Tunisia. Economic-geographical location

Tunisia attracts millions of tourists every year. It is a tourist destination that can qualitatively and fully satisfy all the traveler’s needs. And although this country takes up little space on the map, it manages to combine a year-round resort climate, golden beaches, history and shopping - all thanks to its favorable location.

In addition, to all the above factors is added the low cost of services compared to other tourist destinations. The Mediterranean climate means that tourists can enjoy relaxing on one of the many beaches this country has to offer.

Geographical location of Tunisia

Tunisia is country in North Africa, covering 165,000 square kilometers. Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is also the northernmost point in Africa. This state neighbors Algeria in the west and southwest, and Libya in the southeast. In the north and east, its shores are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. The name of the country comes from its capitals– the city of Tunisia, which is located on the northeast coast. The capital of the country is at the same time the largest city in the country and its economic and cultural center.

Tunisia on the world map:

On the map of Africa:

The coast of Tunisia extends over 1,150 km and has numerous bays, coves, capes and several islands, including:

• Djerba (514 square kilometers), the largest of all the islands in North Africa;
• Shergi (110 square kilometers);
• Gharbi (50 square kilometers).

Djerba is the largest island in North Africa. It is located in the Gulf of Gabes. Djerba is part of the Tunisian department of Medenine and is divided into three districts, named after the three cities that form their administrative centers.

The islands of Shergi and Gharbi, together with the surrounding islets, form the Kerkennah archipelago.

Tunisia contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and the northern regions of the Sahara Desert. Much of the rest of the country's land is fertile soil. The coastline includes the African junction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean basin.

Although relatively small in size, this the country has great ecological diversity due to its north-south extent. Its east-west extent is limited. The differences between north and south, as in the rest of the Maghreb, are mainly due to environmental differences between north and south, determined by the sharp decrease in rainfall in the south.

Nature of Tunisia

Dorsal, the eastern extension of the Atlas Mountains, runs through the country in a northeasterly direction from the Algerian border in the west to the Cape Bon Peninsula in the east. North of Dorsal is Tell, a region characterized by low rolling hills and plains.

The state is divided into 24 governorates or vilayets, which are further divided into 264 districts and then subdivided into municipalities.

The largest cities in Tunisia:

Physiographical features

Climate of Tunisia – Mediterranean in the north. The south of the country is a hot desert. The terrain in the north is mountainous, which, moving south, gives way to a hot, dry central plain. The south is semi-arid and merges with the Sahara. A series of salt lakes, known as hottes or chattes, lie on an east-west line on the northern edge of the Sahara, extending from the Gulf of Gabes into Algeria. Lowest point– Chott el-Jerid is at an altitude of 17 meters below sea level, and highest– Jebel al-Chambi at an altitude of 1544 meters.

The Sahel, the expanding coastal plain along the eastern Mediterranean coast, is among the world's best olive growing areas. Inland from the Sahel, between Dorsal and a series of hills south of Gafs, are the Steppes.

Much of the southern region is semi-arid and desert. 40% of the surface is occupied by the Sahara Desert, while the rest of the territory consists of fertile land and more than a thousand kilometers of easily accessible coastlines. Both of these factors played an important role in ancient times for the founding of cities such as Carthage here.

On the coast of Tunisia is northernmost point of Africa and Cape Bon, a peninsula that geologists believe was connected to Sicily thousands of years ago and provided a bridge between Africa and Europe. Zembra Island is located 10 kilometers from Cape Bon.

On the southeast coast is the Gulf of Gabes, the largest in the country, which stretches for more than 200 km between the city of Sfax and Kerkennah to the north. In the northwestern part of Tunisia the peaks of the Tunis ridge rise.

History of the country

Both the Sahara Desert and the Atlas Mountains played a large role in ancient times along with famous city Carthage (then as the Roman province of Africa).

The Vandals occupied the region during the 5th century, the Byzantines took possession of it in the 6th century, and the Arabs in the 8th century.

In the Arab era, the Great Mosque of Kairouan, or as it is also called, was built Uqba Mosque. It is the oldest minaret in the world, as well as the most ancient and prestigious sanctuary in the Muslim West.

At the end of the 16th century, the coastline became a pirate stronghold.

In 1534, under the command of Hayreddin Barbarossa Pasha, the first Ottoman conquest of Tunisia took place. The Ottoman Empire retained this region until its occupation by France in 1881.

The rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in the French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence over several decades led to Tunisia becoming an independent state in 1956.

It is not known exactly where the name came from, there are many versions. The first assumption is that from the Berber root “tns”, meaning “to lie down” or “camp”. The second interesting version is that the name comes from the name of the goddess Tanit (or Tunit), who was worshiped in Carthage.

A very interesting version is that the name was formed from the word “tuna” or “tun”, meaning tuna fish. Of course, a lot of tuna is caught here; cans of canned tuna are one of them, along with olive oil. It is likely that the country could be called by the name of one of its main export products.

The country's population is almost 11 million people. Fewer people live in Tunisia than in Moscow.

The area of ​​the country is 163,600 square kilometers. This is comparable to the area Perm region or Tyumen region.

Tunisia is the record holder in Africa and the Arab world for the number of students; there are 350-400 thousand of them here.

Accordingly, Tunisia leads Africa in the percentage of people with higher education.

Tunisia has a very small army - only 27,000 people, 84 main and 48 light tanks. The fleet consists of only 25 small patrol ships.

There are many more police officers (pictured on the right) in the country than military personnel. By the way, taking photos of the police in Tunisia is prohibited.

The highest point in Tunisia is Mount Jabel ich Chammbi, height 1544 meters.

Tunisia has very low urbanization, with 67% of the population living in cities. For comparison, in Russia it is 73.7%.

The average life expectancy for men is 73.2 years, for women 77.4 years. For comparison, in Russia it is 65.9 and 76.7 years.

Tunisia has 1148 kilometers coastline, which contributed to the development of tourism in the country, we will talk about the tourism industry in detail.

Tourism in Tunisia

Tourism contributes 7% of the country's GDP and employs 370,000 Tunisians. Until 2011, the tourism industry was experiencing rapid growth, the number of guests arriving annually was already approaching 10 million, but the revolution frightened tourists, and the economic crisis forced many to abandon seaside holidays for financial reasons. Now 5-6 million tourists arrive in Tunisia per year.

Another priority area for the authorities is golf, because golfers prefer autumn and spring, when it is not so hot. The main center of golf tourism in the country has become, the second center should soon become Yasmine Hammamet, where 4 more golf courses are being built. Another interesting group of tourists for the country are yachtsmen. Almost every Tunisian resort has a marina (small port for yachts).

And another important area is excursion holidays. Tunisia is rich in attractions from the era of the Roman Empire:,.

The Arab and Ottoman periods of the country's history left their own interesting sights: the Medina of Sousse, Kairouan,. There are 8 objects in the country world heritage UNESCO. The authorities are trying to create conditions for winter excursion tourism, but the results are still modest.

Holidays in Tunisia have many other advantages. superior in quality to alcohol in hotels in Turkey or Egypt. The variety of dishes on the All Inclusive buffet is greater than in the above-mentioned competing countries. The sandy beaches are considered among the best in the Mediterranean.

The weaknesses of the Tunisian tourism industry are the narrow range of entertainment facilities. There are only three large water parks at the resorts: , and . There are no water parks in Southern Tunisia at all. Other interesting objects: , and on Djerba, that’s all.

Russian tourists have their advantages: small and visa-free regime. The main disadvantage for Russians is the very poor knowledge of the Russian language by Tunisians. Often hotels simply do not have staff who speak Russian well enough. In this case, only a hotel guide will help.

Another disadvantage for tourists from Russia is that there are no direct regular flights between our countries, which makes independent holidays in Tunisia difficult.

Arabs live in Tunisia. Are they Arabs? (population)

Officially, the nationality of the residents is called “Tunisians,” but they themselves identify as Arabs. They speak the Tunisian dialect of Arabic.

Genetic studies show that the average resident of the country is only 20% Arab, and most of the genes are from Berbers and other indigenous peoples of North Africa. There are also marker genes from the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Spaniards, Italians, Turks, and French. The genes of Tunisians reflect richness as well as.

There is also an admixture of Russian blood among Tunisians. During World War II, the Germans sent 50,000 Soviet prisoners of war here as cheap labor force for the construction of field structures and other household works. Most of our compatriots died from exhaustion and disease, but several thousand fled and disappeared into the countryside.

Before independence, many Europeans lived in Tunisia - about 500,000 - but they left the country in the next decade after Habib Bourguiba came to power. Since the 6th century BC. There was a large Jewish diaspora in the country, with the largest number of Jews living on the island of Djerba. As of 1948 there were 105,000 people. But with the formation of the State of Israel, they left there, now only 900 people remain.

Tunisian Republic.

The name of the country comes from the name of the capital Tunisia, which is named after the Phoenician queen Tanit.

Capital of Tunisia. Tunisia.

Tunis Square. 163610 km2.

Population of Tunisia. 9705 thousand people

Location of Tunisia. Tunisia is a state in Northern. In the north and east it is washed, in the south it borders, in the west - with.

Administrative division Tunisia. The state is divided into 23 vilayets (governments).

Form of government of Tunisia. Republic

Head of State of Tunisia. President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislative body of Tunisia. Chamber of Deputies (unicameral parliament) with a term of office of 5 years.

Supreme executive body of Tunisia. Council of Ministers.

Major cities of Tunisia. Sfax, Bizerte, Sousse.

State language Tunisia. Arab.

Religion of Tunisia. 98% are Muslims.

Ethnic composition of Tunisia. 97% are Tunisians (Arabs), 1% are Berbers of the oases.

Currency of Tunisia. Tunisian dinar = 1000 millimam.

The official name is the Tunisian Republic (Al-Jumhuriyah at-Tunisiyah).

Located in North Africa. Area - 163.61 thousand km2, population - 9.8 million people. (2002, evaluation). The official language is Arabic. The capital is Tunisia (approx. 1.8 million people, with suburbs, end 2002, estimate). Public holiday - Independence Day on March 20 (since 1956). The monetary unit is the Tunisian dinar (equal to 1000 millimes).

Member of 51 international organizations, incl. UN, LAS, OIC, Group of 77, AU, WHO, WTO, GATT, IMF, FAO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO.

Sights of Tunisia

Geography of Tunisia

Located between 30° and 34° north latitude, 9° and 13° east longitude. In the north and east it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea. In the west and southwest it borders with Algeria (965 km), in the southeast with Libya (459 km). The total length of land borders is 1424 km. The length of the coastline is 1148 km. The land area is 155.36 thousand km2.

The relief is predominantly flat and hilly. OK. 1/3 of the territory is occupied by the Atlas Mountains (eastern spurs of the Tel Atlas and Saharan Atlas, altitude 1000-1200 m) and intermountain plateaus (Northern and High Tel). In the western part of the Tunisian ridge is the highest point of the country - Mount Al-Chambi (1544 m). The remaining territory is occupied by the Tunisian lowland (Lower Tel) in the north, and to the south by the Tunisian Sahel. In the center of the country there are drainless saline lowlands - chotts - Chott el-Jerid (approx. 5 thousand km2), Chott el-Garsa (1.3 thousand km2), located 16-17 m below sea level. The southeastern Ksur mountains separate the rolling plains of the rocky deserts of the Sahara from the coastal lowlands. In the extreme south is the sandy desert of Rmel el Abiod - the northern tip of the Great Eastern Erg.

Geologically, Tunisia can be divided into two parts: the northern - fold-cover syncline - Tel Atlas, the Berberide aulacogen in the Tunisian Atlas, and the southern - platform (Saharan Plate).

Minerals - iron ore (Jerissa) with total reserves of 55 million tons; phosphorites (1.2 billion tons, Redeef, Gafsa, etc.); oil (reserves approx. 123 million tons) and gas (approx. 100 billion m3). In addition, there are deposits of lead (360 thousand tons) and zinc (200 thousand tons), mercury (700 tons) in the Tel Atlas, fluorite (5 million tons), barite (1.9 million tons), manganese and potassium salts .

The climate is predominantly subtropical Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and relatively cool, wet winters; in the extreme south - tropical desert, with hot sirocco winds from the Sahara. The average temperature in January in the north is + 10°C, in July +26°C, in the south, respectively, +21°C, +33°C. The highest annual precipitation falls in the Northern Tel (1000-1500 mm), in the rest of the Tel - from 400 to 600 mm, and south of the Tunisian ridge - 100-200 mm. The amount of precipitation varies greatly from year to year.

Most of the rivers are of the oued type. Most large river- Mejerda (length 460 km), widely used for hydropower and irrigation purposes. In the North - salt lake Bizerte (ancient sea bay), Lake Garaet-Ashkel.

Soils and vegetation. The soil and vegetation cover is predominantly of the Mediterranean type. In the north, brown carbonate soils predominate, in the Atlas Mountains - brown forest, slightly podzolized soils, in the south - gray-brown and saline soils of semi-deserts, primitive desert soils. Natural vegetation is severely degraded. In the mountainous areas on the coast there are maquis islands; at most high mountains- forests of cork and holm oak, Aleppo pine, thuja. On the plains, herbaceous vegetation predominates with wormwood, dry-loving cereals (including alpha grass), and in semi-deserts - solyanka. In the valleys of the Ueds there are acacias, gorse, tamarisks; in deserts there are individual trees - talha and ethel, ephemeral grasses.

Until recently, the largest animals in the North were the panther, wild boar, and mouflon. Semi-desert areas are inhabited by predators (caracal, cheetah, jackal, striped hyena, foxes, etc.) and rodents. Birds are numerous and varied, incl. predatory and migratory. Lots of reptiles. The waters of the Mediterranean Sea are home to commercial fish: sardines, tuna, herring, anchovies, etc.

Population of Tunisia

Annual population growth 1.12%. Birth rate 16.83%, mortality 5%, infant mortality 27.97 people. per 1000 newborns (2002 estimate). Average life expectancy is 74.16 years (women - 75.89, men - 72.56). Age and gender structure: 0-14 years - 27.8% (men 1,412,625, women 1,320,729); 15-64 years old - 65.9% (3,234,770 and 3,233,149); 65 years and older - 6.3% (303,093 and 311,278). Among the population over 15 years of age, 66.7% are literate (men 78.6%, women 54.6%).

The majority of the population lives in the northern part of the country. Population density 59.3 people. per 1 km2 (2001).

Urban population - approx. 55%.

By national composition, the overwhelming majority of the population are Tunisian Arabs (98%), as well as Berbers (Tuaregs). Almost all Tunisians speak the Eastern Maghreb (Tunisian) dialect of Arabic, a small part (less than 1%) on the island of Djerba and in the southern mountainous regions speak the local dialect of the Berber language.

Sunni Islam of the Malekite persuasion is widespread in Tunisia. Minority religions are Judaism (approx. 2 thousand followers, 1993) and Christianity. Among Christians there are Catholics, Orthodox (Greeks) and Protestants (French and British).

History of Tunisia

People have inhabited the territory of Tunisia since ancient times. Tools of the Lower, Middle and Upper Paleolithic, monuments of the Aterian (35-10th thousand BC), Ibero-Maurusian (10th thousand BC) cultures, as well as the Capsian culture have been preserved. In the 4th-2nd millennium BC. Agriculture and animal husbandry developed greatly, and fortified settlements arose. In the 12th century BC The Greeks and then the Phoenicians appeared on the territory of Tunisia. The Punic language and eastern religious cults spread. Among the Phoenician cities founded in Tunisia, Carthage took the leading place, which turned into a powerful slave-holding city-state.

As a result Punic Wars 264-146 BC The Carthaginian power ceased to exist, Tunisia was included in the Roman possessions in Africa. During the period of Roman rule (146 BC - 439 AD), the country underwent Romanization, but the bulk of the indigenous population retained the Punic language and Eastern beliefs. In the 1st century AD Christianity began to spread in Tunisia, replacing it in the 4th century. other cults.

In 439, with the support of the Berbers and rebel peasants, Carthage was captured by the Vandals, putting an end to Roman rule in Tunisia. In 534 Tunisia came under Byzantine rule.

In the 7th century. (647) military detachments of Muslim Arabs came to the territory of Tunisia. In 670, the Arabs founded Kairouan, which became the center of the spread of Islam in North Africa, in 698 they took Carthage, and in 703 they suppressed the last centers of resistance of the Byzantines and their Berber allies. The bulk of the indigenous population in the end. 7 - beginning 8th centuries adopted Islam and Arab culture.

In 800 Tunisia separated from the Abbasid Caliphate and became an independent state under the rule of Arab dynasty Aghlabids (800-909), however, retaining religious and cultural ties with the Caliphate. In 909, as a result of the Shiite Berber uprising against the Aghlabids, the Ismaili Fatimid state was created in Tunisia. The tyranny of the Fatimids caused strong discontent, which was taken advantage of by the Berber dynasty of the Zirids, which in 1048 created an independent Sunni state with its center in Kairouan. In response to this, the Fatimids sent detachments of Arab nomadic tribes to Tunisia, whose invasion in 1050-52 ravaged and devastated the country. The Zirid state collapsed.

In 1160 Tunisia became part of the Almohad state. In the process of its collapse, the large Tunisian state of the Hafsids (1229-1574) was formed. In 1270, the Hafsids repelled an attack by the crusaders led by the French king Louis IX. At this time, Tunisia became the main power of the Arab West (Maghreb).

In 1535 Spain captured Tunisia. The fight against the Spaniards was led by the emirs of nomadic tribes and marabouts, who received help from Ottoman Empire.

In 1574, the Ottoman Turks expelled the Spaniards and incorporated Tunisia into the Ottoman Empire. However, by mid. 17th century Türkiye retained only nominal power over Tunisia. In 1591, Tunisia began to be ruled by Tunisian deys, then beys from the Muradid dynasty (1612-1702), who only formally recognized the sovereignty of the Turkish Sultan. Beys from the Husseinid dynasty founded an independent Tunisian state in 1705. The Husseinids recognized the Turkish Sultan only as the religious head of Tunisian Muslims. In 1830, the first units of the regular Tunisian army were created. Under Bey Ahmed (reigned 1837-55), the army was strengthened, state-owned plants and factories were founded, and secular educational institutions were opened.

On September 9, 1857, “Ahd al-Aman” (“Fundamental Pact”) was published, which extended the principles of Tanzimat to Tunisia. In 1861 the first Tunisian Constitution (Destour) was adopted. Liberal reformers sought to combine the traditions of medieval Arab culture with the achievements of European civilization. However, reforms, especially the creation of a regular army and navy, the construction of palaces, as well as the thefts of Bey dignitaries, depleted the treasury. The Tunisian government resorted to external loans, to cover which new taxes were introduced.

When the Tunisian government stopped paying debts on foreign loans, the country's financial bankruptcy followed in 1867. In 1869, France, Great Britain and Italy, having created the International Financial Commission, established a joint financial control over Tunisia. In 1878, at the Berlin Congress, France, for agreeing to the seizure of Cyprus by Great Britain, achieved recognition of its “special rights” in Tunisia.

On April 12, 1881, the French government, taking advantage of the uprising of the Krumir tribe in Tunisia, which allegedly threatened French interests in Algeria, under the pretext of maintaining order, introduced its troops into Tunisian territory and forced Bey Mohammed III es-Zadok to sign a treaty in the outskirts of Tunisia, Bardo. According to the Treaty of Bardos, the Bey “agreed” to the occupation by French troops of those points of Tunisia that they considered necessary to occupy, and to the establishment of the power of a French resident minister in the country; undertakes not to enter into any international treaties without French consent. On June 8, 1883, the Convention of La Marse was signed, legally formalizing the French protectorate over Tunisia.

Power passed to the French Resident General. The Bey and the government retained only nominal power. A large number of Europeans settled in the country (19 thousand in 1881, over 156 thousand in 1921), into whose hands the best lands passed.

The first political protests of the population against foreign domination occurred in 1884. In 1896, the first nationalist societies and circles arose, which in 1907 united into the Evolutionist Party of the Young Tunisians, led by Ali Bash-Khamba. Under the leadership of the Young Tunisians, anti-colonial protests took place in the cities in 1906-12; in 1914-18 Bash-Khamba undertook several unsuccessful attempts start a rebellion.

After World War I, the national liberation movement was led by the Islamophile conservative party Dustour (Destour, founded in 1920). The global economic crisis of 1929-33 sharply aggravated the situation in Tunisia. In 1934, Habib Bourguiba created the left-nationalist party New Dustur (Socialist Dustur Party, SDP), which ousted the former leaders of Dustur from the leadership of the national liberation movement, who formed the Old Dustur party. In September 1934, New Dustur led anti-colonial protests. On April 9-11, 1938, the French colonial authorities banned New Doustour and arrested Bourguiba and other party leaders.

During World War II, Tunisia was first under the rule of the Vichy French government (1940-42), then by the Italian-German occupiers (November 1942 - May 1943). Bey Monsef's entourage (1942-43) created the "independent" nationalist government of Muhammad Shenik. In May 1943, as a result of the Allies in the anti-Hitler coalition, the United States and Great Britain, Operation Torch, Tunisia was cleared of Italian-German troops, and the government of Mohammed Chenik was removed by the French colonial authorities.

The victory of the anti-Hitler coalition over fascism in World War II created favorable conditions for the development of the national liberation movement, the leadership of which was still in the hands of the New Dustur party and the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT), founded in 1946 by Farhat Hashed, which collaborated with it. In 1946-48, the UGTT led major anti-colonial protests. The movement reached its greatest growth in 1952-54, when strikes in cities were combined with the actions of partisan detachments of the Tunisian Liberation Army, created in 1952 by New Dostur.

On July 31, 1954, France was forced to proclaim internal autonomy for Tunisia. On June 3, 1955, the Franco-Tunisian conventions were signed, according to which the government of the country passed into the hands of the national government with the participation of representatives of New Dostur. This Government has begun preparations for elections to the National Constituent Assembly. The aggravation of the crisis of the colonial regime forced the French government to sign on March 20, 1956 the Franco-Tunisian protocol on France's recognition of the independence of Tunisia.

The declaration of independence initially had almost no effect on the economic positions of French capital in Tunisia. The monarchy also remained. The leaders of New Dostur, who came to power, were forced to share it with the feudal nobility and the small Tunisian comprador bourgeoisie. On March 25, 1956, elections to the National Assembly were held, and on April 10, 1956, Habib Bourguiba became the first prime minister of independent Tunisia. On July 25, 1957, the monarchy was abolished and a republic was proclaimed. In 1959, after the entry into force of the Constitution, Bourguiba was elected president and was re-elected to this post in 1964 and 1969.

In the 1960-70s. Bourguiba persistently strengthened the system of state power. In 1963, all political parties were banned, except for the pro-government party Dustur. In 1975, parliament, having adopted appropriate amendments to the Constitution, approved the proclamation of President Bourguiba as president for life.

In the beginning 1980s Bourguiba legalized opposition political parties, but the pro-Iranian Islamic fundamentalists who were gaining strength took advantage of this. The president brutally dealt with the conspirators, and repressions also affected the secular opposition.

On April 6, 1987, 84-year-old head of state for life Bourguiba, who led the country for 31 years, was removed from power and placed under house arrest. Bourguiba died in Monastir in 2000.

The operation to remove Bourguiba was carried out by a group statesmen led by Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. By decision of the ruling Socialist Dustur Party, Ben Ali became its chairman. He was elected to the presidency in 1989 and 1994.

In December 1996, Ben Ali began reform of the electoral legislation, which resulted in an increase in the number of opposition deputies in the National Assembly. The threshold that political parties had to overcome to win seats in parliament on party lists was lowered from 5 to 3%. Opposition parties were guaranteed representation on municipal councils through a planned amendment to the law that would have prohibited one party from holding more than 80% of the seats on any municipal council.

On October 24, 1999, Ben Ali was again elected president for a term of 5 years. In the elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the Democratic Constitutional Union received 92% of the votes (148 seats). In parliament in accordance with the reform opposition parties took 20% of the seats, increasing their representation from 19 to 34 deputies.

In May 2001, municipal elections were held in Tunisia. Largest number mandates for local authorities again went to candidates from the ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally party, who received 3,885 of 4,128 parliamentary seats.

At a national referendum held in May 2002, the constitutional reform was approved by a majority of votes.

Government and political system of Tunisia

Tunisia is a republic, the Constitution of 1959 is in force (with subsequent amendments). The head of state is the president, who is both the head of the executive branch and also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The president must be no younger than 40 and no older than 70 years old, elected by universal direct and secret ballot for a term of 5 years and can be re-elected for another 2 terms. The president can accept the resignation of the government on the proposal of the prime minister, if it is approved by 2/3 of the votes of members of parliament, and also dissolve parliament, after which new parliamentary elections are held.

In the event of the President's inability, the President of the Chamber of Deputies (now Fouad Mbazaa) acts as head of state for a period of 45 to 60 days, after which new presidential elections must be held. The Speaker of Parliament cannot run for the position of President.

Executive power is exercised by the president and the government (currently Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi).

The judicial and legal system is based on the French legal system and Islamic law (Sharia). It includes Court of Cassation in Tunisia, which consists of three civil and one criminal departments. There are courts of appeal in Tunis, Sousse and Sfax. There are 13 courts of first instance in the country. There are cantonal courts in 51 regions. The legal capacity of citizens begins when they reach the age of 20.

Administratively, the country is divided into 23 provinces (wilayets): Ariana, Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte, El Kef, Gabes, Gafsa, Jenduba, Zaguan, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili, Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana, Sousse, Tataouine, Tauzar, Tunisia. Provinces are divided into delegations. The provinces are governed by governors appointed by the president at the proposal of the Minister of Internal Affairs; in delegations, muatamads (delegates) are appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs; in sheikhats, sheikhs (elders) are appointed. Under the governors there are advisory bodies - councils consisting of 10-30 members. Communes with a municipal structure have municipal councils elected for 5 years.

Party composition of the parliament: Democratic Constitutional Union (DKO) - 148, Movement of Democratic Socialists (MDS) - 13, Democratic Unionist Union (DUC) - 7, Party national unity(PNU) - 7, Renewal Movement - 5, Social Liberal Party (SLP) - 2. Total - 182 deputies.

The Tunisian armed forces consist of the army, navy, air force, paramilitary forces and the National Guard. Conscription into the Armed Forces begins at the age of 20, the service period is 12 months. Military spending - $356 million (1.5% of GDP) (1999).

The regular Armed Forces number 35 thousand people, incl. Land 27 thousand, Navy 4.5 thousand, Air Force 3.5 thousand; National Guard 12 thousand; gendarmerie - 2 thousand people. (1999).

Economy of Tunisia

The Tunisian economy includes the agricultural sector, mining, energy, tourism, manufacturing, transport, communications and services. GDP $64.5 billion ($600 per capita) (2001 estimate). The share of economic sectors in GDP production: agriculture - 13%, industry - 33%, services - 54% (2000, estimate).

Economically active population - 2.69 million people. (2002, evaluation).

In 1995-99, the average annual economic growth was 5-6%, in 2000-02 - 5.4%. Inflation 2.7% (2001).

At the same time, the country remains high level unemployment (according to official data, 15.6% of the economically active population), 6% of the population live below the poverty line.

State budget (2001, billion dollars): revenues - 5.7, expenses - 6.3, including 1.5 capital expenditures.

Tunisia's agricultural land amounts to approx. 2/3 of the country's area. The main grain crops are wheat, barley, corn, oats and sorghum. IN large quantities Fruits, grapes, olives, oranges and dates are grown, which are also exported.

60 thousand people are employed in fishing. Its main center is Sfax, where the state has made large investments in the industry in recent years, including funds for the modernization of the fishing fleet, updating approx. 30 fishing ports and exploration.

Mining, manufacturing and energy industries are the most developed in Tunisia. In 1998 the industry produced approx. 25% of GDP, it employed approx. 1/4 of the population.

For a long time, oil was the main source of Tunisia's export earnings (In 1999, the country produced about 250 thousand tons of crude oil). From the end 1980s this role shifted to textiles and food.

Tunisia ranks 4th in the world in phosphate production (8 million tons were mined in 1999). Electricity production in 2000 amounted to 10.3 billion kWh. The Miskar field produces more than 90% of all gas production (335 million m3 in 1999).

The textile and leather industries play a vital role in production and export. Receipts from the export of textile products amounted to 2950 million dinars in 1998, i.e. 45% of all earnings from exports.

The next most important industries are steel production, building materials, mechanical and electromechanical equipment, chemicals, paper and wood. Since the 1980s Auto assembly production is developing with the participation of European and American companies. Since 1992, plans have been implemented to create and develop a special offshore high-tech zone in Tunisia.

Particular attention is paid to the chemical industry. The main direction is the processing of phosphate rock into phosphate fertilizers and phosphoric acid. They also produce paints, glues, and detergents.

The length of roads is 23.1 thousand km (1997); 18,226 thousand km of roads have asphalt or concrete surfaces. The total length of railways is 2170 km. There are 30 airports in the country, incl. 7 international. Tunisia has 7 main seaports. In total, Tunisia owns 16 sea transport vessels with a displacement of St. 1000 tons, and the entire merchant fleet (registered at the end of 1998) is 78 ships with a displacement of 193.5 thousand tons. In Tunisia, 797 km of pipelines for crude oil, 86 km for petroleum products and 742 km of gas pipelines were put into operation.

In order to increase the number of telephones in the country to 1 million, large investments were planned in the development of telephone communications. In 1998, the first global standard system for mobile phones. In the end In 1998, the country's telephone system had 734 thousand subscribers.

Foreign trade (2001, billion US dollars): exports - 6.6; imports - 8.9. The main export products are textiles, industrial products, phosphates and chemicals, food products; imported - machinery, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food.

Main export partners: France (28%), Italy (21%), Germany (14%), Belgium (6%), Libya (4%); by import: France (30%), Italy (21%), Germany (11%), Spain (4%) (2000).

Tourism income - 1950 million dinars (1999). The number of foreign tourists visiting Tunisia increased from 3.3 million in 1989 to 4.72 million in 1998. Approx. 2/3 of tourists came from Europe, the rest from the Maghreb countries.

Tunisia has 29 radio stations, 2.6 million radio receivers (1998); 26 television stations (76 repeaters); 920 thousand televisions (1997); 4 daily newspapers are published in Arabic and French total circulation approx. 200 thousand copies, 16 periodicals. The Tunis Afrique Press news agency operates. 14 publishing houses produce various types of printed materials.

Science and culture of Tunisia

Education in Tunisia is compulsory from the ages of 6 to 16. Primary education usually lasts 6 years. Secondary education consists of one cycle lasting 3 years and a second cycle lasting 4 years. In 1996, the coverage of children in primary and secondary education was 89% (boys - 91%, girls - 87%). The University of Tunis consists of 54 faculties and institutes. In 1986, two more universities opened - in Monastir and Sfax.

On scientific research and training of scientific and technical personnel is allocated 1% of national income. Scientific institutions are under the jurisdiction of ministries. The largest scientific organization is the University of Tunis (subordinate to the Ministry of Education); it includes: Center for Economic and Social Research, Institute of Scientific and Technical Research, Center for Nuclear Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institute pedagogical research. The Ministry of Culture and Information houses the National Institute of Archeology and Art; Ministries of Agriculture - National Institutes of Agronomic, Forestry, Veterinary, Oceanographic and Fisheries Research, there are medical research centers (Pasteur Institute, Institute of Family Planning and Maternal and Infant Care, etc.), Geological Survey.

Tunisia has a rich cultural tradition. The country has many architectural monuments from the Capsian era to 20th century Art Nouveau. Developed fiction and poetry in Arabic and French. There are literary associations and literary magazines are published. There is a Municipal Theatre, professional troupes and approx. 60 amateur groups. The Center for Dramatic Art has been operating since 1959. Theater weeks are held annually, and festivals of theatrical art from the Maghreb countries and international amateur theater groups are organized every two years. National cinema is developing. Back in 1939, the first sound film in Tunisia in Arabic, “The Madman from Kairouan” (directed by J. Crezy), was released. Much attention is paid to the study and promotion of folk and classical music. In the 1960s a symphony orchestra was created, the National Conservatory was founded. International festivals are held, incl. Carthage Folk Arts Festival, annual festivals of dance, music and theater in Carthage, Hammamet and Tabarka; festivals in Kairouan, “art weeks”, competitions.

Capital: Tunisia.

Geography: Republic of Tunisia (Al-Jumhuriya at-Tunisia), a state in the North. Africa. It is washed by the Mediterranean Sea in the north and east, borders on Algeria in the west and southwest, and Libya in the southeast. Area 164.2 thousand square meters. km.

Time: It lags behind Moscow by 2 hours in summer and 3 hours in winter.

Natural and climatic conditions: Tunisia occupies the coastal plains, the eastern part of the Atlas Mountains (height up to 1544, Chambi) and the northern part of the Sahara Desert. The climate is subtropical Mediterranean, tropical desert in the south. Average temperatures in January in the north are 10 °C, in the south 21 °C, in July 26 and 33 °C, respectively, precipitation per year is from 100 mm in the south to 1500 mm on the Northern plateau. Tel. Main river Medjera. In the mountains there are deciduous and evergreen forests, including cork oak, and in semi-deserts there is alpha grass. National parks- Akshel, Bu-Khedma, etc., nature reserves, reserves.

Government system: The head of state is the president. The legislative body is the Chamber of Deputies.

Administrative division: 23 vilayets (governments).

Population: 10 million people (2004), mostly Tunisians (Tunisian Arabs).

Language: The official language is Arabic; French is used more often than Arabic in some areas.

Religion: The state religion is Islam.

Economy: Tunisia is an agricultural and raw material industry. country, one of the most developed in Africa. Share in GDP (1994,%): agriculture 13, mining 4, manufacturing 18. Cereals, olive trees, citrus fruits, grapes are cultivated. Extensive cattle breeding. Preparations (for export) of cork oak bark. Fishing. Extraction of phosphorites and oil. Food, textile, metallurgical, chemical, cement enterprises. Electricity production 7.6 billion kWh (1995). Length (1997, thousand km) of railways 2.1, roads 22.5. Main seaports: Tunis, Sfax, Bizerte, Gabes, Sehira. Export: oil and oil products, textiles, olive oil, wines, phosphorites. Main foreign trade partners: EU countries, Japan.

Currency: Dinar, equal to approximately $1 (floating rate), equal to 1000 millimes.

Main attractions: Tunisia is a fairly young tourist country in the modern sense - its intensive development began only in the 80s of the twentieth century. But historically, this is one of the most ancient resorts in the world - back in the days of the Phoenicians, Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire, representatives of the nobility rested here. Now Tunisia is 1200 km. sandy beaches, hundreds of modern hotels, excellent sources of thermal waters on which modern balneological centers are built, as well as many historical monuments.

Tunisia (founded in the 9th century BC) is the capital (since 1956) and the main port of the country, located on the shores of the lake of the same name. This is a very original city, which combines the most modern resort centers, traditional Muslim architecture, numerous markets and excellent museums. The center of Tunisia is considered to be the walled Medina ("old city"), spread around the Jami ez-Zeituna Mosque (Zitouna, "Mosque of Olive", 703) - the spiritual center of the country, surrounded by numerous madrassas. The narrow streets, mosques, markets and shops of the Medina are the main attraction of the city. In the upper part of the Medina, next to the Kasbah ("citadel"), there is Government Square, around which the country's government institutions are located, among which the most colorful is the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Dar el-Bey (House of the Bey).

Nearby is Souq el-Attarin, the most exotic quarter of the city, which grew up on the site of a medieval incense market. Various perfumes and spices are sold here and now. The palaces of Dar Osman (XVII century) with the Museum of Applied Arts and Dar ben Abdallah (XVIII-XIX centuries) with the city Museum of Art and Folk Traditions, decorated with multi-colored marble and paintings, have been preserved. Among other historical buildings, the mosques of Yusuf Bey (1616) and Hamoud Pasha (17th century), the Hassanid mausoleum of Turbet el-Bey, the mosque and mausoleum of Sidi Mahrez (Abu Mohammed Mahreza es-Sadiqi), and the Cathedral of Saint Vincent attract attention. de Paul, as well as the oldest building in the city - Dar el-Haddat. Medina of Tunisia was included in the UN World Heritage List in 1981.

One of the capital's main attractions is the Alaoun National Museum (Bardo Museum) in the Dar Hussein (Bardo) Palace near the Tunisian Parliament - this is the largest museum in the Maghreb with the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics, as well as extensive collections of archaeological finds from all eras. The city's public library is the largest (after Cairo) repository of Arabic literature in the Islamic world, and the University of Tunis is almost as old as the famous Oxford.

The central street of Tunisia, the picturesque Avenue Habib Bourguiba, runs from the Bab el-Bahar gate ("French gate", 13th century) of the Medina to Lake El-Bahira. You should definitely visit the extensive indoor market with all the attributes of oriental trading life, numerous small markets in the Medina area, Belvedere Park, which houses the Dah-Dah zoo and amusement park, as well as the small oceanographic museum of Salammbo in the suburbs of the capital.

North of the respectable La Goulette district, 35 km. from the capital, there are the ruins of ancient Carthage (founded in 814 BC) - the capital of one of the great states of antiquity. Here was the center of the Phoenician trading empire, which included almost the entire Mediterranean; trade routes across the Sahara and Western Asia, they thundered here famous battles the Punic Wars and great empires blossomed. To this day, here, on the slopes of Birsa Hill, the ruins of the Baths of Antoninus Pius have been preserved - one of the largest resort complexes of that time, second in size only to the Baths of Trajan in Rome, numerous Roman villas, the remains of the Capitol, an amphitheater for 50 thousand spectators, a reservoir and 70 - a kilometer-long aqueduct laid to Carthage from the Temple of Water in Zigwan, an ancient cemetery on the site of the temples of Tanit and Baal (Ammon), as well as numerous ancient port structures stretching along the entire coast. Most of the buildings of the ancient period are badly destroyed. From later eras, the ruins of numerous Byzantine churches remain, the Saint-Louis Cathedral (1890) in the rear aisle of which houses the National Museum, the Cathedral of St. Cyprian and the Lavigerie Museum.

You can also visit Zigwan (40 km from Tunis) with its ruins of the Temple of Water, forum, capitol, market, temple of Mercury and baths. Fans of Roman antiquity will be interested in the Tuburbo Maius ruins complex with the remains of a Roman city, forums, the Colosseum, temples, baths and gymnasiums. The pearl of Tunisia is called the town of Sidi Bou Said, whose houses nestled at the foot of the cliff are painted in dazzling white and blue, on the top of the cliff rises a “ribat” (fortress), and from the observation deck at the lighthouse on the top of the cliff (by the way - built from ruins of a fort of the 9th century) offers stunning views of the capital and its surroundings. This is a delightful place to stroll among narrow cobbled streets lined with old stone slabs. Charming too Orthodox Church Alexander Nevsky, built by Russian sailors in 1939 (almost all of them rest here, in the church cemetery.

Hammamet is an ancient fishing port and one of the most popular seaside resorts in the country, located on the coast, 70 km. southeast of the capital. On the site of the city in 180 AD. e. The Roman colony of Putput appeared, later renamed by the Arabs as Hammamet (“bathing place”). Medina is the main historical attraction of the city; it is a quadrangular fortress on the very seashore, with a Great Mosque (10th century) and a market. The buildings of the city are designed in the traditional Arabic style, with harmonious arches and domes, but even a pair of identical buildings cannot be found here - each of them has its own unique architectural form. Near the Medina there is the former tomb of Sidi Bou Hadid, as well as the picturesque house of George Sebastian, built using antique elements, in the garden of which the International Arts Festival is held annually. It is interesting to visit the Fabiland children's amusement park, the 1001 Nights amusement park and water park, or the largest golf club in the country - Golf Citrus, explore the numerous luxury hotels located among groves and gardens, and also spend time on the beautiful beaches of the city , stretching for almost 14 km. or improve your health best centers thalassotherapy in the country - "Bioazur", "Royal Thalassa" (the largest in the Mediterranean) and "Nahraves Center".

In the southern part of the city is the young resort area of ​​Yasmine Hammamet (or "Hammamet-Süd") - one of the largest and most modern in the country. The complex includes several beaches, a Marina port with the ability to moor up to 740 pleasure boats, a well-planned promenade with many establishments, a modern Medina, a children's entertainment center Carthagoland, landscaped city parks with fountains, dive centers, numerous discos, casinos, restaurants and golf courses. club. They offer a wide variety of boat trips and water activities.

7 km. north of Hammamet is founded in the 4th century. BC e. the city of Nabeul (Nabeul, former Neapolis) is the center of the country's pottery production, famous, in addition to its blue glazed ceramic products, the excellent Souq el-Juma market, a small Archaeological Museum, folk cuisine, wines and a coastline rugged with rocky grottoes.

On the country's northern coast lie the rocky beaches of the "Coral Coast", surrounded by cliffs, reefs and historical ruins.

Bizerte (65 km north of Tunisia) is famous for its magnificent forests on the slopes of an extinct volcano towering above it, as well as a huge kasbah (VI-XVII centuries AD), a Spanish fort (1570), an ever-noisy port, a small but very informative oceanographic museum in the premises of the “small fort”, the white marble Square of the Martyrs, the Great Mosque (1652) with a striking octagonal minaret, the Yusef Dey fountain (1642), picturesque Moorish houses, the amazingly beautiful Lake Eshkel (Garaet Ishkel, 30 km southwest of Bizerte) and an excellent fish market. Nearby is Shemtu, a relatively new archaeological site where the ruins of a Roman forum and theater, ancient marble quarries and numerous buildings have been discovered.

Tabarka (“a place covered with bushes”), located at the foot of the Krumiria mountain range, is an ancient Phoenician port with a Genoese fortress (XVI century), picturesque rocks, which received the name “Needles” for their shape, and an ideal place for lovers of scuba diving and fishing catching 105 km. to the southwest of Tunisia lies ancient Dougga (Tugga) - the most grandiose Roman ruins of Tunisia. Here, in the valley of the Medjerda River, the arch of Alexander Severus, the ruins of the Forum with the Capitol (166 AD) and the Temple of Saturn, the mosaic Square of the Winds, the sanctuary of Juno Celeste, the perfectly preserved portico of the Capitoline Temple, the Punic mausoleum of Ateban (III-II) were discovered centuries BC), baths, the House of Dionysus, the House of Ulysses with beautiful mosaics (exhibited in the Bardo Museum) and a theater built into the slope (188 AD) with 3.5 thousand seats.

The “Pearl of the Plain” Sousse (140 km south of Tunisia) was founded by the Phoenicians in the 11th century. BC e. under the name Hadrumet, later renamed Hunericopolis by the Vandals who captured it, and Justinianpolis by the Byzantines. The medieval monastery-fortress of Ribat (IX century) with powerful walls and a 30-meter tower, Great Mosque and extensive catacombs (over 5 km long) with 25 thousand burials of the early Christian era are the main attractions of the city. The Museum of Sousse houses Roman mosaics from the 3rd and 4th centuries, which are considered the best found in Africa, and in the vicinity of the city there are remains of Phoenician tombs, Roman houses and Byzantine fortifications.

5 km. north of Sousse there is the world-famous resort area of ​​Port El Kantaoui - a luxurious and fairly modern tourist complex with a full range of entertainment and recreation facilities - the artificial Marina Bay, Botanical Garden"Oasis Park El Kantaoui" with a huge collection rare plants, a water park, numerous shopping centers, the Miramar Golf casino, the Samara and Moroccan discos, the Ice Cream House, the Brau beer bar with its own brewery, one of the largest golf clubs in Tunisia, as well as a scuba diving center and yacht club Nearby lies the charming coastal village of Ergla, home to the majestic Sidi Bou Mendil Mosque.

The "Holy City" of Kairouan is 60 km away. southwest of Sousse. Founded in 670 AD e., Kairouan in the Islamic world is considered the fourth most important shrine after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. In the Maghreb countries they believe that the sevenfold pilgrimage to Kairouan is equivalent to the hajj to Mecca. Its great mosque, Sidi Okba, with a forest of marble columns brought from Carthage and a mighty minaret in the form of a 100-meter three-tiered pyramid tower, is one of the masterpieces of Islamic architecture. Of interest are the Barber Mosque with the tomb of the personal hairdresser of the Prophet Muhammad - Abu Jama el-Balawi (Sidi Zahib), the Mosque of Three Doors (IX century), the cult spring of Bir Barut, where the golden cup from Mecca was found, Kairouan madrassas, the cemetery where the soul came from a Muslim goes straight to heaven, located near the city wall, irrigation pools (9th century), a carpet weaving center (Kairouan is the center for the production of the famous knotted carpets), the National Museum of Islamic Art and the ruins of the princely palace in Rekkad.

24 km. south of Sousse lies Monastir (Phoenician Rus Penna, later Roman Ruspenna), the ancient religious capital of Tunisia and the modern international center rest. The main historical attraction of Monastir is the remains of Rabat Hartem, a defensive structure of the 8th century, which later became part of a powerful fortress-kasbah, the gates of Bab as-Sur and Bab ad-Derb (XIII century), a vaulted mosque (9th-11th centuries) , decorated with four domes, the Mausoleum of the first president of independent Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, the Museum of Islamic Art with a luxurious collection of ancient manuscripts, textiles and glassware from the Fatimid era, as well as the Imam Sidi Ali el-Mezeri Mosque in the huge Kubbu cemetery, where Muslims are considered to be buried great honor. The coast here is quite “boring”, but the hotel pools are designed according to last word design and technology.

Almost 6 km north of Monastir. there is a continuous chain of hotels in the Skanes resort area with a magnificent golf club and an excellent riding school.

45 km. south of Monastir lies the ancient Punic port and capital of Tunisia in the Fatimid era - Mahdia. The main highlight of the area is its luxurious white sand beaches and relatively few tourists. Interesting is the medieval Medina, the center of souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, the picturesque embankment, the delightful small square Place du Cairo with the octagonal minaret of the Mustafa Hamza Mosque (1772), the Great Mosque (1965) - exact copy a mosque built in 921, destroyed in 1554 by the Spaniards, the small Slimane Gamza Mosque, the Museum of Islamic Culture, the National Museum of Mahdia at the Scythian el-Qalah gate, the Bordj el-Kebir fortress (XVI century), the Punic cemetery with the Salatka Museum and diving centers.

The second largest city of Tunisia after the capital, Sfax, lies south of Mahdia, on the northern cape of the Gulf of Gabes. In this large industrial city, however, many interesting tourist sites have been preserved - the walls of the Aghlabite Medina with the wide gates Bab ed-Diwan ("Council Gate", 14th century), the Jami el-Azuzain mosques ("Mosque of the Two Old Women", 849 g.) with a massive minaret and Sidi El-Bahri (“Lord of the Sea”), three monumental arches, the Dar Jellouli Palace (XVII century), which now houses the Museum of Folk Traditions, as well as the Archaeological Museum. 20 km. from Sfax lies the Kerkennah archipelago covered with palm groves - a new tourist area that is just beginning to develop. On the islands of Sidi Frej (Ramla), Shargi (Greater Kerkennah) and Gharbi (Melita) you can enjoy a secluded holiday surrounded by the clearest sea.

The bay is closed by the city of Gabes, called Tacapsa by the Romans. Lying on the edge of the Great Desert, it is a vast oasis of three hundred thousand palm trees. During the fighting of World War II, this ancient city lost almost all of its attractions, and today it is of interest only as the starting point for numerous tours and safaris to the sands of the Sahara. In the center of the city lies the “Heart of Ueda” - a reservoir that gives life to the city, spreading a whole system of irrigation canals in all directions.

The island of Djerba has been known since antiquity. Odysseus, who was the first to visit this island, called it “the island of lotus eaters” (lotus eaters). Even today, this resort is connected to the continent by an ancient Roman road. In addition to good beaches with clear water, the island’s attractions are one of the oldest synagogues in the world and a place of pilgrimage for Jews from all over the world - Grib (VI century BC) in Riyadh (scrolls of one of the oldest Torah in the world are kept here and one of the authors of the Talmud, Shimon Bar Yashai, is buried). Also interesting are the fort of Borj el-Kebir ("big tower", 13th century) in the city of Houmt Souk, the Museum of Local Lore in the mausoleum of Sidi Zitouni, as well as many mosques, among which stand out Jamaa el-Gorba, Eh Sheikh and Jamaa Ettruk, owned by different directions in Islam. In the labyrinths of Medina Houmt Souk, dozens of menzeli houses with domes in the traditional Arabic architectural style are hidden, and in the coastal rocks, as legends say, the untold treasures of the legendary pirate Drogut Reis are hidden.

The interior, desert regions of the country are often no less interesting than sea ​​coast. 30 km. west of Mahdia (210 km south of Tunisia) lies the famous El Jem (Roman Fisdrus), famous for its perfectly preserved huge Colosseum (230-238 AD, included in the UN World Heritage List) with a height of 38 m and a diameter of 430 m. - its three floors accommodated up to 40 thousand spectators (the third largest in the world and the first in terms of safety). The dungeons in which gladiators and wild animals were kept were preserved. Every year from July to August, classical music festivals are held in the Colosseum arena - the acoustics of this building are simply magnificent. El Jem also has a good Archaeological Museum with an interesting collection of Roman mosaics.

The largest city in the south of Tunisia and one of the oldest cities in Tunisia is Gafsa, which has an interesting 15th-century fortress and the Great Mosque. In the “capital of oases” Tauzar (Tozeur) it is worth getting acquainted with the “date markets”, one of the best museums in the country Dar Sherait, the Blad El Hadhar mosque (11th century), the labyrinth of streets of the old city of Ouled el Hadef, the zoo (this in the desert!!) and the sorreal salt marsh of Chott El-Jerid, the entire surface of which is covered with a salt layer of 50 m.

Between Gafsa and Tauzar stretch the most beautiful landscapes, including the most beautiful oases of Tunisia - Mides, Shebika and Tamerza, in which hundreds of films were shot. To the north of Gafsa lies Sbeitla (ancient Sefetula), which rightfully boasts the best preserved ensemble of Roman buildings in the country - triumphal arch, the gate of Antoninus Pius, the Arch of Diocletian, the ruins of the Forum and the Capitol with the temples of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva and the theater, as well as the tomb of the Christian martyr - Bishop Jucundus, Byzantine defensive structures and Christian churches of the 4th-5th centuries.

The "capital of the Sahara" - Nefta, is considered the second religious center of the country after Kairouan, and has 24 mosques with golden domes, many of which were built during the 15th-16th centuries. The so-called “basket” is also located here - a basin in the rock that gives rise to many pure artesian springs that give life to the waterless desert.

The “Gateway of the Desert” - Douz, is surrounded on all sides by desert dunes and is famous for its carefully preserved traditions, the “Sahara Festival”, the traditional bazaar and its date groves (they claim that there are more than 800 thousand date palms). From Douz you can go on a multi-day trip across the Sahara, visiting the El Hofra region, where stone and sandy desert, or visit the unique mountainous region of Matmata (400 km south of Tunisia), where the most “wild” landscapes lie, where Lucas’ “Star Wars” was filmed and where the country’s oldest rock settlement is located. Scattered throughout the area are dozens of fortified settlements-castles "ksar" and Berber settlements, such as Medenine, Metamera, Juama, Tatawin, Douire, Chenini or Hermessa.

Historical sketch: OK. 12th century BC e. Phoenician colonies were founded on the territory of Tunisia, the main of which was Carthage. In the 2nd century. BC e. The Romans captured the territory of northeastern Tunisia by the middle. 1st century n. e. - all of Tunisia.

From the 5th century under the rule of the Vandals, then Byzantium. From the beginning 8th century part of the Arab Caliphate. Since 800 an independent state. In 909 the Fatimid state was founded in Tunisia. In 1160-1229 in the Almohad state. In 1229-1574. Tunisia was ruled by the Hasufsids. In 1574-1881. as part of the Ottoman Empire; Since 1705, the country was ruled by beys from the Husseinid dynasty. In 1881-1956. French protectorate (see Treaty of Bardo). Since March 1956, Tunisia has been an independent state. Since 1957, the president (since 1975 lifelong) was J. Bourguiba, chairman of the ruling Socialist Party of Destour (founded in 1934, since 1988 Democratic Constitutional Association, DKO). In 1987, J. Bourguiba was removed from the presidency. In 1983 and 1987, a number of political parties were legalized. In 1988 a new constitution was adopted. The country is being democratized and the economy is being liberalized.

National holiday: March 20 (Date of independence from France).

National domain: .TN

Entry rules: Tourists do not need a visa - the visa is placed in the passport right at the airport for free. Russian citizens arriving on a private trip on a visa issued by the Tunisian Embassy are not subject to registration. There are no restrictions on movement within the country. Tropical vaccination is required.

Customs rules: The import of foreign currency is not limited, but national currency is prohibited. The export of imported foreign currency is allowed. National currency is exchanged for foreign currency within 30% of the exchange amount, but not more than 100 dinars per person. The transit of antiques and narcotic substances is prohibited.

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