Geography

The northern part of Tunisia is mountainous. The two major mountain chains of the region are the Northern Tell and the High Tell. The highest point in the country is Mount ash-Shanabi at 5,066 feet (1,544 meters). The central part of Tunisia is an extensive plateau. Farther south lies a series of shallow salt lakes. The southernmost portion of Tunisia is part of the Sahara. There the land is sandy and rocky. The country's largest river is the Majardah in the north. It flows into the Gulf of Tunis. The Majardah Valley is the country's best farming area.

Plants and animals

Most of Tunisia's plant and animal life is found in the cooler northern region. This area has vineyards and forests of cork oak and evergreen oak. Farther south the trees give way to thorny bushes and sparse grasses. The Sahara region in the far south has little vegetation. Wildlife in Tunisia includes hyenas, wild boars, jackals, gazelles, and snakes, including cobras. Scorpions are found throughout the country.

People and culture

Most of Tunisia's people are a mixture of Arab and Berber (the Berbers were the original inhabitants of the region). Most identify themselves as Arabs. The official language is Arabic, but French is widely spoken as well. Islam is the state religion, and almost all of the people are Muslims.

The majority of the Tunisian people live in cities and towns. The largest city is the capital, Tunis. Most people live near the Mediterranean coast. The entire southern half of the country is only lightly populated.

Economy

Agriculture has traditionally been the basis of Tunisia's economy. Nearly one quarter of the labor force is employed in agriculture, though farming is difficult because of the uncertainty of rainfall. Wheat and barley are the main food crops. Cash crops include olives, sugar beets, citrus fruits, and vegetables.

Mining in Tunisia is dominated by the production of oil and phosphates. Some oil is exported. Most phosphate is used within the country to produce chemicals and fertilizers for export.

Manufacturing has increased in importance in Tunisia in recent decades. Tunis is the major industrial center. The country's factories produce processed foods, steel, chemicals, textiles, and leather goods. Tourism has become an important industry in Tunisia as well.

History

In ancient times Tunisia was a colony of the Phoenicians. In the 8th century BC the Phoenicians founded Carthage in the area of present-day Tunis. By the mid-5th century BC the city controlled commerce in the central Mediterranean. Carthage became part of the Roman Empire in 146 BC. Roman rule lasted until Muslim Arabs invaded in the mid-7th century AD.

Spain and the Ottoman Turks battled for control of the area in the 16th century. In 1574 the Turks defeated the Spanish and made Tunisia part of the Ottoman Empire. As Ottoman power declined in the late 19th century, the French, Italians, and British sought control of the region. Tunisia became a territory of France in 1881.

France allowed Tunisia's monarchy to continue, but the French held the actual power. In the early 20th century Tunisians began to demand more participation in government. The movement for independence from France grew after World War II. Tunisia became independent in 1956. Habib Bourguiba, a leader of the independence movement, was named prime minister. Bourguiba became the country's president in 1959 and remained in power until 1987. His successor, Ben Ali, held power into the 21st century. Population (2001 estimate), 9,828,000.