Ras al Helal

Ra's al Helal (Arabic: رأس الهلال‎) is a village on the Mediterranean coast in the Jebel Akhdar foothills, in the northeastern region of Cyrenaica, Libya. Ra's al Helal, (English:  'The Crescent Cape'), takes its name from its cape landform which is crescent shaped when viewed from above in the surrounding mountains. The village is in the District of Derna.

Geography

Ra's al Helal is located 55 km (34 mi) to the north-east of Bayda, in Cyrenaica. It had a population totaling 2,235 in 2006.^[1] Ra's al Helal is known for its green forested beach and its waterfalls.

Ra's al Helal beach

The Mediterranean coast of Libya is almost 1,900 km (1,200 mi) long, and nearly all its beaches are far from forests or significant vegetation. Being one of the few exceptions, Ra's al Helal is attracts many vacationers. The area is isolated because of the lack of a direct coastal road connecting the nearby western town of Susa with Benghazi, the country's second largest city and the largest city on the Cyrenaica coast.

Ra's al Helal waterfalls

The Ra's al Helal waterfalls are located up in the Jebel Akhdar mountains, some 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from the coastal road. They are considered one of the most beautiful natural places in the country, and attract many Libyan visitors and vacationers.

Conditions

• However, the access road to the waterfalls, constructed during the Italian occupation era, is old, narrow, and in poor condition.
• Some viewing locations for the waterfalls are along dangerous cliffs, so visiting alone is not safe.
• Some visitors leave their garbage behind on the slopes and in the waterfalls, which spoils the view and causes pollution.

References

1. ^ Amraja M. el Khajkhaj, "Noumou al Mudon as Sagheera fi Libia", Dar as Saqia, Benghazi-2008, p.123.