The Great Man-Made River is a massive irrigation network across Libya, supplying 70% of the nation’s freshwater from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System to cities like Tripoli and Benghazi, transforming the landscape and supporting millions.The Great Man-Made River is an extraordinary network of pipelines, hailed as the world’s largest irrigation project.
Beneath the desert sands lies the world’s most extensive underground pipe and aqueduct network, spanning 2,820 kilometers. With over 1,300 wells, many deeper than 500 meters, the GMMR delivers an astonishing 6.5 million cubic meters of fresh water daily. The late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi once proclaimed it the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and it’s easy to see why.
The GMMR has faced significant challenges, including damage during the First Libyan Civil War in 2011 when NATO airstrikes targeted a crucial pipe manufacturing plant. Despite claims of military use, the impact on water supply infrastructure was profound. The Second Libyan Civil War further strained the system, with infrastructure neglect and breakdowns. So where is the project now?