Tunisia

Tunisia is a small country in North Africa on the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient city of Carthage, which once rivaled Rome, was built here. Tunisia has Roman ruins, golden beaches, and a mix of Arab and Mediterranean culture.

Land and People

About 12 million people live in Tunisia. The capital is Tunis. The north has green hills and a Mediterranean coast. The south has the Sahara Desert with sand dunes and oases. Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa.

Map showing the old Carthaginian empire from long ago.
Map showing the old Carthaginian empire from long ago. (Javierfv1212 (talk) / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Carthage was once a powerful empire that challenged ancient Rome. Couscous is a staple food eaten with vegetables and meat. The Star Wars movies filmed scenes in the Tunisian desert. Tunis has a lively old medina with narrow streets and colorful markets.

Fun Facts

  • Parts of Star Wars were filmed in the deserts of Tunisia.
  • The ancient city of Carthage was one of the most powerful cities in the ancient world.
  • Tunisia has one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world.

Did You Know?

The planet Tatooine in Star Wars was named after a real town in Tunisia called Tataouine. George Lucas filmed desert scenes there for the original movies. You can still visit some of the Star Wars sets in the Tunisian desert today.