Gabès قابس
Gabès
Coordinates: 33°53′N 10°07′E / 33.883°N 10.117°E / 33.883; 10.117
Country	Tunisia
Governorates	Gabès Governorate
Population (2004)
- Total	116.323
	Source: Census
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Gabès (Arabic: قابس‎) is the capital city of the Gabès Governorate, a province of Tunisia.

Contents 1 History 2 Education 3 Economy 4 Transport 4.1 Road 5 Tourism 6 World Heritage Status 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] History

Gabès was an integral city in the territory of Carthage. Following the Second Punic War in the 2nd century BC Gabès came under Roman control with a new name Tacape.

• 7th century: The Muslim conquest (Al'Fatah Al'Islami). Muhammed's companion Sidi Abou Loobaba Al'Ansarey settles in Gabès.
• 1881: Gabès comes under a French protectorate.
• 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 Line). The operation results in serious damage to the city infrastructure.
• 1945: The rebuilding of Gabès starts.
• 1956: Gabès reverts to Tunisian control with the independence of Tunisia from the French.

[edit] Education

• University of Gabès

[edit] Economy

Gabès is one of the biggest industrial cities in Tunisia. 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:

• 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. In recent years the government is working on new programs and laws to decrease the amount of pollution.

[edit] Transport

Gabès is terminus of a narrow gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+³⁄₈ in) branch railway from the capital, and is the nearest railway station to the Libyan border at Ras Ejder. Gabès has also one of the biggest ports in Tunisia; it is used usually to ship the mineral products from the city of Gafsa.

[edit] Road

Gabès will be linked soon with the national motorway A4 ( Tunis - Ras Jdir )

[edit] Tourism

Gabès is famous for its traditional Souqs in Jarah; it is known also for its attractive beach and the unusual seaside oasis (Gabes is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea). 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: - The traditional souks. - The Kornich. - Sidi Boulbaba. - The Mouradi school. - Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Toujani.

[edit] World Heritage Status

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on May 28, 2008, in the Cultural category^[1].

[edit] See also

• Gabès Governorate, one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces) of Tunisia
• Gulf of Gabès
• University of Gabès, a public university

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• "Gabes: Oasis on the Sea" from Lexicorient
• FallingRain Map - elevation = 1m (Red dots are railways)

Coordinates: 33°53′N 10°07′E / 33.883°N 10.117°E / 33.883; 10.117