Tunisia is a North African country. Integrating the
Maghreb region, it covers an area of 163 610 km2. Bathed
by the Mediterranean Sea, to the north and east, it
borders Algeria to the west and Libya to the
southeast. The main cities are Tunis, the capital, with
704 700 inhabitants (2004), Sfax (271 000 inhabitants),
Aryanah (211 000 inhabitants), Ettadhamen (192 100
inhabitants) and Susah (155 200 inhab.).
The mountains of the northern region, which are part of
the great Atlas chain, occupy one third of the total
area of Tunisia. They are part of a mountain range
known as Tell (to the north) and Alto Tell to the
south. The highest point is Mount Ashsha Nabí at 1544 m
and is located close to Algeria. The central region
consists of plateaus. Further south there are a series
of shallow lakes and some desert areas that fall into
the Sahara.Climate
The climate is temperate Mediterranean in the North and
on the coast, becoming progressively more arid in the
southern areas.
Economy
Using artisanal methods of collecting water, it is
possible to cultivate oases in this area of
Tunisia. The only river that remains over time is the
Majardah River, which produces electricity and serves
local agriculture. The main mineral is phosphate, with
one of the largest reserves in Africa. This country also
has oil and natural gas. Tourism, based on the
attraction of long beaches, ancient Roman ruins and
Islamic buildings, is one of Tunisia's main
recipes. Oil, produced in the Sahara, close to the
border with Algeria, and phosphates also generate
important recipes, and these three recipes overlapped
the traditional agricultural economy. Tunisia's main
trading partners are France, Italy and Germany.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide
emissions, per capita (metric tons, 1999), is
1.8.
Population
The Tunisian population, consisting of Arabs and
Berbers, was, in 2006, 10,175,014 inhabitants, which
corresponds to a population density of 61.58 inhab./km2. The
birth and death rates are respectively 15.52% and
5.13%. Average life expectancy is 75.12 years. The value
of the Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.740 and the
value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG) is
0.727 (2001). It is estimated that, in 2025, the
population will be 12 028 000 inhabitants. The Tunisian
population is made up mostly of Arabs (98%), with
Berbers representing only 1.2%. The dominant religion is
Sunni Islam (99%). The official language is French.
History
Carthage was founded in the 8th century a. And was
located where today is the capital of Tunisia
(Tunis); in the sixth century the Carthaginian kingdom
surrounded the territory that belongs to present-day
Tunisia. Carthage became part of African Rome from 146
a. Until the 7th century d. C. during the Arab
invasions. Tunisia went through several conflicts until
1574 when it was conquered by the Ottomans. This country
belonged to the Ottoman Empire until its decline in the
19th century. At this time, Tunisia was the target of
the interests of France, England and Italy. In 1881, he
became a French protectorate, but he gained some
participation in political life and, after the Second
World War, independence movements emerged. In 1956
France granted Tunisia autonomy, the republic was
proclaimed and the power of kings, traditional Tunisian
sovereigns, was abolished.
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