Basic Information:

Official Name	-	Republic of Tunisia
Official Flag	-
Government type	-	Republic
Head of State	-	President General Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (Ben Ali)
Capital	-	Tunis (largest city)
Official Language	-	Arabic
Other Major Language	-	French
Religion	-	Islam 99%
Neighbours	-	Algeria on the West and Libya on the East .
Monetary Unit	-	Dinar
Climate	-	Mediterranean in the north, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Southern Tunisia has an arid climate, and hot, dry winds in the summer.
Dimensions	-	The total area is 163,610 square kilometers or 63,170 square miles
Canadian Embassy	-	3 du Senegal St., Place d'Afrique, Tunis, Tunisia.
Map	-	Large map of Tunisia.

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Interesting Facts

Where is the longest ancient aqueduct?
The Roman Aqueduct of Carthage. It ran 141 km (87.6 miles) from springs of Zagouan to Djebel Djougar. It was built by the Romans during the reign of Publius Aelius Hadrianus (AD 117-38). I have heard that its original capacity has been calculated at 31.8 million litres (7,000,000 gal)per day!

Where does the word gorilla originate?
It is said we get our modern word "gorilla" from a Carthaginian named Hanno who, according to the elder Pliny, sailed along the west coast of Africa.

• Here's an excerpt from Hanno's journal:
  
  "Following rivers of fire for three days we came to a gulf called the Southern Horn. In this gulf was an island...This was full of savages; by far the greater number were women with hairy bodies, called by our interpreters `gorillas.' We gave chase to the men but could not catch any for they climbed steep rocks and pelted us with stones. However, we captured three women who bit and scratched their captors. We killed and flayed them and brought their skins back to Carthage. This was as far as we could sail owing to lack of provisions."

• "Nine days I drifted on the teeming sea before dangerous high winds. Upon the tenth we came to the coastline of the Lotos Eaters, who live upon that flower. We landed there to take on water. All ships' companies mustered alongside for the mid-day meal. Then I sent out two picked me and a runner to learn what race of men that land sustained. They fell in, soon enough, with Lotos Eaters, who showed no will to do us harm, only offering the sweet Lotos to our friends - but those who ate this honeyed plan, the Lotos, never cared to report, not to return: they longed to stay forever, browsing on that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland. I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest: 'All hands aboard; come, clear the beach and no one taste the Lotos, or you lose your hope of home.' Filing in to their places by the rowlocks my oarsmen dipped their long oars in the sure, and we moved out gain on our sea faring." (IX, 90-103)

1."hen·na"
      noun
      Pronunciation: 'he-n&'
      Etymology: Arabic hinnA'
      Date: 1600
      1 : a reddish brown dye obtained from leaves of the 
          henna plant and used especially on hair
      2 : an Old World tropical shrub or small tree (Lawsonia inermis)
          of the loosestrife family with small opposite leaves and 
          axillary panicles of fragrant white flowers 
2."henna"
      transitive verb
      Date: 1919
      1 : to dye (as hair) with henna

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Last Updated May 19, 1999