6 (69.1) |
21.4 (70.5) |
21.4 (70.5) |
20.0 (68.0) |
18.1 (64.6) |
14.2 (57.6) |
10.3 (50.5) |
15.3 (59.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4.0 (39.2) |
4.0 (39.2) |
5.6 (42.1) |
7.8 (46.0) |
10.8 (51.4) |
14.0 (57.2) |
16.0 (60.8) |
16.1 (61.0) |
14.5 (58.1) |
12.6 (54.7) |
9.0 (48.2) |
5.1 (41.2) |
10.0 (49.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 121 (4.8) |
105 (4.1) |
58 (2.3) |
25 (1.0) |
9 (0.4) |
2 (0.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
6 (0.2) |
38 (1.5) |
55 (2.2) |
121 (4.8) |
540 (21.4) |
Source: Climate-data.org[21] |
Economy
Bayda is one of the major cities in eastern Libya, and one of its major economic centers. It is also the industrial and commercial center in Libya. The major manufactured goods include food products, fertilizers and agricultural products, food processing, and imported goods, and produce from villages near the city in the Akhdar region, including cereals, dates, olives, wool, and meat. Bayda also has one of the most important markets of vegetables and fruits in Libya, because of the naturally fertile lands.
Financing is also important, and the city's National Commercial Bank is the second largest bank in Libya. It also has a number of other large banks, including the Office of the Central Bank of Libya in the city center. There is also the Agricultural Research Centre and the main animal and large national firms, such as Brega Oil Marketing Company and Gulf Oil, are important to the city's economy. Coupled with an increase in consumer prices, is an increase in the importance of the retail sector in the economy of the city. In recent years, international companies such as United Colors of Benetton, H & M, and Nike, have opened in Bayda.
Tourism
Tourism as an industry is still in the very early stages in
Demographics
As with other cities in Libya, there is a reasonable amount of ethnic diversity in Bayda. The people of eastern Libya, Bayda included, have in recent centuries been of predominantly Arab descent. The earliest inhabitants were Berber peoples, and from the 7th century BCE until the 7th century CE, the main ethnic group was Greek. In recent times, there has been an influx of
community is also present. The Greek island of Crete is a short distance from Bayda, and many modern families in the city bear Cretan surnames.The majority of Libyans in Bayda are of Arab, Berber and Greek descendants century, historically controlled a section of Libya. Bayda and its surrounding areas were controlled by the Barasa clan. In modern times, a large number of Libyans from different parts of the country have moved into the city.
Education
Education in Bayda, as is the case throughout Libya, is compulsory and free. Compulsory education continues up until ninth grade. There are many public primary and secondary schools throughout the city, as well as some private and international school and others. Omar Al-Mukhtar University education is also free for all Libyan citizens in Bayda. It holds the country's second largest university, the former Al-Jami'a al-Libiya.
Omar Al-Mukhtar University is the second university established in the country, and the first Islamic university, but after the Revolution of 1960, it was changed to the University of Agriculture, and then to a regular university. It now includes 14 colleges in several cities, such as Tobruq and Derna, Libya.
Religion
The predominant religion in Bayda is
There are many mosques throughout the city; the oldest and best known is the Mosque Ruwayfi bin Thabit Al-Ansari; the oldest mosques are located in and around the medina. There is also a small foreign Christian community in the city: the Franciscan-run Maria Immacolata Parish Church serves Bayda's Catholic community of roughly 4000,[22] as well as a Protestant church belonging to the Church of Christ.
Sports
Bayda has some of the best sports facilities in the country. The city has various sporting centres of different standards, such as football stadiums, as well as several other public and private facilities. Football is the most popular sport in Bayda, and one of the country's most successful football clubs,
The largest sporting centre in Bayda is the Medina al-Riyadhia (Sports City). The complex is situated just north of the city centre, and houses the Al Bayda Stadium and athletics stadium, and the Slayman al Tharrat basketball stadium. Several matches of the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship were hosted at the arena.
Judo and taekwondo are popular men's sports in Bayda. In recent times, rugby sevens has seen great success, with three clubs to its name. Gyms have also become more popular in the city in recent years, because of a greater concern for healthy living amongst Libyans.
Transportation
Road network
Bayda is on the historic Libyan Coastal Highway. The local road network is generally well designed. An efficient system of highways, flyovers, ringroads and underpasses serve the city, and allow for the transport of goods and vehicles. The roads are not always well-maintained however, and often have incorrect, poorly visible or no road markings, as well as potholes in some roads and inner city streets. In recent years, a rapid increase in car ownership has meant that traffic jams, lack of parking spaces and overcrowding are also common, especially on smaller streets. Road accidents are also on the rise because of the increase in vehicles and the subsequent lax attention given by authorities to dangerous driving.
Public transit
There is no systematic public transport system in Bayda, despite the city's size and significance. A popular system of microbuses has developed in recent years and covers many areas of the city, they run on fixed routes and passengers embark and disembark anywhere on the route. There are also international services to Cairo and Alexandria.
Railway
As of 2010[update], earthworks are underway in the city for a rail network which will traverse northern Libya. Russian Railways is responsible for the three-year contract. In the future, a rail link may be built to both Tunisia and Egypt, forming a North African coastal rail network.
Airports
The Al Abraq International Airport serves national and international flights.[23]
Twin towns and sister cities
Bayda is
References
- ^ Al-Bayda (Elbeida) Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine lexicorient, 2011 Oct 17
- ^ Fallingrain.com
- ^ Az Zāwiyah al Bayḑā’: Libya Geographical Names. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ^ Zāwiyat al Bayḑā’: Libya Geographical Names. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ^ a b "IATA AIRPORT CODES by city name". Photius Coutsoukis. 28 September 2011.
- ^ BeidaLA LIBIA, IL COLONIALISMO FASCISTA, GHEDDAFI E I FURBETTI EUROPEI Archived April 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Shahid, Anthony (March 6, 2011). "Free of Qaddafi, a City Tries to Build a New Order". The New York Times.
- ^ "Libya Cyrene to re-enchant" (in French). Libération. April 30, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ESPNsoccernet. September 10, 2011. Archived from the originalon November 2, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
- ^ Cyrenaica and the Late Antique Economy Oxford University Computing Services. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Beida". Libyan Airlines. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-12-02.
- ^ Balagrae’: Libya Geographical Names. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ^ Balagrae (El Beida) Archived 2012-10-14 at the Wayback Machine livius Names. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ^ The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society The Internet Archive, Source: University of Toronto Libraries. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ^ Book Africa briefing. 1963.
- ^ Libya protests: Death in al-Bayda as unrest spreads BBC. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-107-60014-0.
- ISBN 978-1-900949-77-4.
- ISBN 9781602397279.
- ISBN 9780203034507.
- ^ a b "Climate: Bayda". Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ^ "Parish Priests - Maria Immacolata Parish". Catholic Church in Libya. Order of Friars Minor - St. Paul the Apostle Province. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ The opening of airport La Abraq Ministry of Communications and Transport Libyan
- ^ kocaeli Magazine (Turkish language)
External links
Media related to El Bayda' at Wikimedia Commons