Marsaxlokk
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Marsaxlokk Ix-Xatt |
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| Local council | |||
From top: Harbour, Delimara Lighthouse, Delimara coastline, Parish Church, street market, Fort San Lucian
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| Motto: Portus Herculis | |||
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| Coordinates: 35°50′30″N 14°32′41″E / 35.84167°N 14.54472°ECoordinates: 35°50′30″N 14°32′41″E / 35.84167°N 14.54472°E | |||
| Country |
 Malta
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| Region | South Eastern Region | ||
| District | South Eastern District | ||
| Borders | Birżebbuġa, Għaxaq, Marsaskala, Żejtun | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Horace Gauci (PL) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4.7 km2 (1.8 sq mi) | ||
| Population (March 2014) | |||
| • Total | 3,534 | ||
| • Density | 750/km2 (1,900/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Xlukkajr (m), Xlukkajra (f), Xlukkajri (pl) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | MXK | ||
| Dialing code | 356 | ||
| ISO 3166 code | MT-28 | ||
| Patron saint | Our Lady of Pompeii | ||
| Day of festa | 5th Sunday in July or 1st Sunday in August | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Marsaxlokk (/mɑrsɑʃˈlɔk/) is a traditional fishing village in the South Eastern Region of Malta, with a population of 3,534 as of March 2014. The village’s name comes from marsa, which means "port" and xlokk, which is the local name for south east. The word is related to the name for the dry sirocco wind that blows from the Sahara, comparable to the equivalent Catalan word, "xaloc". The village is known for the Marsaxlokk Market, a large market which takes place around the whole village on Sundays and tourist market all days during the week. The inhabitants of the village are called the Xlukkajri and are historically fishermen.
It was in the "Golfo dello Scirocco" (Xlokk's bay) that the first Phoenicians landed and set up trading posts on Malta, during the ninth century BC. During the Great Siege of Malta, Marsaxlokk Harbour was also used as an anchorage by the Ottoman fleet.
Overlooking the northern arm of Marsaxlokk Bay is the hill of Tas-Silġ, which contains remains of megalithic temples of the Tarxien phase, with later alterations resembling the Ħaġar Qim model. Bronze Age material has also been found scattered around the area. From the end of the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD, the hill was used as a religious site, notably as a temple dedicated to Astarte/Hera. Marsaxlokk was part of Żejtun in the past years. The Tas-Silġ site was used again for religious purposes sometime in the 4th century AD, when it was adapted to a new religion, Christianity, and possibly used as a monastery.
In recent decades, the village has been the site for wet bulk operations. Malta's new main power station is here. Discharge of petroleum products takes place mainly at the Enemalta discharge installation point at Birżebbuġa. Apart from this, Oil Tanking (Malta) Ltd. operates an independent oil terminal at Marsaxlokk, which has discharge and loading points along the breakwater pier and offers storage, blending, and bunkering facilities.
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Wikipedia