Gabès
Encyclopedia
Gabès also spelt Cabès, Cabes, Kabes, Gabbs and Gaps, the ancient Tacape, is the capital city of the Gabès Governorate
, a province of Tunisia
. It lies on the coast of the Gulf of Gabès
. With a population of 116,323 (census 2004) it is the 6th largest Tunisian city.
refers to Tacape as an important entrepot of the Lesser Syrtis. Pliny
(18.22) remarks that the waters of a copious fountain at Tacape were divided among the cultivators according to a system where each had the use of the water during a certain interval of time.
The Tabula Peutingeriana
shows Tacape between Marcomades and Sabrata.
. Most industries are chemical oriented, this is why the city offers one of the best chemistry degrees in Africa
from the University of Gabès
. The main industries are:
The fast growing numbers of factories has resulted in fairly serious pollution of the area and Gulf of Gabès
. In recent years the government is working on new programs and laws to decrease the amount of pollution.
border at Ras Jdir.
Gabès has also one of the biggest ports in Tunisia; it is used usually to ship the mineral products from the city of Gafsa.
, characterized by a hot and dry season and a cool and arid season.
). The best parts of the beach are in the south of the city (Road to Djerba
). The best one is the Lemawa or Lemaya beach. The government is planning to build a tourist zone there in the coming years.
Gabès has a unique feature in the world, in this city you find the mountain, the sea, the oasis and the desert.
The most visited place in Gabès is the town Matmata.
Place to visit:
World Heritage Tentative List on May 28, 2008, in the Cultural category.
Gabès Governorate
Gabès Governorate is one of the 24 governorates of Tunisia. It is located in south-eastern Tunisia. It covers an area of and has a population of 343,000...
, a province of Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. It lies on the coast of the Gulf of Gabès
Gulf of Gabès
The Gulf of Gabès is a gulf on Tunisia's east coast in the Mediterranean Sea, off North Africa. The gulf roughly spans the coast from modern day the town of Mahrès in Sfax Gouvernorate to Djerba...
. With a population of 116,323 (census 2004) it is the 6th largest Tunisian city.
History
StraboStrabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
refers to Tacape as an important entrepot of the Lesser Syrtis. Pliny
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
(18.22) remarks that the waters of a copious fountain at Tacape were divided among the cultivators according to a system where each had the use of the water during a certain interval of time.
The Tabula Peutingeriana
Tabula Peutingeriana
The Tabula Peutingeriana is an itinerarium showing the cursus publicus, the road network in the Roman Empire. The original map of which this is a unique copy was last revised in the fourth or early fifth century. It covers Europe, parts of Asia and North Africa...
shows Tacape between Marcomades and Sabrata.
- 7th century: The MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
conquest (Al'Fatah Al'Islami). Muhammed's companionSahabahIn Islam, the ' were the companions, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet...
Sidi Abou Loobaba Al'Ansarey settles in Gabès. - 1881: Gabès comes under a French protectorateProtectorateIn history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
. - 1940: Following the Fall of France, Gabès comes under German control.
- 1943: Gabès returns to French control with the help of the British (in the Mareth LineMareth LineThe Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
). The operation results in serious damage to the city infrastructure. - 1945: The rebuilding of Gabès starts.
- 1956: Gabès reverts to TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n control with the independence of Tunisia from the French.
Economy
Gabès is one of the biggest industrial cities in TunisiaTunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. Most industries are chemical oriented, this is why the city offers one of the best chemistry degrees in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
from the University of Gabès
University of Gabès
The University of Gabès is a public university located in southern Tunisia with headquarters in Gabès. The university is oriented primarily toward Information Technology and is the home of the famous Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Gabès , commonly called "ENIG." This department provides high...
. The main industries are:
- Cement
- Chemical products
- Brick Factories
- Oil refinery
The fast growing numbers of factories has resulted in fairly serious pollution of the area and Gulf of Gabès
Gulf of Gabès
The Gulf of Gabès is a gulf on Tunisia's east coast in the Mediterranean Sea, off North Africa. The gulf roughly spans the coast from modern day the town of Mahrès in Sfax Gouvernorate to Djerba...
. In recent years the government is working on new programs and laws to decrease the amount of pollution.
Railways
Gabès is terminus of a narrow gauge branch railway from the capital, and is the nearest railway station to the LibyanTransport in Libya
-Railways:Libya has had no railway in operation since 1965, all previous narrow gauge lines having been dismantled. Plans for a new network have been under development for some time , and in 2008 and 2009 various contracts were placed and construction work started on a standard gauge railway...
border at Ras Jdir.
Gabès has also one of the biggest ports in Tunisia; it is used usually to ship the mineral products from the city of Gafsa.
Climate
Gabès has a warm-summer Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
, characterized by a hot and dry season and a cool and arid season.
Overview
Gabès is famous for its traditional Souqs in Jarah; it is known also for its attractive beach and the unusual seaside oasis (Gabès is located on the coast of the Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
). The best parts of the beach are in the south of the city (Road to Djerba
Djerba
Djerba , also transliterated as Jerba or Jarbah, is, at 514 km², the largest island of North Africa, located in the Gulf of Gabes, off the coast of Tunisia.-Description:...
). The best one is the Lemawa or Lemaya beach. The government is planning to build a tourist zone there in the coming years.
Gabès has a unique feature in the world, in this city you find the mountain, the sea, the oasis and the desert.
The most visited place in Gabès is the town Matmata.
Place to visit:
- The traditional souks.
- The Kornich.
- Sidi Boulbaba.
- The Mouradi school.
- Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Toujani.
World Heritage Status
This site was added to the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Tentative List on May 28, 2008, in the Cultural category.
See also
- Gabès GovernorateGabès GovernorateGabès Governorate is one of the 24 governorates of Tunisia. It is located in south-eastern Tunisia. It covers an area of and has a population of 343,000...
, one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces) of Tunisia - Gulf of GabèsGulf of GabèsThe Gulf of Gabès is a gulf on Tunisia's east coast in the Mediterranean Sea, off North Africa. The gulf roughly spans the coast from modern day the town of Mahrès in Sfax Gouvernorate to Djerba...
- University of GabèsUniversity of GabèsThe University of Gabès is a public university located in southern Tunisia with headquarters in Gabès. The university is oriented primarily toward Information Technology and is the home of the famous Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Gabès , commonly called "ENIG." This department provides high...
, a public university