Welcome to Tunisia

Welcome to Tunisia !

Tunisia  officially the Tunisian Republic (though often referred to in English as the "Republic of Tunisia";Arabic:الجمهورية التونسية‎ al-Jumhūriyyah at-Tūnisiyyah; French: République tunisienne; Berber: is the northernmost country in Africa and, at almost 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi) in area, the smallest country in theMaghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. As of 2013, its population is estimated at just under 10.8 million. Its name is derived from its capital city, Tunis, located on the country's northeast coast.

Geographically, Tunisia contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and the northern reaches of the Sahara desert. Much of the rest of the country's land is fertile soil. Its 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline includes the African conjunction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Basin and, by means of the Sicilian Strait and Sardinian Channel, features the African mainland's second and third nearest points to Europe after Gibraltar.

Tunisia is situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nile Delta. It is bordered byAlgeria on the west and Libya on the south east. It lies between latitudes 30° and 38°N, and longitudes 7° and 12°E. An abrupt southward turn of the Mediterranean coast in northern Tunisia gives the country two distinctive Mediterranean coasts, west-east in the north, and north-south in the east.

Though it is relatively small in size, Tunisia has great environmental diversity due to its north-south extent. Its east-west extent is limited. Differences in Tunisia, like the rest of the Maghreb, are largely north-south environmental differences defined by sharply decreasing rainfall southward from any point. The Dorsal, the eastern extension of the Atlas Mountains, runs across Tunisia in a northeasterly direction from the Algerian border in the west to the Cape Bon peninsula in the east. North of the Dorsal is the Tell, a region characterized by low, rolling hills and plains, again an extension of mountains to the west in Algeria. In the Khroumerie, the northwestern corner of the Tunisian Tell, elevations reach 1,050 metres (3,440 ft) and snow occurs in winter.

The Sahel, a broadening coastal plain along Tunisia's eastern Mediterranean coast, is among the world's premier areas of olive cultivation. Inland from the Sahel, between the Dorsal and a range of hills south of Gafsa, are the Steppes. Much of the southern region is semi-arid and desert.

Tunisia has a coastline 1,148 kilometres (713 mi) long. In maritime terms, the country claims a contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles (44.4 km; 27.6 mi), and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi).

Climate

Tunisia's climate is temperate in the north, with mild rainy winters and hot, dry summers.The south of the country is desert. The terrain in the north is mountainous, which, moving south, gives way to a hot, dry central plain. The south is semiarid, and merges into the Sahara. A series of salt lakes, known as chotts or shatts, lie in an east-west line at the northern edge of the Sahara, extending from the Gulf of Gabes into Algeria. The lowest point is Shatt al Gharsah, at 17 metres (56 ft) below sea level and the highest is Jebel ech Chambi, at 1,544 metres (5,066 ft).According to the customs of the Troglodytes, to avert perishing by dehydration in the hot sand dunes, the locals drink a good quantity of water, eat some food, then drink a measure of olive oil. This seals the stomach, so that the water is released slowly into the system. After consumption, they do not eat or drink until the following day.

for more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia

Sidi Bou Said -photo taken by Şebnem Koç

EVS IS ALSO ADVENTURE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER TUNISIA WITH AJMEC!

AJMEC give to the volunteers the opportunity to discover Tunisia. In the end of April this year AJMEC organized a 3 day trip to the Sahara as a before with all old volunteers.

Volunteers discovered to sahara with 4x4 and Chebika, Tamarghza. Beside, they visited to amazing Star Wars decor.

Chebika is a part of paradise , you can imagine palm trees, old Berberi village, mountains taken colour from sun and endless desert. All of them in the one scene ! And Then Tamarghza; waterfall in the desert... It can be  enought describe for there. You can discovere typical type of Berberi houses in Matmata. There are many Berberi homes like under the mountain.

 Tamargza - photo taken by Rafael Billard

And shinny salt lake ...“mirage” take you to secret world... You will find thee degrees of  time: firstly ,blue shines comes from salt lake remind to fredom. Secondly  “mirage” takes you with secret touch to third step and finally you can find yourself in same high with mountains as if on the pure sky. Listen to melody of silence...

Salt Lake

Chebika- photo taken by Rafael Billard

Also volunteers visited a lot of nice part of tunisia like Kairouan, Mahdia, Monastir, El Jem, Tunis and Sidi bou Said.

 You can taste traditional desert as “Makhrud” especially in Kariouan and for sure traditional other taste name is “ Kafteji” . You can fall in love with these tastes and athmosphere.

You like art ? Destination to Mehdia! There is a city front of the aquamarine sea and a lot of art galeries and artist living in Mehdia. Especially painters... Visit to Mehdia means festival for your eyes. No one can not explain that Sidi Bou Said you will find there that most beautiful tone of blue. Just open your eyes to Sidi Bou Said and listen to waves and wind...

Capital city of Tunisia : Tunis... you should visited especially main street as Habib Bourgiba avenue. It has important place of Tunisia history.

Also an other historic place from Tunisia . Eljem is whispering to you. You may still hear voice of foot of Roman people in the amphe theathre.

And there are many amazing places in all Tunisia. Especially you will realize that when you say hello to Tunisia and Ajmec family, this magical atmosphere will hug  you with big smile ! 

for more info http://www.ajmec.com/