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mim oun- A g ene ral v iew of the high s treet

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2. Ti mi mou n C ent ral Mosqu e

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oun The famous Kobbah

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4.Timimoun- The Writer in the Town Centre

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5.Timimoun- Another view of the high street

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6.Timimoun- Town centre and some passers by

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IN THE NA ME O F GOD TH E COM PA SSION ATE TH EMERCIFULSubject: Historic Cities of Algeria.

*Introduction:

1. TIMIMOUNOnce a western tourist had this to say after visiting the

whole of Algeria from the northern coast to the southern

hot sands of the Sahara: If ever there was a country

whose immensity defied the imagination and offered so

much in the way of varied opportunities for tourism,

Algeria is it.Seaside Algiers still manages to have some of the charm

of the Cote d'Azur but with the feeling of a modern,

bustling city, while the Desert or Sahara (3/4 of the total

area of the country) renders men totally cool, calm and

nerveless due to the breath-taking tranquillity of the

landscape.It would be very important to stress that Algeria has three

types of climate:

Mediterranean varying from West to East with an

average summer temperature of 65 degrees. Summer

temperatures go over 86 degrees with a temperate

climate.

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The semi-arid climate in the high plains region where

the winter season has often temperatures of about or

below zero degrees. And the summer is dry and hotwith temperatures of over 86 degrees.

The Southern regions where the summer is

extremely hot with temperatures exceeding 94

degrees, but in the winter there is a mild climate with

night temperatures at or below zero.

Algeria is often claimed to be the crossroads of threeworlds: Mediterranean, Arab- Muslim and African. It

also boasts coastline with numerous sandy bays. The

interior of the country presents plenty of opportunities

for sport and leisure activities, ranging from skiing in

the mountains to skiing in the sands of the Sahara

It is worth mentioning that Timimoun was a former

meeting place of caravans bringing gold, cotton and

ivory from the south and cereals and spices from the

north. In this town whose predominant colour is ochre,

the mosque, the Sudan Door and wall sculptures are

popular sights for tourists.

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Timimoun is situated in the middle of the Gourrara

region which is a part of the Grand Erg Occidental, at a

distance of 1250 km south-west of Algiers the Capital.

This is one of the most uninhabitable parts of the

Sahara due to the incredibly high sand dunes whichshift restlessly day after day across the hot sandy

planes of the desert. However, despite the regions

formidable reputation, Timimoun manages not only

survive by to do so in style.

Timimoun is situated between palm groves and a salt

lake in a little desert oasis. The magnificent sanddunes of the Sahara rise and fall in the distance

providing the city with the most picturesque backdrop.

The town itself is quite small and can be divided into

two sections. The old part is called "ksour" (Small

village or Castle) and most of the houses are built of

red mud in a style known as "Sudanese Architecture".These homes seem to compete for space, almost

climbing on top of one another as they try to gain the

highest ground possible. The streets between them are

narrow and in true desert fashion are shaded over by

large sheets of cloth so that passing pedestrians can

have some sort of relief from the blazing sun.

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In the newer sections of the town which were built by the

French, much of the original Hostel that was once built in

this newer section by the French in 1921 is now a culturalcentre and a great place to spend a few hours if you are

visiting. The most notable feature of this are the gobbas

or Kobbas which are buildings dedicated to the Marabouts

or Saints.

Another place worth visiting is the palmeraie of Ouled Said

(30 km from Timimoun) which has a magnificent view of thetraditional techniques of palm-growing as well as Foggara

irrigation system, also the Igzer tavern just in the outskirts

of Timimoun is another breath-taking sight.

The properties here are enclosed by mud walls which are too

high to see over and the shade of the palm trees provides

welcome relief. Most visitors to Timimoun use the city as abase for excursions into the uninhabitable Grand Erg

Occidental.

Timimoun is possibly the definitive Saharan oasis town. It is

a very enchanting place, built on the edge of an escarpment

with fantastic views over an ancient salt lake to the distant

dunes, especially magical on a moonlit night.

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mbokreta@maktoob.comMOHA MED B OKR ETA A L H ASSA NImohbokreta@yahoo.com