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.

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

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:

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

References

Governorates of Tunisia
Ariana Béja Ben Arous Bizerte Gabès Gafsa Jendouba Kairouan Kasserine Kebili Kef Mahdia Manouba Medenine Monastir Nabeul Sfax Sidi Bouzid Siliana Sousse Tataouine Tozeur Tunis Zaghouan
WikiProject Tunisia