Eighth Wonder of the World

Libya's Great Man-Made River Project

Summary

This article is about Great Man-Made River Project in Libya. Libya is a desert country and finding fresh water has always been a problem. Industrialization put even more strain on water supplies. Finding a supply of fresh, clean water has become a government priority.

Oil exploration in the 1950s revealed vast aquifers beneath Libya’s southern desert. Libyan economists decided that the cheapest option was to construct a network of pipelines to transport water from the desert to the coastal cities. Libya had oil money to pay for the project but it did not have the technical or engineering expertise for such a massive undertaking. Foreign companies were invited to help. Phase 1, started in 1993 brought water from eastern well-fields to Benghazi. In 1996 phase 2, bringing water from western wells to Tripoli was completed. Phase 3 was still under construction in 2006.

A well-equipped factory, built special, 4m-diameter pipes that transport water from the desert to the coast. The pipes are designed to last 50 years and now most of the manufacturing is done by Libyans. With water now available in coastal cities, the Libyan government is beginning to use water for agriculture. The project was successful. The combination of water and oil has given Libya a sound economic platform. Libya is in a good position to play an increasingly influential role in the global economy.

Main Idea

In earlier times, a major problem was facing the citizens of Libya which is the lack of water support. The work of Muammar Al Qadhafi and foreign countries made a significant effect. They constructed wells in the desert and transported fresh water to coastal cities. Libyans' lives improved due to this revolution.

Opinion

In my opinion, the article was excellent. What makes it interesting is that the Libyan people found the fossil water and how they use oil money to build special 4m pipes that transport water from the desert to the coast.