Official Name: | Sokna |
Other Name: | Sawkna, Soukana[1] |
Native Name: | Isuknen |
Settlement Type: | Town |
Pushpin Map: | Libya |
Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Libya |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Libya |
Subdivision Type1: | Region |
Subdivision Name1: | Fezzan |
Subdivision Type2: | District |
Subdivision Name2: | Jufra |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Population As Of: | 2006 |
Population Footnotes: | [2] |
Population Total: | 9,887 |
Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
Timezone: | EET |
Utc Offset: | +2 |
Coordinates: | 29.0669°N 15.7847°W |
Elevation M: | 698 |
Sokna (Arabic: سوكنة, IPA ['so:kna], also transliterated as Socna or Sawknah, Tamazight: Isuknen[3]) is a Saharan desert oasis town in the Fezzan region of southwest Libya.
The Eastern Berber language Sokna is native to the town.This local pre-arabized dialect, which fell out of use by the end of the 20th century, is retained in place names. Presently, the population speaks Arabic.
Sokna is located 16.5km (10.3miles) southwest of the district capital Hun, in the Jufra District. The natural springs support native date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) groves. Due to its reliable supply of water, it has been an important hub on the trans-Saharan route since prehistory.