Tunisia is one of the most fascinating countries you can visit not just in North Africa but around the world if you have the opportunity to do so it's sure to surprise you and if you've been there already you're probably in agreement due to its unique Landscapes Tunisia has been chosen to film scenes from major Hollywood Productions this country boasts a vast desert area of the Sahara and numerous Oasis making it the perfect setting for certain types of Science Fiction historical or Adventure films this scene from Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark that's Tunisia so is this one from Star Wars Episode 4 A New Hope and this one from Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace stay with me to learn about what Tunisia is like trivia about the country places you can't see anywhere else in the world it's culture what life is like what the tunisians are like and much more before we begin I ask that you hit like as it encourages me to keep making videos like this one let's get started number one Tunisia is located in North Africa it covers an area of 63 170 square miles it shares a border with Algeria to the West with Libya in the Southeast and the Mediterranean Sea to the East and North nearly 40 percent of tunisia's surface is desert with the remainder consisting of fertile lands number two tunisia's Landscapes are highly varied with a great deal of natural contrast in the north of the country is the Mediterranean Coast which boasts golden sandy beaches and crystal clear waters additionally on the North Coast you'll find coastal cities like the capital also named Tunisia hamomet soos and monastia offering a blend of history and Beach tourism thank you number three in the center of the country you will find the Atlas mountain range an area that is much greener than the South this area also features ichigil National Park declared a world heritage site by UNESCO which serves as a crucial Sanctuary for migratory Birds foreign with a height of 5066 feet is tunisia's tallest mountain located at the end of the atlas range number four in the south of the country you will encounter the stunning Sahara Desert the largest sand desert in the world spanning 3. 5 million square miles it covers a large part of Tunisia and includes sand dunes canyons oases and plateaus here you will find the village of does known as the gateway to the desert which in times past was a significant stopover on Caravan routes passing through the Sahara today it's a tourist destination for those who want to explore and travel across the desert on camels motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles number five the region we know today as Tunisia has been inhabited since prehistoric times with evidence of human settlements dating back more than one hundred thousand years during Antiquity the region was colonized by the Phoenicians who established a series of commercial colonies along the coast from these Phoenician settlements emerged the Punic Empire a naval power that controlled much of the Western Mediterranean in the 3rd Century BC the Roman Empire defeated Carthage and the region became an important Roman province after 800 years the Arabs conquered the territory and in the 16th century the Ottoman Empire arrived holding control for 300 years until 1881 when France took over finally Tunisia gained independence in 1956. [Music] number six although it's now primarily a desert region Tunisia was once covered in forests and savannas instead of sand at the end of the last ice age nearly 8 000 years ago the Sahara Desert took over dominating these spaces [Music] number seven the national capital called Tunis was long considered one of the largest and richest cities of Islam it is located beside Lake Tunis within the Gulf of Tunis the city center of Medina of Tunis has about 700 monuments including madrasas mosques palaces and mausoleums foreign monuments of the Medina is the Aussie tuna mosque the oldest and largest in the capital having been built around the year 703 and covering almost 53 820 square feet it has nine entrances and 160 ancient columns brought directly from Carthage another iconic building of the Medina of Tunis is Darla Bay which is currently the headquarters of the Tunisian government for this reason it's also known as the Government Palace the Bardo national museum is located in the Bardo District on the outskirts of the city it's one of the largest museums in the Mediterranean and displays many archaeological pieces including one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics Greek Works African and Asia Minor pottery and Christian and Islamic exhibitions furthermore near the capital there are golden sandy beaches like El Rau La Marsa or La Colette number eight the form of government is a semi-presidential republic with representative democracy and it is divided into 24 governorates or williet the majority of the country's population is made up of Arabs while the berbers native inhabitants of North Africa are a minority the official religion is Islam and the president is constitutionally required to be Muslim although there is freedom of religion there's also a small Jewish Community moreover there is a small group of Christian believers who are natives of the region number nine the berbers or amazia are a group of ethnicities native inhabitants of Tunisia and other parts of Africa for almost 250 years Berber Kings from the house of masanissa ruled in Namibia which included much of Tunisia as well as adjacent regions they currently live in the southern part of the country around cities like mamara temezret zerawa or tajut number 10 in Tunisia there is also a small population of about a thousand nomadic Bedouins who travel between Algeria and Tunisia through the desert looking for pastures for their livestock they live relatively isolated from modern society without passports identification documents or birth certificates traditionally political borders have not mattered to these tribes but in recent years they have faced more restrictions camel and goat dairy products are their primary source of food and they can be distinguished by their clothes that cover the entire body except for feet face and hands number 11.
just a few miles from the Tunisian Capital are the archaeological remains of the ancient city of Carthage the capital of the Punic or carthagian Empire destroyed in the third Punic War by the Roman Empire Carthage was the birthplace of Hannibal Barca the carthagian general known as the father of strategy this war is briefly mentioned in one of the most memorable scenes from the movie Gladiator it's in the first battle in the Coliseum where proximo's Gladiators are hired to fight in the recreation of the battle of Zama where the carthagian Hannibal was defeated by the legions of the Roman general Scipio Africanus in this scene the carthagians are referred to as barbarians and maximus's team plays the role of the carthagians winning the battle Commodus asks Cassius if the barbarians really won the Battle of Carthage and he tells him they did not some of the places you can see in Carthage are the toffit where it is believed that sacrifices were made burning carthagian children alive the baths of antinas one of the most important of the Roman Empire or the rooms of Roman Villas foreign another one of the most incredible places you can visit in Tunisia is the chibiko Oasis which has a Palm Grove and a water spring it's located in the west of the country in the Tunisian Atlas near the border with Algeria it has been inhabited for thousands of years first it was a Roman post then a mountain refuge for the berbers it was used as a trading center for dates olives and other agricultural products and it was also an important stop for travelers crossing the Sahara Desert number 13. Indonesia there are about 200 Oasis with the largest being tamaroza where there is an abandoned Village often in Oasis there are Villages or towns such as the Oasis city of Tozer which is considered the largest Oasis in Tunisia and one of the most important cities in the south of the country a complex irrigation system of this Oasis dating back to the 13th century is famous for being fed by 200 Springs being fertile lands in the middle of the desert oases were important for transportation across the Sahara and in some of them populations and cities grew what is most surprising about these Oasis cities is the contrast between the palm trees and the water of the Oasis and the large desert areas are sand dunes around them one of the most visited places in Tozer is the Palm Grove undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the country with about 300 000 date palms there is also the Medina of Tozer one of the best preserved in the country number 14 these are gorphas rooms that the berbers use to store grain that are still in use today gorfas are usually found in the Kazar which are fortified cities in North Africa one of the most imposing is Kazar chanini at a height of 328 feet and with about 200 gorfas [Music] yeah number 15. George Lucas creator of Star Wars was inspired by the city of Tatooine in southern Tunisia to name the fictional planet tatawi there are several locations in Tunisia where scenes from this Saga were filmed one is in the city dress hotel in Mata which appears in episode 4.
centuries ago the berbers built these houses to take refuge from the Heat and then it became a hotel that operates to this day others are the gorfas of kazara out Sultan in the fictitious city of Tatooine it appears in episode 1 a phantom menace foreign Spaceport the native city of Anakin Skywalker from episode 4 and 1 was built for the first film in Ang Jamal near Tozer [Music] the most Eisley Cantina from episode 4 where Luke Skywalker meets Han Solo and Chewbacca is on the island of gerba [Music] number 16 near Tozer is chant El jazeered a Salt Lake about 155 miles long due to the extreme climate of this region with temperatures up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit and low precipitation the water that arrives evaporates quickly becoming completely dry in the summer here you can observe the fata Morgana effect which can make distant objects appear distorted and elevated in the air as if they were floating the landscape will depend on the season you visit in summer it will be full of bright mirages and cracked in white Earth in Winter it partially fills with water forming a strange Lake [Music] number 17. the grand ERG Oriental is a dune field that is part of the Tunisian Sahara tourists often get to know it by riding dromedaries or hiking in its northern part you can come across several Oasis [Music] number 18 the largest Amphitheater in North Africa and the fourth largest in ancient Rome is El de Gem and you can find it in Tunisia in the city of Elder gym it had a maximum capacity of 35 000 Spectators and was built around the year 238 A. D number 19 in Tunisia there is also one of the longest aqueducts of the Roman Empire at 82 miles the Zhang Aqueduct built by Emperor Hadrian number 20 the Tunisian sahil is the cultural and geographical region of central eastern Tunisia here is the elder gem Amphitheater and the monastery ribat an Arabic defensive structure it is the oldest robot built by the Arab conquerors of the Maghrib or northwest Africa number 21 the ancient remains of the Roman side of duga are collectively considered the best preserved examples of an afro-roman city in North Africa it has also been called the most magnificent Roman site on the African continent this city was occupied by the Punic numidian Roman and Byzantine civilizations number 22 for lovers of architectural Beauty and the coast city boo side is an incredible option it is a typical Mediterranean style Coastal Village about 12 miles from the city of Tunis it stands out for its small shops colored in white and blue and for streets full of craftsmanship with an incredible view of the Mediterranean Sea the charm of the village lies especially in its Arab Andalusian architecture houses which are white with doors and windows in blue shades number 23 a similar Village is hamomet also called La mahometa in addition to its beaches and its relaxing natural and Architectural landscape its main tourist attraction are the walks and shopping in its Old Town number 24 the great Mosque of Cairo on in the city of carowan is one of the most important in Tunisia and is considered the oldest sanctuary in the Muslim West built in the year 670 or year 50 according to the Islamic calendar with 96 875 square feet it is also one of the largest temples in North Africa number 25 the Medina of soos is located in the historic Heart of the City of Zeus the third largest Tunisian city after Tunis and svaxx it is a typical example of the first Islamic cities in the Maghrib it has fortifications and the great Mosque of soos located on the coast and as a consequence of climate change it is considered a Heritage vulnerable to sea level rise number 26 the Tunisian island of dejava is the largest in North Africa The Odyssey tells that the Lotus Eaters lived here and Odysseus and his crew were stranded on their Journey Through the Mediterranean it is famous as a destination for water sports and for relaxation number 27 mapa is a Berber Village almost 22 miles Southwest of the city of gabes it was fundamentally agricultural although tourism is increasingly gaining ground with its picturesque troglodyte dwellings houses built into the mountain that protected from cold in the winter and heat in the summer in addition to the Star Wars films I've already told you about scenes from The Life of Brian were also filmed here number 28 ulo regia is an archaeological site in Northwestern Tunisia near tabarka it is a Roman Room With An Origin prior to this Empire ingeniously constructed underground Villas to withstand the harsh climates of the area today it leaves incredibly well-preserved houses as a legacy visiting it you can walk through Roman houses with intact walls and characteristic mosaics number 29 the Roman ruins of Sabella or suffetila are known for its well-preserved Roman Forum building it also includes a triumphal Arch public baths and temples during its Heyday it prospered thanks to its crops and olive trees and during the Byzantine era it became a key bishopric [Music] number 30.
in total there are 17 national parks in Tunisia the Jebel National Park is the largest with 370 658 Acres of the Sahara Desert it is home to animals such as the fennec fox various species of snakes and gazelles number 31 the ishko National Park is one of the few wetlands in North America that does not dry up throughout the year and one of the most important on the African continent as it is a stopover for hundreds of species of birds here is Lake where migratory Birds such as geese ducks storks and pink flamingos stop [Music] number 32 the flag of Tunisia has a red background with a central white disk containing a red star and a red crescent both elements are traditional symbols of Islam and they indicate that Tunisia was part of the Ottoman Empire due to these symbols and the chosen colors it is not undergone major changes since it was adopted in 1831. [Music] number 33 Tunisian music reflects the diverse influences the country has experienced throughout its history with cultures such as Arab and illusion Greek Turkish Persian and French one of the most popular genres is Malouf which originated in Andalusia and was brought to Tunisia by Arab and Andalusian immigrants this musical genre has elements of classical Arab music including intricate Melodies and poetic lyrics as well as elements of Andalusian music such as rhythmic patterns and instrumentation another popular genre of Tunisian music is mezwed which is a type of Folk Music usually played at weddings and other celebrations dealing with social issues such as racism immigration love or family [Music] number 34 nearly all of tunisia's population is proficient in Tunisian Arabic which is the official language and French Tunisian Arabic has several dialects that have been influenced by the variety of people who have inhabited this country number 35 Tunisian food is a mix of Mediterranean Cuisine and the typical culinary elements of this region its ingredients are varied among which we can highlight olive oil cumin cinnamon mint orange and anise it stands out from other Arab cuisines in the spicy touch that most of its dishes usually have its main spicy condiment is Harissa a traditional Tunisian hot chili paste that accompanies most of its preparations number 36 the national dish is called couscous made from Tiny grains that are cooked and served with meat and vegetables in Tunisia fish couscous is very popular and other varieties are often prepared with octopus squid and other Seafood its sweetest version is called mosfo other typical dishes are shakshuka poached eggs and tomato sauce with onions Peppers cumin and paprika basisa a mixture of toasted cereals with herbs spices and olive oil which Nomads used on their long Journeys or the Tunisian tagine different from the Moroccan tagine it is a baked Groton which combines egg and cheese with a mixture of fresh vegetables Meats spices and herbs number 37 men from the rural areas usually wear jeba a tunic that is worn over a shirt vest and baggy trousers the checha is the traditional hat cylindrical and flexible It is believed to have been imported from Spain by the Arabs who were expelled after the conquest of Granada in 1492 and who established it as a craft in Tunisia upon finding there a second Homeland [Music] number 38 the sethseri is the traditional Veil for women a piece of cloth that covers the entire body it is usually white but in rural areas it can be brightly colored both City and Country women often wear large amount of gold ornaments and Jewelry [Music] number 39 the hamsa is a very popular amulet in Tunisia and throughout the magrep shaped like a palm and used in jewelry and tapestries it symbolizes an open right hand and is believed to offer protection against the evil eye number 40 Tunisia is one of the best places in the world to learn belly dancing with several schools in the capital in cities like soos there are daily shows and hotels bars and restaurants number 41 in Tunisia there are usually two different types of cafes those that are for men only and others that are open to both men and women cafes that are for men only often have large groups of men smoking shisha and drinking coffee in some cafes women are not allowed while in others their entry is discouraged however locals are very friendly so if you are a man you are likely to make new friends for women Travelers it is recommended to look for mixed cafes number 42 it's normal to haggle over prices whether in a shop or souk one type is to start by giving a low offer and then gradually increase but don't give an offer that's too low as it can be considered disrespectful number 43 the preferred sport of tunisians is football their national team is known as the Eagles of Carthage which won the African Cup of Nations in 2004. they have also attended several FIFA World Cup competitions number 44.
currently several International organizations consider Tunisia to be one of the Arab societies that practice democracy despite its past adversities it contributes to improving its International image by having one of the best qualities of life on the African continent number 45 in Tunisia the current position of women is one of the most privileged in North Africa and is comparable to many Western societies women can inherit land and pass on their nationality and name to their children this greater equality is mostly reflected in the cities but not so much in rural areas where there can be a great difference between men and women number 46 Tunisia was the first Arab country to Outlaw polygamy in 1956 and remains one of the few Muslim majority Nations to have done so number 47 it is among the top African countries with the best education since Independence it has been considered a priority in fact it is mandatory and free for all children between 6 and 16 years old the education system is divided into two main Cycles the basic cycle and the secondary cycle number 48 the most important economic activities of the country are tourism and services oil the textile and Footwear industry phosphate mining olive oils olives wheat tomatoes and other agricultural products number 49 although Jasmine is not native to Tunisia it is its national flower for this reason the media named the 2011 protests the Jasmine Revolution this flower was introduced to the country by the andalusians in the 16th century number 50. Tunisia has a strong Maritime culture due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea and its Coastal stretch of over 680 miles this can be seen in its cuisine with a variety of seafood dishes such as grilled fish Seafood couscous and Bola base a soup of fish and shellfish it also has numerous traditional fishing villages and ports number 51 the international Sahara Festival in dues is one of the most recommended events in Tunisia to learn about the culture and traditions of North Africa here you can observe a traditional marriage horse races and other exhibitions number 52. almost a quarter of the country is covered by Esparto which is a characteristic vegetation of the regional step it has a wide variety of trees including Pines cork Oaks Oaks and jujubi which can be appreciated especially in the Central and northern part of the country number 53 some of the species that inhabit Tunisia are the dhamma gazelle the serval the African golden wolf wild boars dromedaries striped hyenas the fennec fox or the North African elephant shrew it can be said that it does not have a national animal but one of the most accepted for this role is the Drmedary which was introduced from Asia over 1 500 years ago number 54 Tunisia was the home of a few species of extinct animals the last Barbary lion living in Tunisia died at the end of the 19th century currently the white oryx is extinct in its natural habitat although isolated individuals are kept in captivity elephants are also no longer found in its territory although they were once abundant number 55 tunisians are usually very open and friendly to Travelers and the culture of the cities is a mix of Western and Arab influences in general they have a more open attitude than other Arab countries being more traditional in villages and rural areas if you go to Tunisia or have already been there leave in the comments how your experience with tunisians has been number 56 on December 17 2010 the street vendor Mohamed buazizi committed suicide by setting himself on fire in protest against the confiscation of his Fruit Stand and the humiliating response he received from the authorities when he reported the incident he died days later on January 4th 2011.
