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Tripoli, Libya

Tripoli, Libya
طرابلس
Tarabulus (ancient: Oea)
Top:: That El Emad Towers; Middle: Martyrs' Square; Bottom left: Marcus Aurelius Arch; Bottom right: Souq al-Mushir – Tripoli Medina
Top:: That El Emad Towers; Middle: Martyrs' Square; Bottom left: Marcus Aurelius Arch; Bottom right: Souq al-Mushir – Tripoli Medina
Official seal of Tripoli, Libya
Seal
Tripoli, Libya is located in Libya
Tripoli, Libya
Tripoli, Libya
Location in Libya
Coordinates: 32°54′8″N 13°11′9″E / 32.90222°N 13.18583°E / 32.90222; 13.18583Coordinates: 32°54′8″N 13°11′9″E / 32.90222°N 13.18583°E / 32.90222; 13.18583
Country Libya
Region Greater Tripoli
District 10
First settled 7th century BC
Founded by Phoenicians
Government
 • Mayor (Tripoli Central) Abdulrauf Beitelmal
 • Governing body Tripoli Local Council
Area
 • Total 400 km2 (200 sq mi)
Elevation 81 m (266 ft)
Population (2014)
 • Total 1,126,000
 • Density 4,500/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
Area code(s) 21
Website www.tlc.gov.ly

Tripoli (Arabic: طرابلس‎‎, Ṭarābulus; Berber: Ṭrables) is the capital city and the largest city of Libya. Tripoli, with its metropolitan area, has a population of about 1.1 million people. The city is located in the northwestern part of Libya on the edge of the desert, on a point of rocky land projecting into the Mediterranean and forming a bay. Tripoli includes the Port of Tripoli and the country's largest commercial and manufacturing centre. It is also the site of the University of Tripoli. The vast Bab al-Azizia barracks, which includes the former family estate of Muammar Gaddafi, is also located in the city. Colonel Gaddafi largely ruled the country from his residence in this barracks.

Tripoli was founded in the 7th century BC by the Phoenicians, who named it Oea. Due to the city's long history, there are many sites of archaeological significance in Tripoli. "Tripoli" may also refer to the shabiyah (top-level administrative division in the current Libyan system), the Tripoli District.

Tripoli is also known as Tripoli-of-the-West (Arabic: طرابلس الغرب‎‎ Ṭarābulus al-Gharb), to distinguish it from its Phoenician sister city Tripoli, Lebanon known in Arabic as Ṭarābulus al-Sham (طرابلس الشام) meaning "Levantine Tripoli". It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean (Arabic: عروسة البحر‎‎ ʼarūsat el-baḥr; lit: "bride of the sea"), describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli English pronunciation: /ˈtrɪpəli/ is a Greek name that means "Three Cities", introduced in Western European languages through the Italian Tripoli. In Arabic: طرابلس‎‎ it is called Ṭarābulus (About this sound pronunciation , Libyan Arabic: Ṭrābləs About this sound pronunciation , Berber: Ṭrables, from Ancient Greek: Τρίπολις Trípolis). Compare Sanskrit, "tri" meaning the number 3, and "pura" meaning a fortress, castle, city or town. Hence, in Sanskrit "Tripura" also means "Three Cities".


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