Ghat [gawt, got]

Ghat

[gawt, got]

Ghat or Gat, walled town, SW Libya, in an oasis in the Sahara, near the Algerian border. It formerly was an important caravan center. Ghat was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1875, by the Italians in 1930, and by the French in 1943, during World War II.

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Ghat

For the Indian mountains, see Ghats.

Ghat (غات) is a city in the municipality of Ghat in remote south-western Libya.

History

In historical times, Ghat was a major terminal point on the Trans-Saharan trade route. It was a stronghold for the Kel Ajjer Tuareg federation until 1913 when the city was occupied from the Italian colonialist. Any way the control was precarious for a long time (until 1923 with the fascim regime), from the moment that in that epoch it was very strong the active presence of the brotherhood of the Senussia. To defend their positions, Italians completed the construction of a fortress (erect in the 19° century) that dominates the city from the hill of Koukemen. This fort still standing represent a tourist destination of the city.'

During the second world war, Ghat was occupied by French in 1943 until January 1, 1952, when the UN General Assembly passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent.

Ghat was the stronghold of the Kel Ajjer Tuareg confederation, this traditional entity covers the south-western Libya (to Ubari, Sebha and Ghadames) and south-eastern Algeria (Djanet and Alezi).

Tourism

Nowadays, it is an important tourist destination due to the existence in the neighboring Tadrart Acacus and Tassili N'Ajjer mountains of prehistoric rock paintings and engravings, in addition to the beauty of the surrounding desert landscapes. The city itself is the site of the Fortress of Ghat.