Al Jawf, Libya

Capital City

Living in one of the world's most punishing desert climates isn't for the faint-hearted - summer temperatures routinely blast past 100°F in this remote Libyan outpost. With just 0.1 inches of annual rainfall, Al Jawf's 18,587 residents depend entirely on the ancient Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System for survival.

Despite the harsh conditions, this desert city has transformed its surroundings through aggressive irrigation, becoming one of the Sahara's most intensively farmed oases. Satellite images reveal distinctive circular patterns of center-pivot irrigation systems dotting the landscape, visible even from the International Space Station. At 1,254 feet above sea level, Al Jawf serves as the administrative capital of Libya's Kufra district, though its extreme isolation and unforgiving climate make it a challenging posting for most expatriates.