The Tunisian Sahel

The the Tunisian Sahel (rear RTL الساحل) is an area of the east of the Tunisia extending from the Golfe of Hammamet (in north) to the Golfe of Gabès (in the south). In its minimalist definition, the Sahel extends until Mahdia (in the south). Its name comes from the Arab word the “littoral” Sahel meaning.

Its principal cities are Sousse (the most populated cities of the area), Monastir (first founded Arab city in Ifriqiya) and Mahdia (old Capitale of Tunisia at the time of the Caliph fatimide Ubayd Allah Al-Mahdi).

Geography

The Sahel extends on the hills which isolate low the Steppe S from the coast and are covered with plantations of olive-trees in spite of weak the Pluviométrie (compensated by the atmospheric moisture).

It constitutes a clear geographical unit and draws its characteristic from its human and economic specificities since the Antiquité. It covers today the governorships of Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia. This area, that of the children of the olive-tree , is regarded as being the heart even country.

This geographical space is not very vast: its maximum length is of 140 kilometers of north in the south and its width varies between 20 and 60 kilometers of the east in the west. It covers nearly 6600 km 2 (either 4,02% of the total surface area of Tunisia).

The Sahel is characterized for a long time by its large population, its 3 governorships lodging 1.270.360 inhabitants (that is to say 13,3% of the total population of Tunisia) according to the estimates of the National institute of the statistics at July 1st 2000. The area is thus the second area most populated of Tunisia (after Large Tunis) and it is estimated that close to Tunisian on five is originating in this area (Saheliens living in the Sahel, in other areas or expatriates).

History

Old hearth of civilization, what is called today the Sahel appears, ultimately, like an actualization of an older particularism and like a preeminence of a town and village tradition in an area of plains open on the sea. A tradition which is former to the Islam isation and with the Arabisation but which is indebted of its continuity to civilization arabo-Moslem woman. The Sahel corresponds mainly to the Roman Province of Byzacène. Under the Byzantine domination, this area is one of the seven provinces of the préfectoire of Africa which extends until the Atlantic Ocean. Historically, it is an area of exchanges (Commerce, Tourisme and Pèlerinage S).

Economy

The Sahel occupies a central position on the Mediterranean. It is one of the most important zones balneal and tourist of the country because it shelters tourist Monastir and Sousse, cities par excellence, as well as the town of Mahdia which shines since ten years in the tourist activity. It in addition shelters the second more important airport of the country in terms of passengers (Monastir Habib-Bourguiba), a commercial port (Sousse), several fishing ports and two marinas (Port El-Kantaoui and Cape Monastir).

The Sahel is also crossed by the road and highway main roads (A1) connecting north to the south of the country, like by two railway axes (national and regional). By dazzling the beauty of its shores and the softness of its climate, it undoubtedly constitutes one of the most attractive areas and attaching Tunisian littoral.

Personalities

Policy

Culture

Sport

Others

Cities

Sport

The name of this area is adopted by the general sports club of Sousse, the sporting Star of the Sahel, which is the flag team of the Sahel. She is supported in all the area and constitutes of this fact one of the most popular teams of the country. The team of Football made itself famous in Africa for several continental victories.

The area is known also for the Handball, second popular sport in Tunisia. In addition to Star, the Sahel counts several teams of handball of which most important are El Makarem de Mahdia and the Sporting Club of Moknine.

The club of Monastir, the Sporting union monastirienne is one of the best Tunisian clubs of Basket-ball and also has a very good football team.

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