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Chott el Djerid

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Chott el Djerid
Djerid3.jpg
Coordinates
33.7°N 8.43°ECoordinates: 33.7°N 8.43°E
Type
salt lake, endorheic
Primary inflows
groundwater
Primary outflows
terminal Evaporation
Basin countries
Tunisia

Surface area
7,000 km2
Surface elevation
+10-25 m

Chott el Djerid is located in Tunisia


Chott al-Djarid in Tunisia
Chott el Djerid (Arabic: شط الجريد‎ Šaṭṭ al-Ǧarīd), also spelt Shaţţ al Jarīd, Sciott Gerid, and Shott el Jerid,[1][2][3][4] is a large endorheic salt lake in southern Tunisia.

Contents
  [hide] 1 Geography
2 Surrounding area
3 Access
4 In popular culture
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Geography[edit source]
The bottom of Chott el Djerid is located between 10 and 25 meters above sea level.[5] Roughly in the shape of a tadpole, with a width of 20 km (12 mi) at its narrowest point, it reaches 250 km (160 mi) in overall length. At times, parts of it appear in various shades of white, green and purple.[6] The narrow eastward inlet of the chott is also known as Chott el Fejej.
It is the largest salt pan of the Sahara with a surface area of over 7,000 km2 (some sources state 5,000 km2). Due to the extreme climate with annual rainfall of only 100 mm and temperatures reaching 50 °C, water evaporates from the lake. In summer Chott el Djerid is almost entirely dried up, and numerous fata morganas occur.
During winter, a small tributary of water can be seen discharging into the lake.[7]
Surrounding area[edit source]
South of Chott el Djerid, the Grand Erg Oriental desert begins. The towns of Kebili and Douz are also located south of the lake.
Access[edit source]
The lake can be crossed by foot and even by car, but this is very dangerous since the salt crust is not always firm.
During winter, when the lake is full, it can be crossed by boat. Piles of salt at its edges are collected for salt production processing.[6]
In popular culture[edit source]



 The Lars Homestead set from Star Wars in Chott el Djerid.
Chott el Djerid was used as a filming location for the Star Wars series,[8] among others. It was also described in Jules Verne's last novel, Invasion of the Sea.
See also[edit source]
Chott
Sahara Sea
References[edit source]
1.Jump up ^ "Shaţţ al Jarīd: Tunisia". Geographical Names. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
2.Jump up ^ "Sciott Gerid: Tunisia". Geographical Names. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
3.Jump up ^ "Chott el Jerid: Tunisia". Geographical Names. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
4.Jump up ^ "Shott el Jerid: Tunisia". Geographical Names. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
5.Jump up ^ "Flood Maps". NASA et al. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
6.^ Jump up to: a b "البحيرة شط ايل الجريد - تونس". Tixik.com. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
7.Jump up ^ "شـط الجـريد". Al-hakawati. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
8.Jump up ^ "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope film locations". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations: Exploring film locations around the world. www.movie-locations.com. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
External links[edit source]
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chott el Djerid
Chott el Djerid at Lexicorient


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Categories: Lakes of Tunisia
Endorheic lakes of Africa
Kebili Governorate
Ramsar sites in Tunisia
Salt flats
Tunisia geography stubs
Star Wars stubs



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Ksar Ouled Soltane

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 Multi-level ghorfas, as seen at Ksar Ouled Soltane in southern Tunisia.
Ksar Ouled Soltane (Arabic: قصر أولاد سلطان ‎) is a fortified granary, or ksar, located in the Tataouine district in southern Tunisia. The ksar is spread out over two courtyards, each of which has a perimeter of multi-story vaulted granary cellars, or ghorfas. Like other ksour (plural of ksar) created by North African Berber communities, Ksar Ouled Soltane is located on a hilltop, to help protect it from raiding parties in previous centuries.
Ksar Ouled Soltane is now a tourist destination, with visitors coming to see its well-preserved granary vaults. It was also featured in the film Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in some of the scenes used to represented the slave quarters of Mos Espa, where the character Anakin Skywalker lived as a boy.
source: Lonely Planet Tunisia, 3rd edition

Ksar ouled soltane 3.jpg



Ksar Ouled Soltane 01.jpg


External links[edit source]
The Real Star Wars? - Associated Press article, videos and photo gallery featuring Ksar Ouled Soltane
QuickTime VR image of Ksar Ouled Soltane

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Ksour
Buildings and structures in Tunisia
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Matmata, Tunisia

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For the French rock band, see Matmatah. For the town in New Zealand, see Matamata. For the turtle, see Mata mata.

 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008) 
Matmata (Arabic: مطماطة‎ Maṭmāṭah) is a small Berber speaking town in southern Tunisia. Some of the local Berber residents live in traditional underground "troglodyte" structures. In 2004 it had a population of 2,116.[1]
The structures typical for the village are created by digging a large pit in the ground. Around the perimeter of this pit artificial caves are then dug to be used as rooms, with some homes comprising multiple pits, connected by trench-like passageways.

Contents
  [hide] 1 History 1.1 Ancient history
1.2 Modern rediscovery
2 In popular culture
3 References
4 External links
History[edit]



 Troglodyte house
Ancient history[edit]
The origin of this extraordinary place is not known, except from tales carried from generation to generation. The most improbable account says that underground homes were first built in ancient times, when the Roman empire sent two Egyptian tribes to make their own homes in the Matmata region, after one of the Punic wars, with permission to kill every human being in their way. The dwellers of the region had to leave their homes and to dig caves in the ground to hide from those invaders, but they left their underground shelters in the night to attack invaders, which appeared to be very effective in sending the killer groups away from Matmâta. A myth was made those days, that monsters emerge from beneath the ground and kill land usurpers. In any case, the underground settlements remained hidden in very hostile area for centuries, and no one had any knowledge of their existence until 1967.
The way of survival in those severe conditions was difficult: since Tunisia is famous for prolific olive oil production, the men went searching for work north of the villages every spring, when the olive season began, getting back home in autumn, when the season was over. They were usually paid in olive oil, which they traded for other goods (in present days for money), and thus provided enough food, clothes and other things for normal life of their families.



 Panorama of the Berber town of Matmata, January 2011.
Modern rediscovery[edit]
It was not generally known until 1967 that there were regular settlements in this area besides wandering nomadic tribes.



 A welcoming sight in Tunisia
That year, intensive rains that lasted for 22 days inundated the troglodyte homes and caused many of them to collapse. In order to get help from the authorities, a delegation was sent to the community center of the region in the town of Gabès. The visit came as a surprise, but help was provided, and the above-ground settlement of Matmâta was built. However, most of the people continued their lives in re-built underground homes, and only a few of the families moved to the new surface dwellings.
Today, Matmata is a popular tourist attraction, and most of the population lives on tourism and folklore exhibitions in their homes.

In popular culture[edit]



 The Hotel Sidi Driss which featured as Luke Skywalker's home on the planet Tatooine in the Star Wars movies. Note the remaining set pieces incorporated into the walls.The Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata was used in 1976 as a filming location for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in which it featured as the home of Luke Skywalker, his Aunt Beru Lars and Uncle Owen Lars on the planet Tatooine. The hotel is designed as a traditional Berber troglodyte underground building. It featured again in the 2002 prequel film Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.[2][3]
One of Call of Duty 2's missions and multiplayer maps takes place in Matmâta as part of North African Campaign.
Matmâta is also set to star in the upcoming film La soif noire, an adaptation of the book from Swiss author Hans Ruesch starring Antonio Banderas and Freida Pinto.[4]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "Recensement de 2004 (Institut national de la statistique)". Ins.nat.tn. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
2.Jump up ^ Carvin, Andy (25 January 2006). "The real Star Wars?". Associated Press. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
3.Jump up ^ Daniel Jacobs and Peter Morris (2001). "Jedi Stomping Ground". Tunisia (6th ed. ed.). London: Rough Guides. p. 319. ISBN 9781858287485.
4.Jump up ^ "Matmata accueille bientôt une grosse production" (in French). La Presse de Tunisie. September 24, 2010.
External links[edit]
 Look up troglodyte in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matmata.
Sidi Driss Hotel on Wookieepedia: a Star Wars wiki
A travel report from Matmata
A below-ground level view of The Hotel Sidi Driss (the Lars Homestead on Tatooine).
The Real Star Wars? - Associated Press article, videos and photo gallery about Matmata by Andy Carvin
Matmata has many of the best examples of troglodyte architecture in the world.
Visitors' guide to Hotel Sidi Driss
Coordinates: 33°32′33.5″N 09°58′0.5″E

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Categories: Populated places in Tunisia
Berbers in Tunisia
Communes of Tunisia




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Nafta, Tunisia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from Nefta)
Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, particularly as acronyms for two international trade treaties, see Nafta (disambiguation).

 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007) 

Nefta
Nefta
Oasis Town
Nefta

The original oasis of Nefta is known as "the basket" as it is located down the hills
Nickname(s): Kairouan of the South


Nafta, Tunisia is located in Tunisia

Nefta

Coordinates: 33°53′N 7°53′ECoordinates: 33°53′N 7°53′E
Country
Tunisia
Elevation
55 m (180 ft)
Time zone
CET
Nefta (or Nefta;
33°53′N 7°53′E) is a town and oasis in Tunisia, close to the Algerian border, and just north of the Chott el Djerid.[1]

Contents
  [hide] 1 Religious significance
2 The town
3 History
4 Gallery
5 Access
6 References
7 External links
Religious significance[edit]
Nefta is considered by most Sufis to be the spiritual home of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam; many religious buildings are located in the district El Bayadha. 10 miles past Nefta, towards Algeria, is a daily market that sells Tunisian "desert roses", crystalline formations of rock that resemble roses in shape.
Nefta is a pilgrimage center to which pilgrims travel throughout the year. There is a Folk Festival in April and a Date Festival in November/December.
Nefta is the religious center of the Bled el Djerid, the "Land of Palms", with more than 24 mosques and 100 marabouts. The marabouts still attract pilgrims from all over southern Tunisia and even from Algeria. This great veneration of the marabouts reflects the continuing vigor of Sufism, the movement which grew up in the 12th century around Sufi Abu Madian (d. 1197). The name of the Sufis came from the simple woolen garment (suf) they wore. They believed that the adherents of Islam, a religion of the desert, should show particular modesty of behavior and asceticism, and were much given to mysticism, the veneration of holy men, spiritual contemplation and meditation. Sufism is also marked by religious forms taken over from the pre-Islamic, animistic religions of the Berber population which orthodox Islam seeks to repress - belief in spirits, witchcraft, fortune-telling, the efficacy of amulets, etc. Regional variants of Sufism were propagated by holy men, who frequently founded their own brotherhoods, with centers for the teaching of disciples. They are credited with numerous miracles and revered for their holiness, and their tombs (marabouts) are places of pilgrimage, attracting varying numbers of pilgrims according to their reputation. In the past these holy men were also appealed to as judges in the conflicts which frequently occurred between the nomadic tribes and the settled population of the oases. Nefta is the last stronghold of this Sufism, and is sometimes called, with some justification, the "Kairouan of the South". The marabouts venerated here are scattered about throughout the old town of Nefta and the oasis.
The town[edit]
Nefta is divided into two parts by a small oued and a depression at its northern end. To the east of the oued is the new town, with the old souk quarter at its southwestern corner; to the west, on the slopes of a hill, is the old town. The main road from Tozeur runs through the new town as Avenue Habib Bourguiba, which then crosses the oued and skirts the old town. At its western end a street branches off on the right, ascends the hill, goes round the old town and the sand-bowl, and returns to Avenue Habib Bourguiba. Nefta is a town of cube-shaped, flat-roofed houses huddled closely together, with Tozeur-style decoration. In some of the streets the upper stories of the houses, borne on round- headed arches, project over the street, forming a kind of tunnel which offers protection from the sun. It is planned to restore the old town in the very near future.
History[edit]
Nefta is believed to have been settled originally by shepherds who came from the kingdom of Napata. The Romans and later the Byzantines built forts in the oasis (Nepte) to provide protection against raids by desert nomads. In Byzantine times Nefta and Tozeur were Episcopal Sees. In the mid-7th century Nefta was conquered by the Arabs and, in spite of fierce resistance, converted to Islam. In subsequent centuries it prospered as an important staging-point for caravans (for a time the most important in Tunisia). Its decline began in the 15th century as a result of more frequent raids by nomadic tribes and the general falling off in the caravan trade. With the coming of the French in 1881, however, Nefta experienced a renewal.
Gallery[edit]



Steel engraving drawn by Thomas Allom, engraved by Thomas Higham. 1851



The old city of Nefta



Mosque in Nefta



The old town of Nefta



The Corbeille (Basket) in Nafta

Access[edit]
Nefta lies on GP 3 (Gafsa-Nefta), 25 km/16 mi southwest of Tozeur (airport; regular services to and from Tunis, Monastir, and Djerba) and 113 km/70 mi southwest of Gafsa. From the bus station (Gare Routière) in Avenue Habib Bourguiba, there are regular bus services to Tozeur and Gafsa and a once-daily service to Douz and Hazaoua, the frontier post for the crossing into Algeria. The 4 km/2.5 mi from there to the frontier must be done either on foot or in a louage (communal taxi). From the Algerian frontier post there are buses to El Oued.
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Nefta Four hundred kilometres southwest of the Tunisian capital of Tunis at travelvideostore.com
External links[edit]
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nefta.
NEFTA: Oasis of many tombs at lexicorient.com

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Categories: Oases of Tunisia
Populated places in Tozeur Governorate
Communes of Tunisia




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Tozeur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Tozeur
Tuzer / ⵜⵓⵣⴻⵔ / توزر

Habib Bourguiba Avenue, Tozeur


Tozeur is located in Tunisia

Tozeur
Location in Tunisia
Coordinates: 33°55′N 8°8′E
Country
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia
Governorate
Tozeur Governorate
Population (2004)

 • Total
32,400
Time zone
CET (UTC1)



Sahara around Tozeur
Tozeur (Arabic: توزر‎, Berber: Tuzer / ⵜⵓⵣⴻⵔ) is an oasis and a city in south west Tunisia. The city is located North West of Chott el-Djerid, in between this Chott and the smaller Chott el-Gharsa. It is the capital of the Tozeur Governorate.
With hundreds of thousands of palm trees, Tozeur is a large oasis. The dates that are exported from Tozeur are very well known. In ancient times, before the advent of motorized vehicles, the oasis was important for the transportation through the Sahara, which took place in caravans. The name of the city in antiquity was Tusuros, it was an important Roman outpost.
In the medina (old city) of Tozeur, one can find traditional architecture, fashion and workmanship. Like elsewhere in Tunisia, the local population is generally very hospitable towards tourists, and there are also many tourist facilities. From Tozeur one can make trips on a camel, explore the Sahara Desert and get to know the Chott el-Djerid, where one can see Fata Morgana mirages.

Contents
  [hide] 1 Architecture
2 Weather
3 Transport
4 Economy
5 Banking and Money
6 Sport
7 Famous people
8 Trivia
9 External links
Architecture[edit]
Tozeur, in common with the surrounding Jerid region, is noted for its yellow/brownish brickwork as well as its fascinating patterns in simple and rich geometric designs form the façades of most buildings in the old city and the new tourist zone.



A local in traditional Berber clothing in the Medina



The unique brickwork of the old streets in the medina quarter



Another example of brick artistry in Tozeur's old city

The old town of Ouled El Hwadef is an exquisite example of the local brickwork. Mandated by the local government, the narrow streets, walls and facades were decorated with bricks, resulting in one of the most distinct and beautiful architectural styles of Tunisia. This work took more than 10 years to complete and the result is a must-see.
Weather[edit]
Although the weather is pleasant most of the year, the summer months can be extreme. Temperature can reach 45° outside. The average yearly weather is :

Month
Avg. High
Avg. Low
Avg. Precip.
January 58.5°F / 15°C 39.4°F / 4°C 0.90in / 21 mm
February 62.6°F / 17°C 41.7°F / 5.5°C 0.70in / 15 mm
March 67.5°F / 20°C 45.9°F / 8°C 0.90in / 21 mm
April 74.5°F / 24°C 51.3°F / 11°C 0.50in / 13 mm
May 83.7°F / 29°C 58.6°F / 15°C 0.50in / 13 mm
June 92.7°F / 34°C 65.7°F / 19°C 0.40in / 10 mm
July 98.2°F / 37°C 70.3°F / 21°C 0.00in / 0 mm
August 97.2°F / 36°C 70.7°F / 21.5°C 0.30in / 10 mm
September 88.9°F / 32°C 65.8°F / 19°C 0.90in / 21 mm
October 78.3°F / 26°C 57.2°F / 14°C 0.80in / 20 mm
November 67.6°F / 20°C 47.1°F / 8.5°C 0.70in / 16 mm
December 59.7°F / 15°C 40.5°F / 5°C 1.10in / 29 mm
The best time to visit the region would be in the fall or the winter, where hotels are not full and the city is the middle of its palm dates harvest. In fact the international festival of oases takes place during this time of the year (Nov/Dec.).
Transport[edit]



Tozeur–Nefta International Airport
The city is served by buses, taxis, railway, louage (shared or group taxi), and Tozeur – Nefta International Airport with national and international services from London, Paris, Rome and few other European countries (international flight services are mostly during the summer tourism season). Tozeur lies on the edge of the Sahara desert. Tourism activity is more lively in the fall and winter months with Douz Festival among others in late December
The city has plenty of car rental agencies (AVIS, HERTZ, etc...) where one can rent a car without prior reservation. Visitors are advised to plan ahead especially during the peak tourism season (Summer and Fall)
Within the city limits, there is a reasonable taxi service (24 hrs a day) that is priced reasonably. Taxis can take you anywhere if you do not feel like walking.
Otherwise walking within the city limits, the old city to the tourist zone is possible and in fact fun to see.
Economy[edit]



 Medina entrance
Although still the largest part of the local economy, dates and farming are becoming less appealing to the young, preferring the 'fun' and unstable business of tourism and contact with westerners.
Tourism is heavily developed and promoted, and Tozeur is considered a center of "desert tourism" (Arabic: السياحة الصحراوية‎). This becomes very evident if one visits the city during the "International Festival of Oases" (Arabic: المهرجان الدولي للواحات بتوزر‎) in November/December of every year.



 Tozeur market
The government initiated two large scale projects:
1.Tapping of deep aquifers by wells, this led to a series of severe problems
Depletion of most natural springs (Tozeur is very famous for these springs, which counted more than 2500 few decades ago)
 Abandonment of the traditional irrigation canals. Tozeur's oasis has been irrigated based on an open surface canal system designed in the 13th century by the famous engineer Ibn Chabbat. This traditional irrigation system is currently being replaced by an 'eyesore' system of concrete pipes. Moreover, water, that was traditionally free to farmers, is now being sold to offset the cost of these projects and pipes. It is important to note here, that the traditional system of irrigation canals supported a delicate ecological system of endemic fishes and small animals, most of them either gone now or severely endangered with no protection.
1.The second part of these local projects is the initiation of new (young) oases around town. Very poor planning, corruption, and disregard to local traditions meant a futile effort at best. These oases' productivity is very low and their future highly unstable.



Dar Cherait Museum
This situation is slowly leading to the decay of the old oasis (due to salinity, poor planning, lack of skilled workers, etc...) with productivity plummeting and the health and future of the oases questionable.
The overall region, not only Tozeur, is seeing a large influx of unemployed workers and their families (some of them native to the Tozeur area, but migrated in search of jobs decades earlier), that are migrating from the once rich Phosphate region of Metlaoui, Gafsa, Oum Lerrayess, etc... in hope of work in the Tourism sector. The phosphate mines are no longer productive and the government opted to sell them to European investors, who chose to let go of thousands of workers as the first step to rehabilitating them.
 Unfortunately this influx caused problems to Tozeur, where the unemployment rate and crimes skyrocketed.
Overall the region, and Tozeur in particular, is going through a tough time. The region is embracing the very unstable tourism economy and shying away from its traditional agricultural based economy that provided security for centuries. If history is any indication for the region, during the first Gulf War the sector suffered tremendously with a loss of large number of workers and an increase in unmployment. The same happened twice during September 11, 2001 attacks and the current Iraq war.
Banking and Money[edit]
The city is served by all Tunisian banks. One can find easily banks, ATMs, and money exchange offices. Most Western money is accepted directly (albeit not legal, one needs to exchange his money first). Most credit cards, like VISA, MasterCard, Diners Club International, are also honored in hotels, restaurants, and artisans shops.
Sport[edit]
Tozeur has a football club who plays in the Second Professional Federation Of Football in Tunisia, the team is called (LPST). In 2010/2011 season the club almost made it to the First Professional Federation of Football.
Famous people[edit]



Echebbi statue at Ras al-Ain (Tozeur)Aboul-Qacem Echebbi (Arabic: أبو القاسم الشابي‎) (b. Tozeur, February, 1909; d. October 9, 1934), is a famous Tunisian poet and known and respected throughout the Arab world for his elegant style and powerful words. The current Tunisian anthem is based on one of his poems.
Abu Yazid Mukhallad ibn Kayrâd (أبو يزيد مخلد بن كيراد), from the Berber Zenata tribe, nicknamed Saheb Al Himar (Arabic: صاحب الحمار‎) who led a mostly Berber revolution against the Fatimid ruler (Arabic: محمد القائم بأمر الله‎). The revolution, almost a success, was finally crushed (Arabic: الخليفة المنصور بالله‎). Sahib Al Himar was finally caught hiding in a cave. He was ordered executed, skinned and stuffed with cotton. His mutilated body was put on display at the southern main entrance to El Mahdia (Arabic: المهدية‎), a Tunisian coastal city. Ironically, Saheb-Alhimar started his revolution by implanting his spear in the very same door few years earlier.
Ibn Chabbat (ابن شباط) AKA Mohamed Ben Ali Ben Mohamed Ben Ali, (October 16, 1221-June 17, 1285 in Tozeur), is a writer, historian, engineer and a respected Tunisian social figure in the 13th century. Ibn Chabbat's main contribution and legacy is an open surface canals system for equitable water distribution in the oasis that is still in use nowadays.
Trivia[edit]
Tozeur was used as a filming location for the Star Wars saga and Raiders of The Lost Ark (specifically Sidi Bouhlel canyon outside the town and the salt-flats of nearby Nefta). Lucasfilm also built an entire set a few kilometers North-West of Tozeur in the middle of the desert. This set acted as Mos Espa in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The buildings are still there and can be visited. The English Patient (9 Oscars) with Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas was partially filmed outside Tozeur.
In May 1984 the Italian singers Alice and Franco Battiato represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "I treni di Tozeur" ("The Trains of Tozeur"), whose lyrics contain several references to Tozeur, the historic train Le Lézard rouge and Tunisian history in general. This song became a chart hit throughout Continental Europe and Scandinavia and made the name of this town more famous in Europe.
External links[edit]

Portal icon Tunisia portal
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tozeur.
Lexicon of the Orient article
Arabic Atlas of Islamic History
Star Wars locations in Tunisia
Coordinates: 33°55′N 8°08′E

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Tunisia Communes of Tunisia




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Categories: Populated places in Tozeur Governorate
Oases of Tunisia
Communes of Tunisia



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