Libya contains Ghadames, the ancient Saharan city known as the “pearl of the desert.”
Ghadames lies in northwestern Libya near the borders with Algeria and Tunisia. Its old town developed as an oasis settlement, where dense buildings, covered passageways and carefully managed water sources helped residents cope with intense heat and scarce rainfall.
The historic town is especially noted for its distinctive architecture. Covered streets provided shade, while upper-level routes and roof terraces supported movement and domestic life. The oasis’s palm groves helped supply food and materials, and Ghadames became an important stop on trans-Saharan routes.
UNESCO inscribed the Old Town of Ghadames as a World Heritage site in 1986. The city is sometimes confused with other famous Saharan settlements, including Algeria’s Ghardaïa and Morocco’s desert ksour. Ghadames is specifically in Libya, close to the country’s western frontier.