Jebel Akhdar (Libya)
The Jebel Akhdar (Arabic: الجبل الأخضر al-Jabal al-Akhḍar Arabic pronunciation: [ald͡ʒabal alʔaxdˤar], Italian: Gebel el-Achdar, English: The Green Mountain) is a heavily forested, fertile upland area in northeastern Libya. It is located in the modern shabiyahs or districts of Derna, Jabal al Akhdar, and Marj.
Geography
[edit]The Jebel Akhdar consists of a mountainous plateau rising to an altitude of 900 metres (3,000 ft), cut by several valleys , wadis , and rivers including estuaries at coasts , It forms the north-western part of the peninsula that sticks north into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Gulf of Sidra on the west, and the Levantine Basin on the east. It runs from Bengazi eastward to just east of Derna, fronting the coast for about 330 kilometres (210 mi). Due to erosion and deposition, the plateau is sometimes as much as 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the shore, but it forms cliffs on the headlands.[1][2] The final uplift and arching of the plateau was completed in the Miocene.[2]
The region is one of the very few forested areas of Libya, which taken as a whole is one of the least forested countries on Earth. The Jebel Akhdar is the wettest part of Libya, receiving some 800 millimetres (31 in) of precipitation annually.[3] , But during common rainstorms or rarely tropical-like Mediterranean cyclones which sometimes Year to Year affect the region usually the Annual Rainfall rises to 1,000–1,300 millimetres (39–51 in) at high elevations in temperate zone and usually lower to 600mm in subtropical coastal part of range below 400-300 meter to sea level , The snowfall and frosts usually in higher elevations is common every year or two years during December to January , The high rainfall contributes to the area's large evergreen and deciduous forests containing Chammari a tree found only in this mountain range , and enables rich fruit, potato, and cereal agriculture, something unique in a mostly arid or semi-arid country like Libya.[4] Camels, goats and sheep are herded in and around the Jebel Akhdar and the herders tend to be nomadic .[3][5]
Flora
[edit]In marked contrast to the aridity prevailing in most of Libya, there are forested areas in this region totalling around 3200 km2, although approximately a third of the original forest has already been destroyed to make way for agriculture. In addition to the forests there are also large areas of maquis and steppe-like vegetation , More than 70% of Libya's floral taxa are to be found in the region , Typical maquis species are the Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea), the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus), the Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) and the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua). In the drier steppe-like areas, branched asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus), prickly burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum) and white wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba) predominate.[6] at least 100-200 floral taxa are to be found exclusively in the Jebel Akhdar and, some of these found only in the region but not limited to : Arbutus pavarii, Arum cyrenaicum, Bellis sylvestris var. cyrenaica, Cyclamen rohlfsianum, Cynara cyrenaica, Onopordum cyrenaicum and Romulea cyrenaica. [7] The region generally have diverse vegetation types , ranges from dense humid temperate and subtropical forests dominanted by coniferous species like Aleppo pine and Mediterranean cypress and Juniperus and Tetraclinis articulata and Also deciduous forests with trees like black poplar , white poplar , ulmus minor , European beech , hazelnut , Wild cherry , European fan palm , European hornbeam , common buxus , bay Laurel , cherry Laurel are common , The Maquis and matorral-like vegetation is dominant, and it extends to floodplains in higher elevations in association seasonally flooded lakes and rivers and to grasslands and Sparsely-forested Dry steppes and grasslands with large patches of rye grass , blue grass , esparto grass , canary grass are dominant species of temperate grasslands and tropical-like Oak Savannah which dominated by Quercus coccifera , Carob ,European olive with diverse range of annuals and perennials Herbaceous plants forms very dense understories and undergrowth vegetation usually cut by long fluvial terraces and springs , This rocky terraces are very common in all types of vegetations , Coastal forests and marshy or riperian vegetation is common in river-stream banks and coastal estuaries on sandy fertile soil , Mangrove-like and halophytes vegetation is also commonly found in the coastal estuaries and shrubby saline-sand areas , Seagrass beds also found near small islets , In drier xerophytes woodlands such as Mediterranean succulents and steppe vegetation with some Sub-Saharan African genera such as doum palm and Moringa peregrina , broadleaf hopbush , aloe vera , Phoenix , Ricinus communis are forming woodlands and shrublands in Rocky wadis and are slightly common in more south and lower elevation into Mediterranean dry steppes and woodlands ecoregion .
Fauna
[edit]Due to the mountain range being located in a peninsular ,separated, relatively isolated area and highly diverse habitats With both subtropical and temperate zones containing mountainous dense forests and affected by a Mediterranean favourable climate ; The region as a result boosts hundreds of endemic faunal and floral taxa which separated from nearby regions , Making it one of Most ecologically important and Biodiversity-Rich in North africa and Maghreb , Most of Libya's mammals are to be found in Jabal alakhder , except for exclusively desert-dwelling species , Jabal alakhder is largely important for locally endemic mammals , reptiles , and other faunal species , containing several globally endangered-rare species , Such as four-toed jerboa , Barbary sheep , Egyptian tortoise and notably Mediterranean monk seal , Barbary macaque currently a tiny relict subpopulation restricted to Wadi al-kuf reserve , and possibly Nubian ibex , dorcas gazelle in the far southern part of the range , mountain gazelle and African softshell turtle may occur in the far east but this aren't confirmed yet [citation needed], as well as habitat for many other mammals species , up to at least 70-80 species of mammals can be found in the region including locally-extinct species , Most of the main larger predators were hunted to extinction , like Barbary lion and Atlas bear , The later one was the sole bear species to live in Africa historically , along with atlas mountains , This were the sole habitat for Africa's only native bears , A remaining locally threatened resident populations of other mammalian predators is present like striped hyena , red fox , Golden jackal , African wolf is still inhabiting the region , an estimated and proposed number of endemic mammals up to 10-15 species and subspecies are found only in Libya and surrounding areas and most of these are locally endemic to the region like but not this only: Cyrenaica shrew , Horáček's horseshoe bat ,Gerbillus grobbeni and Microtus mustersi , Also several are near endemic shared with neighboring countries , reptiles are abundant and diverse in the region but they're somewhat poorly studied and , several of which are endemic to the region like Libyan Greek tortoise ('testudo flavominimaralis) , The critically endangered Egyptian tortoise is known to be surviving only in eastern Libya and it can be found in Mediterranean evergreen forests of the mountains including Wadi al-kuf reserve and southernmost parts of the range , The Western population in Tripolitania is possibly taxonomically distinct due to isolated range , additionally, amphibians and freshwater invertebrates and fishes although they're largely unstudied can be commonly found in areas associated with Canyons, Caves , rivers and streams of the region particularly but not limited to its eastern position and some of these are endemic , One example is the not-fully yet explored Lethe Cave river system is in the Western position near Benghazi of the range is known to have yet several endemic aquatic species is distinctive with its unique specialized ecosystem , Jabal alakhder is also designed as an important bird area and is home to more than 370 Bird species and This list keep adding new species to year every few years ; The real number may be much more species and , Of which at least between 5 to 7 or 8 possible species and subspecies are endemic , a subspecies of lesser crested tern is exclusively breeding in the coastal region including nearby islets but exists as non-breeding elsewhere and usually in West Africa , the other species occur exclusively in the region and includes Cyrenaic partridge , Libyan blue tit , " Libyan chaffinch and 'Galerida cristata festae , Curruca hortensis cyrenaicae , 'Nannus juniperi , and possibly distinctive endemic populations of desert grey shrike and north African buzzard , This makes northeast Libya has possibly one of the most important region for endemic avifauna in The Mediterranean for hosting several endemic species and subspecies , many other native birds near endemic shared with neighboring countries are also present in the area or Libya as a whole .
History
[edit]Ancient
[edit]The region is very important in Libyan culture , and is Rich in history and local culture , Which has been inhabited by many Civilizations and empires settlements , including The most notable Ancient Greek and has one of the most potential tourism in Libya , although tourism in Libya is currently minor .
Documents created during the New Kingdom of Egypt record that to the west there were large populations of metal workers who lived in towns and had plentiful livestock. The only plausible location for these "Libyans" is the Jebel Akhdar.[8]
The ancient Greek colony of Cyrene was located in a lush valley in the Jebel Akhdar, with the ruins remaining.[9] It was the Greeks who introduced farming to the Jebal Akhdar when they colonised its verdant valleys in around 600 BC.[4] The Siliphium which was an ancient , medical extinct plant exclusively inhabited drier regions of Jabal alakhder was said to it may cure any difficult-to-cure diseases in some Chinese ancient stories was used in medicine during roman times .
Italian occupation
[edit]During the Italian occupation these mountains were identified as a promising area for agriculture and many Italians moved here in the 1930s. This settlement was interrupted during World War II and the villages and farms were deserted and were later reoccupied by Libyans. The mountain chain was the site of major battles between the British Commonwealth and the Axis forces during World War II.[3]
Liberation
[edit]The Libyan famous leader Omar al-Mukhtar used this heavily forested mountainous region to resist the Italian colonization of Libya for more than twenty years.[10]
Notable people
[edit]- Mabrouka al-Tabiba, midwife
Galleries
[edit]Landscapes
[edit]-
Area near the centre of Jebel Akhdar, (The outskirts of the city of Bayda).
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Eastern end of Jebel Akhdar, (near Derna).
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Marj escarpment area.
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Al Bakour escarpment area.
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Al Bakour at the western end of Jebel Akhdar, near Taucheira).
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An example of the severe soil erosion which can result from deforestation in the Jebel Akhdar (near Wadi el Kuf Bridge).
Flora
[edit]-
Retama raetam (Fabaceae)
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Cichorium spinosum (Asteraceae)
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Cyclamen rohlfsianum (Myrsinaceae). Endemic species
Fauna
[edit]-
Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
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Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
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Common genet (Genetta genetta)
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Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
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North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus)
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North African elephant shrew (Petrosaltator rozeti)
See also
[edit]- Mediterranean dry woodlands and steppe – lower elevations
- Mediterranean woodlands and forests – higher elevations
References
[edit]- ^ Carter, Theresa Howard (1963). "Reconnaissance in Cyrenaica" (PDF). Expedition. 5 (3). University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology: 18–27, page 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- ^ a b Röhlich, Pavel (1978). "Geological development of Jabal al Akhdar, Libya". Geologische Rundschau. 67 (2): 401–412. Bibcode:1978GeoRu..67..401R. doi:10.1007/BF01802797. S2CID 129730283.
- ^ a b c "Akhdar Mountains". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Cyrenaica at 1300m". Hidden Journeys. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ Benzabih, Hosney A. (1982). "The Jabal Al Akhdar: A Half Century of Nomadic Livelihood". In Joffe, E. G. H.; Malachlon, K. S. (eds.). Social and Economic Development of Libya. Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England: Menas Press. pp. 195–206. ISBN 978-0-906559-10-9.
- ^ El-Darier, S.M., El-Mogaspi, F.M. "Ethnobotany and Relative Importance of Some Endemic Plant Species at El-Jabal El-Akhdar Region (Libya)" World Journal of Agricultural Sciences Band 5, Nr. 3, 2009
- ^ Al-Sodany, Yassin, Shehata, M.N. and Shaltout, Kamal Hussein "Vegetation along an elevation gradient in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, Libya" January 2003 Ecologia Mediterranea 29(2):125-138 doi:10.3406/ecmed.2003.1547
- ^ Peter Mitchell; Paul Lane (2013). The Oxford Handbook of African Archaeology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0191626159.
- ^ "Cyrenaica". Livius. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "A symbol of resistance: Omar Mukhtar". Worldbulletin News. Retrieved 27 November 2016.