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Sfax
Sfax; صفاقس
	A Sfax street (Rue Hédi Chaker)
	; Sfax
	Coordinates: 34°44′N 10°36′E / 34.733°N 10.6°E
Country	Tunisia
Governorates	Sfax Governorate
	Government
- Mayor	Mohamed Hadj Taïeb
	Population (2004)
- Total	265.131
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Sfax (Arabic: صفاقس‎, Safaqis, or /sfa:qs/ in Tunisian Arabic, whence the French name) is a city in Tunisia, located 270 km (168 miles) southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD 849 on the ruins of Taparura and Thaenae, is the capital of the Sfax Governorate, and a Mediterranean port on the Gulf of Gabes. Sfax has population of 340,000 (2005)^[1], and is an industrial center for processing phosphates. The city is often described as Tunisia's Second city, because only Tunis has more inhabitants.

[edit] History

Looking across the Place de la République towards Sfax city hall (photographed in 2005).

By the end of the 10th century Sfax had become an independent city state. The city was conquered by Roger of Sicily in 1148 and occupied until it was liberated in 1156 by local forces, and was briefly occupied by European forces again, this time by the Spanish, in the 16th century. Sfax became an integral base of the Barbary piracy, prompting an unsuccessful invasion by Venice in 1785. In the late 19th century Sfax and the rest of Tunisia were conquered by France and incorporated into the French empire. During World War II, the Axis powers used the city as a major base until they were defeated by British forces. After World War II, Tunisia was returned to France only to gain independence in 1956.

[edit] Transport

Sfax is served by a narrow gauge railway system of SNCFT that delivers phosphates and iron ore for export.

Roads

The A1 motorway connects Sfax with Tunis.

[edit] Communications

Founded in 1961, Radio Sfax broadcasts twenty hours a day on MW 720 kHz/105.21 MHz.

[edit] Education

ENIS (Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax) issued a number of well known scientists and industrials. [1]
ESCS (Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Sfax) issued a number of Managers, Economy and Management Researchers and Youth Entrepreneurs. [2]
FLSHS (Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines de Sfax) issued a number of renowned poets and prose writers .(http://www.flshs.rnu.tn)
Sfax Faculty of Medicine (Faculté de Médecine de Sfax). [3]

[edit] Famous people

Hédi Bouraoui, a poet and writer now living in Canada.
Hedi Chaker, patriot who fought the French colonisation.
Saber Rabaii, eastern singer renowned all over the east for his songs.
Hatem Trabelsi, former defender for Ajax Amsterdam, Manchester City and captain of the Tunesian national football team.
Max Azaria, Fashion Designer.