Gafsa
Gafsa (or Qafsah; Arabic: قفصة) is the main city of the South west of Tunisia. It is both a historical oasis and the home of the Phosphate mining industry of Tunisia.
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[edit] Owerview
The City has an estimated population of 90,000. it is the ninth largest city in Tunsia. The governorate has 340,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate) an an area of 8,990km². Its geographical coordinates are 34°25′N 8°47′E / 34.417°N 8.783°E.
[edit] History
Historical sites findings in Gafsa suggest a thriving civilization dating back to more than 15000 years.
Gafsa name comes from its Roman Mesolithic historic name Capsa. Capsa was found by the Romans in the second century B.C. The Roman pools in Gafsa are a testtament to its old history.
Oqba Ibn Nafi conquered Gafsa in 688, however he faced resitacne from the Berbers. Gafsa was converted to the Muslim and arbic culture compeltely by the Bani Hilal in 1050.
In the second world war, Gafsa suffered heavy bombardment from the German army and part of its Ksbah was destoyed.
Phosphae mines were discovered as early as 1886, and Gafsa today is home to one of the largest mines of phospgate in the world.
Gafsa has been a region with an active in political voice and various events have shaped its political contributions the country across the various phases opf modern Tunisia.
On Januar 27, 1980 a group of dissidents armed and trained by Libya occupied the city to contest the regime of Habib Bourguiba at the time. 48 people were killed in the battles.
In Januar 2008 Gafsa wis the epicentre of a popular spontaneous uprising against the regime of of president Ben Ali. While the government was swift and brutal in attempting to suppress the uprising, this movement is today credited for being the first seeds of the revolution that enabled the Tunsisians to remove Zine El Abidine Ben Ali|Ben Ali from power and ignited the Arab spring in the rest of North Afirca and the Moddle Eats and beyond.
[edit] Sport
El Kawafel Sportives de Gafsa (Arabic: القوافل الرياضية بقفصة (EGSG) is the main football club of Gafsa.
