Murzuk
Murzuk, Marzuq or Murzuq (Arabic: مرزق) is an oasis an toun in sooth wast Libie,[1] an ane o the main settlements o the Murzuq destrict.
Owerview
It lies on the northren edge o the Murzuq Desert, a desert o great sandy dunes. The toun developed aroond the oasis, a stop on the north-sooth trade route athort the Sahara. In 1310, a fort, nou in ruins, wis built an the toun prospered for sax hunder years. The toun declined wi the advent o modren transportation. In 1960, it haed a population o anerlie 7,000.[1]
History
Murzuk wis a major fort, an wis termed the "Paris o the Sahara".[2] It wis occupied bi the Ottomans in 1578 an served as the caipital o Fezzan aff an on. Although the Ottomans frequently haed a garrison there[3] control wis unner the Sultan o Fezzan.[4] The Ottomans cedit Fezzan wi the rest o Libie tae the Italians in 1912, housomeivver Murzuk wis no occupee'd bi the Italians till 1914.
In the early nineteent century, Murzuk served as a jumpin aff point for multiple Breetish expeditions tae fynd Lake Chad an the legendary Timbuktu. Splorers such as the 1822 Denham, Oudney an Clapperton expedition went frae Tripoli tae this ceety whaur they attemptit tae get baith protection an supplies for the trip sooth. Murzuk wis considered unhealthy bi mony Breetish splorers an led tae illness for mony killin some an forcin ithers back tae Tripoli.
References
Freemit airtins
Media relatit tae Murzuk at Wikimedia Commons
13°54′E / 25.900°N 13.900°E
