LY is the abbreviation for Libya, the 16th largest country in the world. Officially State of Libya, Libya is a country located in North Africa, bordering 6 countries – Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Niger, Sudan, and Tunisia. Tripoli is the capital city of Libya. Top 10 biggest cities are Tripoli (population: 1,150,978), Benghazi (population: 650,618), Misratah (population: 386,109), Tarhuna (population: 210,686), Al Khums (population: 201,932), Az Zāwīyah (population: 200,010), Zawiya (population: 186,112), Ajdabiya (population: 134,347), Al Ajaylat (population: 130,535), and Sabha (population: 130,010).
Country Profile
- Capital: Tripoli
- Language: Arabic
- Area: 1,759,541 km2
- Population: 6,653,201
- Currency: Libyan dinar (LYD)
- Time zone: UTC+2
- Calling code: 218
- ISO 2-Letter Abbreviation: LY
- UN 3-Letter Abbreviation: LBY
- Internet TLD: .ly
- State Government Website:
List of Libya Acronyms
The most commonly used abbreviations about Libya are LY which stands for Libya and LYD which means Libyan dinar (Libya currency). In the following table, you can see all acronyms related to Libya, including abbreviations for airport, city, school, port, government, and etc.
Geography
Libya is located in the middle of the North African Plateau. The country is almost five times the size of Norway. In the middle of the country there are several mountain ranges with peaks up to 3500 meters above sea level. The hinterland is dry, with elongated desert areas without plants and buildings. This area has little rainfall and extreme temperature fluctuations. Along the western coastal strip are fertile fields that are well suited for farming. The buildings are much denser here than inland. Several of the larger cities are located in this region, which has a typically mild Mediterranean climate. East of the Gulf of Sidra the coast turns into low ridge ridges, which are also densely populated.
Despite major differences between the regions, lack of rainfall is a constant factor throughout Libya. In the desert areas several years can pass between each rainfall, while the coastal areas have a maximum rainfall of 4-500 mm each year.
Libya’s biggest environmental problems are linked to the country’s climate and location. The country has poor access to clean drinking water, and is struggling with desertification and soil erosion due to poor soil conditions.
History
Libya has little documented older history. Islam and Arabic culture and language were introduced in the 600s when the area was incorporated into the Arab empire. After 900 years as a caste ball between Arab sultans, Ottomans took control of Libya in the 16th century. Then political control was left to mercenaries, and Libyan ports were used by Ottoman pirates who ravaged the Mediterranean for the next hundred years. In 1911, the country was invaded by Italy, and thousands of Italians moved to the country. It was at this time that major road and industrial projects were started.
During World War II, Libya was invaded by British forces. In 1951, the country became independent, as one of the first in Africa. At that time Libya was a kingdom under King Idris. He had enormous problems with poverty and underdevelopment, and was completely dependent on foreign aid until the oil discovery in 1959.
In 1969, a coup was carried out, led by Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi. Gaddafi was a dictator in Libya for 42 years. The country’s economy soon became one of Africa’s largest, thanks to the oil. Gaddafi supported militant groups and terrorism internationally. This led to the UN imposing financial sanctions on Libya in the 1990s.
In 2011, there was a riot against the Gaddafi regime, which triggered a civil war in the country. The UN Security Council then authorized NATO to use military force in Libya to protect civilians. Norway was involved in the operation and contributed to the fall of the Gaddafi regime. The war led to chaos and lawlessness in the country, including the flourishing of human trafficking and Islamist extremism.
Society and politics
After the fall of the Gaddafi regime, Libya has been plagued by lawlessness and chaos. Libya has a number of militia groups supporting various competing authorities in the country. There is an ongoing conflict between the remnants of the old state power, based on the capital Tripoli in the west, and a newer (then internationally recognized) authority in Tobruk in the east. Later, through negotiations under the auspices of the UN, a whole new coalition government was established, which moved into Tripoli. Nevertheless, there have been conflicts and divisions associated with this solution. Parts of the National Assembly (parliament) do not recognize the new UN-supported government. In practice, three governments are competing for power, and a number of militias have various international supporters, such as Sudan, Qatar and Turkey.
There is a widespread breach of human rights in Libya, especially against refugees and migrants. The country has long been a hub for people trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Several hundred thousand migrants are in the country. Many of them live in detention camps, run by human traffickers who make a lot of money on the migrants’ difficult situation.
Economics and Commerce
As much as 95 percent of the economy consists of the oil industry, but much of the income from this sector does not benefit the citizens. Five years after the Civil War, oil production was around one fifth of what it did before the war. Moreover, prices for oil on the world market had plummeted, which contributed to the downturn in Libya’s economy.
Extensive corruption and smuggling of goods to neighboring countries contributes to an economically difficult situation in Libya. Previous attempts to reduce the importance of oil by, among other things, implementing ambitious plans for agricultural and industrial development have not progressed.
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