What makes the old town of Ghadames special?

The city of Ghadames is located in Libya. The white buildings of Ghadames standing in contrast to the dark desert gave it the name, the ‘Pearl of the Desert.’ Ghadames was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

The buildings of this traditional settlement are made of mud. This keeps the heat out during the day and retains warmth during the cold desert nights. Another special feature of the buildings in Ghadames is their structure. The first floors are used for storage while families live on the next floor. Interestingly, the rooftops of all 1300 houses in Ghadames are connected to each other. This is probably due to certain religious beliefs.

People do not live in Ghadames anymore but the Libyan government has made efforts to make it a tourist attraction and a source of income for people living in nearby areas.

Picture Credit : Google

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