Merca Marka مَركة
City
Merca beachside.
Merca Location in Somalia
Coordinates: 01°41′00″N 044°45′00″E / 1.68333°N 44.75000°E / 1.68333; 44.75000Coordinates: 01°41′00″N 044°45′00″E / 1.68333°N 44.75000°E / 1.68333; 44.75000
Country	Somalia
Region	Lower Shebelle
District	Merca
Population
• Total	230,100
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Merca (Somali: Marka, Arabic: مركة‎) is an ancient port city in the southern Lower Shebelle province of Somalia. Facing the Indian Ocean, it is the main town in the province. It is located approximately 109 km (68 mi) to the southwest of the nation's capital, Mogadishu.

History[edit]

The Biimaal Sultanate of Merca fought against the colonial authorities in Italian Somaliland in a twenty-year war known as the Biimaal revolt. Monuments erected in memory of slain soldiers can still be found in Merca. the biimaal tribe is the only tribe fight against the colonial Rule Of Italy, the Biimaal trib lead by the sultanate of Abdirahman Ali Isse family by the brigadiers of Sheikh Kabtoole and Sheikh Abiikar Gaafley.

Demographics[edit]

As of 2000, Merca had a population of around 230,100 inhabitants.^[1]

Transportation[edit]

Merca has a jetty-class seaport, the Port of Merca.^[2]

The nearest airport to the city is the K50 Airport in the Lower Shebelle province.

Art[edit]

Although visual art is not popular in Somalia due to prevailing beliefs that it contradicts Islam's proscription on all forms of idolatry, a lot of the known visual art in the country derives from the small historical town of Merca. Known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and orange dunes, the city's picturesque contrast of colors serves as an inspiration for local visual artists.

See also[edit]

• Mogadishu
• Barawa

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

• Marka, Somalia

External links[edit]

• Marka Cadey - Merca web portal
• Marka News Media - homepage of people from Merca
• Osmanart - homepage of visual artist from Merca