Ghat, Libie

Ghat ( ) is ceety an the caipital o the Ghat Destrict in remote sooth-wastren Libie.

 History 
In historical times, Ghat wis a major terminal point on the Trans-Saharan trade route an a major admeenistrative center in the Fezzan. It wis a stranghold for the Kel Ajjer Tuareg federation whose territory covered maist o sooth-wastren Libie - includin Ubari, Sebha an Ghadames - plus sooth-eastren Algerie (Djanet an Alezi). 

Frae the 5t century BCE tae the 5t century o the modren era, the Fezzan wis hame tae the Garamantian Empire, a ceety state which operatit the Trans-Saharan trade routes atween the Carthaginians -- an later the Roman Empire -- an the Sahelian states o wast an central Africae. Durin the 13t an 14t century, portions o the Fezzan wur pairt o the Kanem Empire, while the Ottoman rulers o North Africae assertit their control ower the region in the 17t century.

Beginnin in 1911, Ghat an the Fezzan wis occupee'd bi Italy. Housomeivver, Italy's control o the region wis precarious till at least 1923, wi the rise o the Italian Fascist regime. The Italians wur resisted in their early attempts at conquest bi Berber an Arab adherents tae the militant Sanusiya Sufi releegious order. Italian control o Ghat wis especially precarious for a lang time, due tae the strang active presence o the britherhuid o the Senussi. Tae defend their positions, Italians built a fortress that dominates the ceety frae the hill o Koukemen. This fort is still staundin as a tourist destination o the ceety. 

Durin the Seicont Warld War, Ghat wis occupied bi Fraunce frae 1943 till 1 Januar 1952, when the Unitit Naitions General Assembly passed a resolution statin that Libie shoud become independent. Fezzan Province wis then absorbed athin the borders o the Kinrick o Libie.

 Tourism 
270px|thumb|The fortress o Ghat
Ghat is an important tourist destination due tae the existence o prehistoric rock paintins an engravins in the neighborin Tadrart Acacus an Tassili N'Ajjer muntains, in addition tae the beauty o the surroondin desert landscapes. A major tourist attraction in the toun itsel is the Fortress o Ghat, Koukemen.

Ghat Airport is the local airport in Ghat. It is served bi Ghadames Air Transport tae Sebha.

 Veelages an seicontary oases o Ghat 

 Serdeles
 Tahala
 Fewat

 Neighborin veelages 
 Adales
 Albarkat
 Fewat
 Dejjan
 Tahala
 Serdeles
 Isayan
 Djanet, locatit in Algerie.
 Tin Alkum, locatit in Algerie.

 See an aa 
 Libian Ceevil War
 Berber
 Tuareg
 Green Sahara

 References 
 Jami Bey, "Ghat and its Surroundings", The Geographical Journal Vol. 34, No. 2 Aug. 1909, pp. 171–173


Category:Fezzan
Category:Populatit places in Libie
Category:Oases o Libie
Category:Tuareg