Al Marj

Marj (,  , ), an aa spelt El Merj, umwhile Barca or Barce, is a ceety in northeastren Libie an the admeenistrative seat o the Al Marj Destrict.Room, Adrian (2006) "Al Marj" Placenames of the world: origins and meanings of the names for 6,600 countries, cities, territories, natural features, and historic sites (2nd edition) McFarland, Jefferson, North Carolina, p. 26, ISBN 0-7864-2248-3 It lees in an upland valley separatit frae the Mediterranean Sea bi a range o hills, pairt o the Jebel Akhdar Muntains.

It haes an estimatit population o 85,315 (2004).Wolfram Alpha Thare are a couple o banks on the main street an the main post office is in the centre o toun, nae far frae the Abu Bakr Assiddiq mosque.Pliez, Olivier (ed.) (2009) "Al Marj" Le Petit Futé Libye Petit Futé, Paris, p. 237, ISBN 2-7469-2276-2; in French

History
Marj wis the steid o the 7t-century BCE Greek colony o Barca.  It wis captured bi the Persies in 512 BCE,Merriam-Webster, Inc. (1972) "Barca" Webster's New Geographical Dictionary‎ G. & C. Merriam Co., Springfield, Massachusetts, p. 118, ISBN 0-87779-146-5 an wis annexed bi the Ptolemies follaein Alexander the Great's daith in 323 BCE. It wis taken bi the Arabs unner 'Amr ibn al-'As in 641 CE.

In the 1800s, the toun grew aroond a Turkis fort biggit in 1842 an nou restored. The Italians developed the toun (1913–41) as an admeenistrative an mercat centre an hill resort.

Marj wis the caipital o Breetish-occupeed Cyrenaica frae 1942−1943.Stewart, John (1996) "Cyrenaica" The British Empire: an encyclopedia of the Crown's holdings, 1493 through 1995 McFarland & Co., Jefferson, North Carolina, p. 125, ISBN 0-7864-0177-X

Hintle o the ceety wis destroyed bi a 5.6 yirdquauk on 21 Februar 1963,Earthquake at USGS which killed some 300 fowk an injured 500 mair.Hewitt, Kenneth (1983) "Seismic Risk and Mountain Environments: The Role of Surface Conditions in Earthquake Disaster" Mountain Research and Development 3(1):  pp. 27-44, p. 30 The major rebiggin wis commenced aboot 5 km (3.1 mi) frae the auld steid, an wis completit aboot 1970.

Notes

Further readin
 Hamilton, James (1856) Wanderings in North Africa J. Murray, Lunnon, OCLC 5659586, available at Google Books

See an aw
 Leet o ceeties in Libie

Freemit airtins
"Marj, Libya", Fawin Rain Genomics, Inc.

Category:Populatit places in Libie
Category:Cyrenaica