Awjila أوجلة |
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Awjila
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Coordinates: | |
Country | Libya |
Region | Cyrenaica |
District | Al Wahat |
Time zone | UTC + 2 |
Awjila (Awjila Berber: Awilan, Arabic: أوجلة) is a Berber-speaking oasis town in the Al Wahat District in the Cyrenaica region of northeastern Libya.[1] It is the place after which the Awgila-Berber language, an Eastern Berber language, is named. The people cultivate small gardens using water from deep wells.
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In antiquity, Awjila was nominally within the Roman Empire, evidenced by emperor Justinian's decree that forbade the worship of Amun.[2]
Awjila is a historic oasis deep in the Libyan desert about 260 kilometres south of Ajdabiya. From Awjila the road leads to Jalu and Kufra.
Awjila was the capital of the large surrounding region because of its unique location of being at the crossroads of caravans moving along the east-west North Africa route and the north-south coast to Africa route.
It has the oldest masjed (mosque) in the Sahara with its unique style of architecture with rooms that are naturally air conditioned. In the scorching heat of the summer days the rooms are cool and at night they are warm. The building materials are made from the soil and the palm tree branches which make up an excellent heat insulator.
Awjila is a unique ethnic community as the people are of Berber (Amazigh) origins. They have their own distinct Berber language and Islam is the only religion.
The main activities of the people in Awjila are agriculture and working for the oil sector companies as this area is the cradle of Libyan wealth.
The main crops are dates from the many varieties of palm trees, tomatoes, and cereals.
Recently Awjila acquired an extra importance as it was the most convenient site for viewing the solar eclipse on 29 March 2006.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Augilæ". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.