Sfax

Sfax (Arabic: صفاقس‎, Safaqis, or [sfaːqs] in Tunisian Arabic, whence the French name) is the seicont lairgest ceety in Tunisie, locatit 270 km (168 miles) sootheast o Tunis. The ceety, foondit in AD 849 on the ruins o Taparura an Thaenae, is the caipital o the Sfax Govrenorate, an a Mediterranean port on the Gulf o Gabès. Sfax haes population o 340,000 (2005), an is an industrial center for processin phosphates. The ceety wis aften described as Tunisie's Seicont ceety, acause ae Tunis haes mair inhabitants. Nouadays, Sfax lost this position for ither Tunisan ceeties which hauld mair developed touristic an industrial activities.

History

Leukin athort the Place de la République towards Sfax ceety hall (photographed in 2005).

Bi the end o the 10t century Sfax haed become an independent ceety-state. The ceety wis conquered bi Roger II ofSicily in 1148 an occupied till it wis leeberatit in 1156 bi local forces, an wis briefly occupied bi European forces again, this time bi the Spainyie, in the 16t century. Sfax became an integral base o the Barbary piracy, promptin an unsuccessful invasion bi Venice in 1785. In the late 19t century Sfax an the rest o Tunisie wur conquered bi Fraunce an incorporatit intae the French empire. Durin Warld War II, the Axis pouers uised the ceety as a major base till they wur defeatit bi Breetish forces. Efter Warld War II, Tunisie wis returned tae Fraunce anerlie tae gain unthirldom in 1956.

Transport

Sfax is served bi a narrow gauge railway seestem o SNCFT that delivers phosphates an iron ore for export. Sfax is an aa served bi Sfax – Thyna Internaitional Airport wi regularly scheduled flichts tae Paris CDG an Tripoli, an chairter flichts tae Jeddah for the pilgrimage tae Mecca.

The A1 motorway connects Sfax wi Tunis.

Communications

Foondit in 1961, Radio Sfax broadcasts twintiey oors a day on MW 720 kHz/105.21 MHz.

Education

The University o Sfax includes:

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

Internaitional relations

Main airticle: Leet_o_twin_touns_an_sister_ceeties_in_Africae#Tunisie

Twin touns — Sister ceeties

Sfax is twinned wi:

• Grenoble, Fraunce
• Makhachkala, Roushie
• Marburg, Germany

See an aa

• SfaxOnline - Portail de la ville de Sfax
• Transport in Tunisie
• Sufax

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Sfax