Bir Hakeim (Arabic: بئر حكيم, romanized: biʾr ḥakīm, lit. 'Wise Well' pronounced [biʔr ħaˈkiːm] (listen); sometimes written Bir Hacheim) is in the Libyan desert at 31°36′00″N 23°29′00″E﻿ / ﻿31.60000°N 23.48333°E﻿ / 31.60000; 23.48333Coordinates: 31°36′00″N 23°29′00″E﻿ / ﻿31.60000°N 23.48333°E﻿ / 31.60000; 23.48333 and is the site of a former Ottoman Empire fort built around the site of an ancient Roman well, dating to the period when the oasis was part of Ottoman Tripolitania. It is about 160 kilometres (99 mi) west of Sollum on the Libyan coast and 80 kilometres (50 mi) south-east of Gazala. Bir Hakeim is best known for the battle of Bir Hakeim, which took place there during World War II.