Derna City of Libya

Syllabus: Places in News

In News

• Devastating floods occurred in Derna, Libya due to the collision of Dams and flash floods caused by a Mediterranean storm named Daniel.

About Derna

• Derna (Darnah) is a port city in eastern Libya. 
• The city is bisected by the Wadi Derna, a seasonal river that flows from highlands to the south, and normally protected from flooding by dams.
• The city was once a hub for extremist groups in the years of chaos that followed the NATO.

Key Facts: Libya

• Capital: Tripoli
• Geographical Boundaries: It is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa.
  • North: Mediterranean Sea
  • East: Egypt
  • Southeast: Sudan
  • South: Chad
  • Southwest: Niger
  • West: Algeria
  • Northwest: Tunisia

• Historical Features:
  • Libya is made of three historical regions: Tripolitania, Fezzan, and Cyrenaica.
• The recent Libyan Crisis has led to a civil war, foreign military intervention, and the ousting and death of ruler Muammar Gaddafi. 

• Geographical Features:
  • The portion of the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya is often called the Libyan Sea. 
  • Libya has the 10th-largest proven oil reserves in the world.
  • Libyan Desert: 
    • This desert covers much of Libya. 
    • It is one of the most arid and sun-baked places on earth. 
    • In places, decades may pass without seeing any rainfall at all.
  • Slightly further to the south are the massifs of Arkenu, Uweinat, and Kissu.
    • These are ancient granite mountains.
• Climate:
  • Natural hazards come in the form of hot, dry, dust-laden sirocco (known in Libya as the gibli).
    • This is a southern wind blowing from one to four days in spring and autumn. 
  • There are also dust storms and sandstorms. 
  • Oases can also be found scattered throughout Libya

Source: IE