Nafūsah Plateau

Nafūsah Plateau, hilly limestone massif, northwestern Libya. It extends in a west-northeasterly arc between Al-Jifārah (Gefara) plain and Al-Ḥamrāʾ Plateau. With heights ranging from 1,500 to 3,200 feet (460 to 980 m), the plateau runs east for 120 miles (190 km) from the Tunisian border to the Kiklah Trough and then curves northeast for 93 miles (150 km), ending in hills near the Mediterranean coast at Al-Khums. It is crowned by a plateau from 12 to 16 miles (19 to 26 km) wide, covered by scrub bush and grasses on the north and barren basalt and lava rock on the south. Rainfall varies from 2 to 16 inches (51 to 406 mm). There is scattered cultivation of olives, figs, apricots, grains, tobacco, and esparto grass (which is used for cordage, shoes, and paper), and nomadic herds are grazed. Towns include Nālūt, Jādū, Yafran, and Gharyān.