Cape Tawinis

Cape Tawinis stands at the eastern approach to the Gulf of Sirte, the broad indentation in the northern coast of Libya. The gulf stretches westward toward Cape Misurata, its shores enclosing a great sweep of Mediterranean water. Known to ancient writers as the Greater Syrtis, it was feared for its sandbanks and its exposure to northerly winds. Strabo advised sailors to keep their distance from the coast, lest the wind drive them into the dangerous shallows.