Sfax

Sfax (, Safaqis, or  in Tunisian Arabic, whence the French name) is the seicont lairgest ceety in Tunisie, locatit 270 km (168 mile) 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 centre for processin phosphates. The ceety wis aften descrived as Tunisie's Seicont ceety, acause ae Tunis haes mair indwallers. Nouadays, Sfax lost this poseetion for ither Tunisan ceeties which hauld mair developed touristic an industrial activities.

 History 
Bi the end o the 10t century Sfax haed acome 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 thay 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 nairae gauge railwey 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 twinty oors a day on MW 720 kHz/105.21 MHz.

 Education 
The Varsity o Sfax includes:
 ENIS (École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax) issued a nummer o weel kent scientists an industrials.  
 ESCS (École Supérieure de Commerce de Sfax) issued a nummer o Managers, Economy an Management Researchers an Youth Entrepreneurs.  
 FLSHS (Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines de Sfax) issued a nummer o renouned poets an prose writers .(http://www.flshs.rnu.tn )
 Sfax Faculty o Medicine (Faculté de Médecine de Sfax).  

Internaitional relations

Twin touns — Sister ceeties
Sfax is twinned wi:

  Grenoble, Fraunce
  Makhachkala, Roushie
  Marburg, Germany

References

 See an aa 
 SfaxOnline - Portail de la ville de Sfax 
 Transport in Tunisie
 Sufax


Category:Populatit places in Sfax Govrenorate
Category:Communes o Tunisie