Ben Gardane
| Bengardane بن ڤردان | |
|---|---|
  Bengardane Location in Tunisia | |
| Coordinates: 33°8′20″N 11°13′0″E / 33.13889°N 11.21667°ECoordinates: 33°8′20″N 11°13′0″E / 33.13889°N 11.21667°E | |
| Country | Tunisia |
| Governorate | Medenine |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 79,912 |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
Ben Gardane or Bengardane or Benguerdene in French (Tunisian Arabic: or بنڤردان or بن ڤردان Bin Guirdan) is a commune and coastal town in south eastern Tunisia, close to the border with Libya. It is located at around 33°8′20″N 11°13′0″E / 33.13889°N 11.21667°E.
Population and tribal diversity
There is a mixture of Amazighi and Arabs; called Twazin Alliance that took place centuries ago as a tribal defense shield against the invaders and foreign attacks, especially from the eastern side (Libya nowadays). There is no actual reference stating in which century or year this alliance had been established, but, the dwellers of Bengardane still have that specific bond and proud of that alliance. Beside the Twazin, there are other large tribes such as Jelidat, Rabai'a which have participated in shaping the heritage, culture and way of life today in Bengardane .
Bengardane has witnessed many historical events since the ancient times to our modern era. There were a US airfield and a royal air operations that helped to tilt the balance in the favor of the allies during the WWII (Ben Gardane Airfield).
The town belongs to the governorate of Medenine. Located 423 km - 559 km by road - from Tunis, it is the city furthest from the capital.
It is the last major city in the governorate of Medenine with total population estimated at 79,912 inhabitants in 2014. It is located 32 kilometers from the Tunisian-Libyan border. It is best known both in Tunisia and Libya as a trade road and an open exchange market. Tunisians take advantage of the availability and variety of the goods existing in the shops. The great amount of these goods are basically imported from Libya and deemed less expensive.
It is distinguished for its large population of dromedaries estimated at 15,000 head. An annual festival devoted to them during the month of June.
