Murzuq

Murzuq is a town in southwestern Libya, serving as the capital of Murzuq District in the Fezzan region. It lies in the Murzuq Desert near the Murzuq Oasis, on the edge of the Sahara. The town functions as an administrative and commercial hub for the surrounding oases and desert communities.

The town sits within the Murzuq Basin's desert landscapes. The climate is an arid hot desert climate with extremely hot summers, warm winters, and minimal annual rainfall. The landscape includes oasis pockets fed by wells and natural springs.

The Murzuq area has long been part of trans-Saharan caravan routes linking the Niger and Sudan regions with the Libyan coast. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was part of the Ottoman Vilayet of Fezzan, later incorporated into Italian Libya. The population comprises Arab and Amazigh communities, with local culture reflecting desert trade traditions. The town has experienced disruptions due to ongoing conflict in Libya since 2011.

The local economy centers on oasis agriculture, notably date palms, cereals, and pastoralism, along with commerce serving travelers and the surrounding districts. Murzuq District administration is based here. Transport connections are primarily by road, linking to Sebha and other Fezzan towns; air service is limited, with nearby airports serving the region.