La Goulette

La Goulette (French pronunciation: [la ɡulɛt], Italian: La Goletta), in Arabic Halq al-Wadi (حلق الوادي Ḥalq el-Wād), is a municipality and the port of Tunis, Tunisia.

La Goulette
حلق الوادي
Panorama of La Goulette
Panorama of La Goulette
La Goulette is located in Tunisia
La Goulette
La Goulette
Location in Tunisia
Coordinates: 36°49′5″N 10°18′18″E
Country Tunisia
GovernorateTunis Governorate
Delegation(s)La Goulette
Government
  MayorAmel Limam (Tahya Tounes)
Population
 (2014)
  Total45,711
Time zoneUTC1 (CET)

La Goulette is located at around 36°49′5″N 10°18′18″E on a sandbar between Lake Tūnis and the Gulf of Tunis. The port, located 12km east of Tunis, is the point of convergence of Tunisia's major road and rail networks.[1] La Goulette is linked to Tunis by the TGM railway and to Europe by a ferry service.[2]

Origin of the name

The name derives from the "gullet" or "river's throat", a channel where the city is located, and not from the ship type schooner, called goélette, gulet, goleta or goletta in French, Turkish, Spanish and Italian.

Transit activities

In addition to its transit and cruise activities, the port of La Goulette also receives ships carrying cargoes such as cars, bulk cereals. It handles a large portion of the country's imports and much of its exports (principally phosphates, iron ore, and fruits and vegetables).[2]

However, the development plan of the port provides for its specialization as a port exclusively reserved for passenger and tourist traffic.[3]

History

The kasbah fortress was built in 1535 by Charles I of Spain, but was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1574. The remains of Hispano-Turkish fortifications lie inland.[2]

The port was a popular destination for summer holidays in the 19th century, known as 'la petite Sicile'. It was also home to a sizeable Jewish, Italian, and Maltese community.[2]

The town and port were part of World War II Operation Torch.[4]

See also

References

  1. Linea, Corsica. "CORSICA linea". www.corsicalinea.com (in French). Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  2. "La Goulette | Tunisia". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  3. "Goulette – Office de la Marine Marchande et des Ports". Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  4. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/UnitListPages/NCB/054%20NCB.pdf US Navy Seabee La Goulette]


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