# Benghazi

> second largest city in Libya

**Wikidata**: [Q40816](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40816)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benghazi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/benghazi

## Summary
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, situated on the Mediterranean coast at coordinates 32.1167°N, 20.0667°E. This major port city and municipality covers 314 square kilometers and has a recorded population of 631,555 as of 2011. Benghazi has served as the capital of multiple historical political entities including the Kingdom of Libya, the Emirate of Cyrenaica, and Italian Cyrenaica.

## Key Facts
- Population: 631,555 (2011 census)
- Area: 314 square kilometers
- Elevation: 2 meters above sea level
- Coordinates: 32.116666666667°N, 20.066666666667°E
- Time zone: UTC+02:00
- Official language: Arabic
- Country: Libya (since December 24, 1951); previously Italy (1912–December 23, 1951)
- Classification: City, port city, municipality of Libya, big city
- License plate code: 8
- Local dialing code: 61
- UN/LOCODE: LYBEN
- ISO 3166-2 code: LY-BA
- Website: http://benghazimun.ly/
- Earliest written record: 525 BCE
- Sister cities: Istanbul, Alexandria, Casablanca, Lisbon

## FAQs
**Where is Benghazi located?**
Benghazi is located in northern Libya on the Mediterranean coast at coordinates 32.1167°N, 20.0667°E, positioned just 2 meters above sea level.

**What is Benghazi's historical significance?**
Benghazi has served as the capital of three political entities: the Kingdom of Libya, the Emirate of Cyrenaica, and Italian Cyrenaica. Its earliest written records date to 525 BCE, and it has been known by multiple historical names including Berenice and Euphesperides.

**What are Benghazi's sister city relationships?**
Benghazi is twinned with four cities: Istanbul (Turkey), Alexandria (Egypt), Casablanca (Morocco), and Lisbon (Portugal).

**What administrative codes identify Benghazi?**
Benghazi uses license plate code 8, local dialing code 61, UN/LOCODE LYBEN, and ISO 3166-2 code LY-BA.

## Why It Matters
Benghazi holds substantial importance as Libya's second largest city and a major Mediterranean port city. Its strategic coastal location has made it a significant urban center throughout history, serving as the capital of various political entities including the Kingdom of Libya. With documented history spanning over 2,500 years (earliest written records from 525 BCE), Benghazi represents a crucial connection between Libya's ancient heritage and modern development. The city's role as a port municipality contributes to Libya's maritime commerce and economic infrastructure, while its international sister city relationships with Istanbul, Alexandria, Casablanca, and Lisbon demonstrate its ongoing diplomatic and cultural significance in the Mediterranean region.

## Notable For
- Second largest city in Libya by population (631,555 in 2011)
- Port city on the Mediterranean Sea
- Former capital of the Kingdom of Libya, Emirate of Cyrenaica, and Italian Cyrenaica
- Sister city relationships with four international cities (Istanbul, Alexandria, Casablanca, Lisbon)
- Earliest written records dating to 525 BCE
- Very low elevation at just 2 meters above sea level
- Wikipedia presence in 109 languages
- Documented in multiple major encyclopedias including Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition

## Body

### Geographic and Physical Characteristics
Benghazi occupies 314 square kilometers of territory in northern Libya, positioned at coordinates 32.1167°N, 20.0667°E on the Mediterranean coast. The city sits at an elevation of only 2 meters above sea level, making it one of the lower-lying major urban centers in the region. The city operates in the UTC+02:00 time zone and is identified by the UN/LOCODE LYBEN and ISO 3166-2 code LY-BA.

### Demographics and Administrative Classification
According to 2011 census data, Benghazi has a population of 631,555 residents. The city is officially classified as a city, port city, municipality of Libya, and big city. The official language is Arabic, with the native name بنغازي. The municipality maintains an official website at http://benghazimun.ly/ and has a designated head of government (Wikidata ID: Q133973412).

### Historical and Political Significance
Benghazi's documented history extends back to 525 BCE (recorded as -052 in the source data), making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the region. The city has served as the capital for multiple political entities throughout its history: the Kingdom of Libya, the Emirate of Cyrenaica, and Italian Cyrenaica. The city's political affiliation has changed over time, belonging to Italy from 1912 until December 23, 1951, before becoming part of Libya on December 24, 1951, when the country was established.

### Names and Historical Designations
Throughout its history, Benghazi has been known by multiple names and aliases including Banġāzī, Bengazi, Berenice, Benina, Banghazi, Euphesperides, Benghasi, يوسيبريدس، ليبيا, بنغازى, ينغازي, برنيق, and 벤가지. The official name remains بنغازي in Arabic script.

### International Relationships and Twin Cities
Benghazi maintains sister city relationships (recorded as "twinned_administrative_body") with four major international cities: Istanbul (Turkey), Alexandria (Egypt), Casablanca (Morocco), and Lisbon (Portugal). These relationships connect Benghazi to major Mediterranean and regional urban centers across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

### Cultural and Academic Documentation
Benghazi has been documented in numerous encyclopedic sources including The Nuttall Encyclopædia (listed as "Benga`zi"), the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron, and the Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition. The city maintains a timeline documenting its history (recorded as "history_of_topic: timeline of Benghazi"), and its main topic category on Wikimedia Commons is Category:Benghazi.

### Digital and Online Presence
Benghazi maintains significant digital presence with Wikipedia articles in 109 languages including Afrikaans, Arabic, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, and many others. The city has identifiers across multiple digital platforms including Facebook Location ID (111974952154617), Quora Topic (Benghazi-Libya), Apple Maps ID (14980938767378896910), and Google Play Store ID (Benghazi). The sitelink count is recorded as 104, indicating extensive cross-wiki presence.

### Authority Files and Library Systems
Benghazi is catalogued in major library and authority systems worldwide:
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n80113184
- VIAF IDs: 139555437, 234155336
- GND ID (German National Library): 4087175-7
- Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 15505224g
- National Library of Brazil ID: 001516807
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007557341605171
- Canadiana Name Authority ID: ncf12006055
- FAST ID: 1209957

### Specialized Research and Gazetteer Identifiers
The city is recorded in numerous specialized databases and research systems:
- Heritage Gazetteer of Libya IDs: 910, 1415
- Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire IDs: 21851, 25152
- Pleiades ancient places database ID: 373757
- World Historical Gazetteer Place ID: 12346334
- Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID: 500194
- Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2017): 1874722
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam ID: bingazi
- Encyclopædia Universalis ID: benghazi
- Arab Encyclopedia Concept ID: 2572

### Visual and Multimedia Documentation
The city is documented through various visual media including:
- Image of the Old Town: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/The_Old_Town,_Benghazi,_Libya.jpg
- Aerial view from the International Space Station: ISS022-E-56894
- Nighttime view of downtown by 23rd July Lake
- Page banner image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Benghazi_banner.jpg
- Locator map image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Libyen_Benghazi.png
- Audio pronunciation in Arabic: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Ar-Banghazi.ogg

### Geographic and Mapping Identifiers
Benghazi is indexed in multiple geographic and mapping systems:
- GeoNames ID: 88319
- OpenStreetMap Node ID: 1312442225
- OpenWeatherMap City ID: 88319
- FIPS 10-4 (Countries and Regions): LY54
- GNS Unique Feature IDs: -3163248, -3163247
- Who's On First ID: 421199765

### Wikimedia Commons and Categories
The city has extensive Wikimedia Commons documentation with a commons gallery (بنغازي) and commons category (Benghazi). Specialized categories include:
- Category:Births in Benghazi
- Category:Deaths in Benghazi
- Category:People from Benghazi
- Category:Views of Benghazi
- Category:Maps of Benghazi

### Miscellaneous Identifiers
Additional cataloguing and identification systems include:
- MusicBrainz Area ID: 07f324fb-eef1-423f-9677-b39a91fc9a61
- BBC Things ID: 0ba1d2d0-a93b-40b3-ba42-3e04d191c951
- Australian War Memorial ID: PL1314
- U.S. National Archives Identifier: 10046248
- Interlingual Index ID: i83788
- WordNet 3.1 Synset ID: 08980136-n
- Yale LUX ID: place/8d0da560-1d87-4748-a594-ab5a2affca80
- YLE Topic ID: 18-202734
- NL CR AUT ID: ge1086318
- Vikidia Article ID: fr:Benghazi
- Museum Digital Place ID: 19897
- Archinform Location ID: 45793

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. MusicBrainz
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. FIPS 10-4
7. GeoNames
8. BBC Things
9. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
10. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
11. museum-digital