Merca
Merca
| Merca مَركة Marka |
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 Merca مَركة
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| Coordinates: 1°42.89′N 44°46.2′E / 1.71483°N 44.77°ECoordinates: 1°42.89′N 44°46.2′E / 1.71483°N 44.77°E | |
| Country |  Somalia |
| Region | Lower Shabele |
| District | |
| Population | |
| - Total | 350,000 est. |
| Time zone | East Africa Time (UTC+3) |
Merca (Somali: Marka, Arabic: مركة) is a port city on the coast of southern Somalia, facing the Indian Ocean. It is the main town in the Lower Shabele region, and is located approximately 70 km (45 miles) southwest of the nation's capital, Mogadishu.
History
Merca was established in the 5th century by the Biyomaal clan. The first Somalis arrived in the city in the 3rd century BC and gained control of the area and the local trade. The city of Merka was one of several prominent administrative centers in the Ajuuraan Empire.
The Biyomaal and the Ashraaf of Merca fought against the Italian colonialists of Italian Somaliland in a twenty-year war known as the Biyomaal and Ashraaf Revolt in which many of their warriors assassinated several Italian governors. During the Biyomaal and Ashraaf Revolt, several prominent leaders were killed. Monuments erected in their memory can still be found in Merca.
In the late 20th century, the town gained a reputation as a beach resort, although it was subsequently severely damaged during the Somali Civil War. On 13 November 2008, Al-Shabaab took control of the city.
Art
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.