Country Italy Elevation 332 m (1,089 ft) Time zone CET (UTC+1) Area 96 km² Local time Tuesday 5:51 AM Region Sicily | Province / Metropolitan city Caltanissetta Demonym(s) Niscemesi Dialing code 0933 Province Province of Caltanissetta Postal code 93015 Dialling code 0933 | |
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Weather 8°C, Wind N at 10 km/h, 89% Humidity | ||
Niscemi is a little town and comune in the province of Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy. It has a population of 28,152. It is located not far from Gela and Caltagirone and 90 km from Catania.
Contents
- Map of 93015 Niscemi Province of Caltanissetta Italy
- Etymology
- World War II
- American military installation
- References
Map of 93015 Niscemi Province of Caltanissetta, Italy
Etymology
The name Niscemi is derived from the Arabic word نَشَم neshem or its singular form نَشَمَة neshemeh, this being the name of a particular type of tree.
World War II
During World War II, Niscemi was the location of Ponte Olivo Airfield, a military airfield used by the United States Twelfth Air Force during the Italian campaign. After the war the area was redeveloped and no evidence of the wartime airfield remains.
American military installation
Today, there is a military radio station for naval communication, U.S. Naval Radio Transmitter Facility (NRTF) Niscemi. Its tallest antenna is a guyed mast, 252 metres (827 ft) high, situated at 37°7'32"N 14°26'11"E.
The United States Navy installation is the focus of ongoing protest by locally based activist groups, who oppose it and demand its removal on grounds of health (danger from electromagnetic radiation), environmental damage and opposition to the use of armed drones in the Middle East, allegedly guided from this base. Allegations of armed drones being operated from this base has never been verified however, as the newly installed MUOS (Mobile User Objective System) was intended as an upgrade to legacy communication equipment, and is not intended to communicate with unmanned flying drones. Niscemi inhabitants say the Berlusconi government did not consult them before granting the US the use of the location.