Mary+Rankin+Libya+2ALibya

Libya __**Did you Know?:**__


 * The highest temperature recorded on Earth was 136°F (58°C) at Al Aziziyah, Libya, on 13 September 1922.
 * The ancient Greeks used the word “Libya” to refer to most of North Africa.
 * A desert country, Libya has no natural rivers, only dry riverbeds that occasionally fill with rainwater.
 * Before the discovery of oil in 1959, Libya had one of the lowest standards of living in Africa; now it has one of the highest.


 * Libyan Desert**: This proves how dry and barron it is out in the desert.


 * Libyan Coke: Libya even has Coco Cola.**
 * Libyan Politician Advertisement: Clearly this advertisement states that this politician running fot state is not liked by the people who made this picture. This is proven because there is a peice of dung on top of his head.**
 * Libyan Detergent: This is a type of detergent made in Libya.**

Libya is the fourth largest country in Africa. Libya is 679,362 square miles, and the United States is 3,794,100 square miles. Libya's p opulation is 6,461,454, urban population 78%. United States is 310,232,863, urban population 82%. Density: Libya: 9.51104784923523948169099369512323 and the United States: 81.767181413246883318837141878179. Libya's GDP per capita is $14,364, the United States: $45,592. ** Flag: **  Libya is the only country where their flag only has one plain color with no designs on it. Green is the national color and a traditional color of Islam, Libya’s state religion. Life expectancy in Libya is that the average male will live to be 72 and the average female in Libya will live to be 77. In the United States, the male will live to be 77. The female will live to be 81. The b irth rate in Libya is 2.1 compared to the United States. The U.S. birth rate is 0.97 compared to Libya. I  nfant mortality rate in Libya is way higher than the United States. In Libya, the infant mortality rate is 21, and the U.S. is only six. Libya's main l anguage is Arabic. The reason they speak Arabic is because Arabians took over Libya in AD 640. Libya's monetary unit currency would be Libyan dinar. The Libyan dinar was introduced in 1971 and replaced the pound at par. Libya has a large government but also very simple. The political leader is Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, but the president is Muammar el-Qaddafi. Libya's government is made up of a series of councils and committees. This is based on the political ideas in Qaddafi's "Green Book." Qaddafi though still has most of the political power. Libya is separated into different groups also called localities. These localities are also known as the Basic People's Congress. Each locality elects a committee and gives them a certain responsibility. If the localities need to discuss some major ideas or issues, then they come together to debate policies. Libya also has another committee called the General People's Committee, which is made up of representatives, from other committees that are lower and serves as Libya's executive branch. Libya's legislature is also the General People's Congress. Libya's official religion is Islam, and Sunni Muslims make up more than 97 percent of the population. There are other Muslim groups called Sanusis, Ibadhis, Sufis, Sharifs, and Marabouts. Even though some of Libya's laws are based on the Qur'an, Libya is more liberal than some Islamic states. Some examples are that girls must receive an education and women may hold jobs and serve in the army. Like most practicing Muslims, Libyans pray five times a day, worship Allah as the only God and Muhammad as his prophet, help the poor, fast during the holy month of Ramadan, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca. The literacy rate is actually quite high in Libya. Of course not as high as the United States but they have a decent percentage. Libya's male literacy rate is 95%, the female rate is 78%, and the adult rate is 87%. In the United States, the male literacy rate is 99%, the female rate is also 99%, and the adult literacy rate in the U.S. is 99%. 
 * Political Map of Libya: **
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 * Physical Map of Libya: **

Oil was o ne of Libya's highlights in its economic state. Oil has turned Libya into one of Africa's wealthiest nation. More than a third of Libya's GDP is account for crude oil and petroleum products. Libya is also known for exporting fruits and natural gas, vegetables, grains, and cattle. On the other hand though, Libya still imports at least two-thirds of its food. The economy in Libya has also had its challenges. Efforts to encourage workers to own their businesses went down hard because of mismanagement and corruption. The UN actions forced on Libya created huge problems. It caused Libya not to be able to trade directly to the United States or Europe. This led to shortages in food and other goods. Prices on items grew, and other technology became out of date. Soon after these crises started, the people of Libya resented toward the nations that created the actions forced upon Libya. Ever since those times, Libya's economy has become better, but the wounds left behind will take some time to be treated and recovered.
 * Economic Summary: **

** Brief history: ** Libya's first inhabitants were tribes called Imazighen, also meaning "free men." In the Seventh century BC, Phoenicians came and set up trading colonies in Libya. About three hundred years later, Greeks colonized the eastern coast. After that, in 146 BC Romans overcame the Phoenicians and took power over Libya. Germanic Vandal tribes invaded and ruled Libya in the beginning of 429 AD. Arabs took over the country centuries later and steadily, Libya became Arabized. In the 1840s, members of the Islamic political Sanusi movement rose up against the Ottomans in North Africa. In 1911, Italy peopled with Libya and defeated the Ottomans. After this event, the Sanusis began to fight the Italians. Libya became a huge battleground for European controls. Mohammed Idris, leader of Sanusi, started siding with Britain and the Allies. Italy was defeated and gave up Libya, which was shortly taken over by the United Nations. When Libya had successfully taken full independence in 1951,Idris became king and stayed open with Western nations. Oil was discovered in 1959. Libya became a rich country and many people wanted part of the new wealth. A group of military officers forced the government to step down in 1969. 27 year old Muammar Qaddafi was the group's leader. He started to make differences right away. Money from the oil was used to build roads, hospitals, and schools. Qaddafi also made a new governmental and economic rule called Jamahiriya, which was suppose to be an option to communism and capitalism. The system itself was suppose to be a form of democracy, but it allowed Qaddafi full control.

http://emsafrica.wikispaces.com/ CIA World Factbook [] U.S. Department of State FlickrrCC
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