Greece - Crete
Carla M. - Greece - 10.04.2003
Crete Hersonissos
Thursday, April 10, 2003
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Tunisia - Kairouan
University Finalists Trip (LIG 1998_2003), Tunisia, April 2003
Sidi Sahbi Mosque, Kairouan
Built by the Muradid Hammuda Pasha Bey and Murad II Bey, Mosque Sidi Sahbi is a catacomb of Sidi Sahab that was built between 1629 and 1692. Also known as the Mosque of the Barber, it is originally a school located inside the walls of Kairouan.
Mosque Sidi Sahbi or the Mosque of the Barber houses a tomb of Abu Zama el-Balaui, a companion of Prophet Mohammed. This imam always carried three hairs of Prophet's beard with him. He always visits this worship place to offer prayers.
Mosque Sidi Sahbi is an immense portion of Muslim and Arabic art. Inside the mosque, all the corridors and courtyards are fully covered by beautiful decorative tiles while the doors are nicely ornated. The tomb of Abu Zama el-Balaui has beautiful tiled decoration and also contains a dome with stucco embellishment. They can have a glimpse of the mosque interior décor and design from outside only.
Tunisia - Douz
University Finalists Trip (LIG 1998_2003), Tunisia, April 2003
Chott el Djerid
Douz
Chott el Djerid is a large endorheic salt lake in southern Tunisia.
It is the largest salt pan of the Sahara with a surface area of over 7,000 km2 (some sources state 5,000 km2). Due to the extreme climate with annual rainfall of only 100 mm and temperatures reaching 50 °C, water evaporates from the lake. In summer Chott el Djerid is almost entirely dried up, and numerous fata morganas occur.
During winter, a small tributary of water can be seen discharging into the lake.
Tunisia - Douz
University Finalists Trip (LIG 1998_2003), Tunisia, April 2003
La rose des sables
La rose des sables est une roche évaporitique formée par la cristallisation lenticulaire de minéraux solubles, et dont la disposition rappelle les pétales d'une rose.
La formation des roses des sables provient de l'évaporation d'eau infiltrée. Ces cristallisations sont très souvent rencontrées dans les terrains tendres (sable, argile), principalement dans les déserts.
Le principal minéral concerné par ce processus est le gypse ; mais des roses des sables peuvent aussi être composées d'autres minéraux, comme la barite.
Les roses des sables peuvent parfois atteindre de très grandes proportions et peuvent dépasser la centaine de kilogrammes.
Tunisia - El Jem
University Finalists Trip (LIG 1998_2003), Tunisia, April 2003
El Jem
Amphitheatre of El Djem
El Djem is famous for its amphitheater, often incorrectly called a Colosseum (roughly translated from Latin as 'that thing by the Colossus'), which is capable of seating 35,000 spectators. Only the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome (about 45,000 spectators) and the ruined theatre of Capua are larger. The amphitheatre at El Djem was built by the Romans under proconsul Gordian, who was acclaimed Emperor at Thysdrus, around 238 and was probably mainly used for gladiator shows and chariot races (like in Ben-Hur). Many tourists come here to see what it was like to be inside what was once a place where lions and people met their fate. Much of it is crumbled but the essence of it still remains. It is also possible that construction of the amphitheatre was never finished.
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
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