Faya-Largeau (also known as Faya, or ) is the largest city in northern

Chad Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North Africa, North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to Chad–Libya border, the north, Sudan to Chad–Sudan border, the east, the Central Afric ...

and was the capital of the

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

of Bourkou-Ennedi-Tibesti. It is now in the

Borkou Region The Borkou region () is a province of Chad which was created in 2008 from the Borkou department of the former Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti region. Its capital is Faya-Largeau. Geography Borkou is located in the Sahara Desert, and contains parts o ...

, which was formed in 2008 from the

Borkou Department Borkou () is one of two departments of Chad, departments of the Borkou Region in Chad . It was established by Ordinance No. 002/PR/08 of 19 February 2008. Its capital is Faya-Largeau. Bourkou was formerly one of four departments in the Bourkou-Enn ...

of the former Bourkou-Ennedi-Tibesti region.

History

Originally called ''Faya'', the town was renamed ''Largeau'' after French Colonel Victor Emmanuel Largeau; upon Chadian independence from France, it assumed the name ''Faya-Largeau''. The town was captured by

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

when Libya annexed the Aouzou Strip in 1975, but was retaken by Hissène Habré's forces in 1980. Libya recaptured Faya-Largeau in 1983, but retreated in 1987 during the so-called Toyota War.

Economy

Due to the considerable underground

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

supply in the town, the main economic activities are

agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

and natron mining. The town is serviced by Faya-Largeau Airport with a paved runway, used almost exclusively by military airplanes.

Demographics

Climate

Faya-Largeau has a hot desert climate typical of the

lying on the heart of the Sahara Desert. Average maximum temperatures in Faya-Largeau are consistently over from April to September, reaching a maximum of in June. The coolest months are December and January with an average maximum temperature of . Annual precipitation averages only and generally only occurs from June to September, although some years have no rainfall at all. The sunshine duration is one of the highest found in the world with some 3,800 hours of bright sunshine annually, and every month receives an average sunshine duration above 290 hours.

History

Economy

Demographics

Climate

Notable people

See also

References

External links