Tataouine

Infobox Settlement
official_name =Tataouine
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image_caption = Ksar Ouled Soltane, near the city of Tataouine


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pushpin_label_position =bottom
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Tunisia
subdivision_type = Country
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subdivision_type1 = Governorate
subdivision_name1 = Tataouine Governorate
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population_as_of =2004
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population_total =59,346
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timezone = CET
utc_offset = 1
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latd=32 |latm=55 |lats=32 |latNS=N
longd=10|longm=26|longs=39|longEW=E
coordinates_type = region:TN_type:city
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footnotes = Tataouine ( _ar. تطاوين; also transliterated as "Tatooine", "Tatahouine", "Tatahouïne", "Taţāwīn" or "Tatawin", as well as "Fum Taţāwīn", "Fumm Tattauin", "Foum Tatahouine", "Fum Tatawin", or "Foum Tataouine") is a city located in southern Tunisia at coord|32|55|32|N|10|26|39|E |region:TN_type:city. It is the capital of the Tataouine Governorate.

The district is famous for its ksour (fortified Berber granaries) including the picturesque Ksar Ouled Soltane, Chenini and Douiret. These abandoned settlements feature beautiful vaulted adobe buildings, or ghorfas.

On June 27, 1931, a meteorite of the rare achondrite type impacted at Tataouine; about 12 kg of fragments were found. The mineral of this meteorite was named Diogenite.

Tataouine's name became famous when George Lucas, who filmed the original "Star Wars" film in various locations of Tunisia (for example, the Lars Homestead, filmed at the Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata), named Luke Skywalker's fictional home planet Tatooine.

Tataouine appeared in the end of the movie "The X-Files" as Foum Tataouine, where an extraterrestrial viral experiment facility was held.

External links

* [http://tunisia.ianandwendy.com/ Pictures and photos of Tunisia, including Tataouine]
* [http://asap.ap.org/stories/319404.s The Real Star Wars?] - Associated Press article, videos and photo gallery about Matmata by Andy Carvin
* [http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2005/11/ksar_oueld_solt.html QuickTime VR image] of Ksar Ouled Soltane, also photographed by Andy Carvin
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* [http://www.explo-guide.com/ksours-et-ghorfas-urbanism Travel tips to visit Tataouine ghorfas]