Mahdia Governorate

Mahdia
ولاية المهدية
Governorate

Map of Tunisia with Mahdia highlighted
Coordinates: 35°30′N 11°04′E / 35.500°N 11.067°E / 35.500; 11.067Coordinates: 35°30′N 11°04′E / 35.500°N 11.067°E / 35.500; 11.067
Country Tunisia
Created June 5, 1974
Capital Mahdia
Area
  Total 2,966 km2 (1,145 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 16th of 24
Population (2014)
  Total 410,812
  Rank Ranked 14th of 24
  Density 140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+01)
Postal prefix xx
ISO 3166 code TN-53

Mahdia Governorate (Tunisian Arabic: ولاية المهدية) is in central-eastern Tunisia, named after its largest town, its administrative centre. It comprises an area of coastal relative lowlands and is one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces). It covers an area of 2,966 km², extends further inland than its coastal length and has a population of 410,812 (as at the 2014 census).[1] Three districts neighbour, clockwise from south, Sfax, Kairouan and Sousse Governorates.

Economic summary

Swordfish on a roundabout in Mahdia. The tourist industry is reflected in the area by luxury accommodation, restaurants and impressive works of art.

Mahdia, the administrative centre, is a coastal resort with prominent weaving and fish processing industries.[2]

The other coastal urban centre is the small town of Chebba, on the headland of a bay. Ksour Essef is midway between these towns and approximately 2.5 km inland. El Djem is 13 km inland and a mid-sized town on a major crossroads of roads in the district and having Tunisia's main north-south railway. The nearest international airport is connected by road and rail and is 15 km north of Mahdia (the town), Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport.

Synopsis of history

Ship's anchor of the Mahdia shipwreck, many of the artefacts of which are in the Bardo National Museum in Tunis.
Main articles: Mahdia, Chebba, El Djem, and Ksour Essef

The two main coastal cities are of historic note to Greek, Roman, and early Muslim societies. They include the Mahdia shipwreck – a sunken ship found off Mahdia's shore, containing Greek art treasures – dated to about 80 BC, the early part of Roman rule in this region. The old part of Mahdia corresponds to the Roman city called Aphrodisium and, later, called Africa (a name perhaps derived from the older name),[3][4] or Cape Africa.[5][6][7][8]

Climate

Main article: Tunisia § Climate

The climate is semiarid throughout particularly in the summer and due to the high albedo effects compared to provinces of the far north, nighttime temperatures tend to fall more, to a similar temperature to average upland parts of the north. Much of the developed area benefits from the Sousse area's advanced water distribution network from dammed rivers and lakes including those hundreds of miles to the west which provides water for domestic use and pools.

Administrative divisions

Fourteen municipalities are in Mahdia Governorate:

Code Municipality Population
(2014)[9]
3311 Mahdia 51,833
3312 Rejiche 10,806
3313 Bou Merdes 4,338
3314 Ouled Chamekh 5,120
3315 Chorbane 5,700
3316 Hebira 3,248
3317 Essouassi 5,381
3318 El Djem 21,234
3319 Kerker 7,467
3320 Chebba 22,227
3321 Melloulèche 6,704
3322 Sidi Alouane 7,500
3323 Ksour Essef 28,842
3324 El Bradâa 7,404

Electorally and for some more national purposes, Mahdia has eleven delgations, most boundaries of which are similar to the governorates.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.