La Goulette

Northeast of Tunis, at the end of the causeway over the Lake of Tunis, is La Goulette, the port suburb of the capital (pop. 50,000). It is reached by bus or TGM from Tunis, or by car over the causeway. The name is derived from Arabic halk el oued ("river mouth") - referring to the natural channel through the strip of land bounding the Lake of Tunis, which has been open since ancient times.

As a result La Goulette has been from time immemorial a place of strategic importance, controlling the entrance to Tunis's Harbor. In the reign of the Emperor Charles V it was the most important Spanish possession in the eastern Maghreb; and from 1574 onwards the Turks enlarged and strengthened the fortress built by Spain. La Goulette became a port only during the French colonial period, when the Lake of Tunis silted up and could no longer take ships of any size. Between 1888 and 1893 a shipping channel 10km/6mi long and 45m/150ft wide was dredged out across the lake. Thereafter the Harbor of La Goulette was greatly enlarged in 1905 and again in 1964-71, and the old Harbor of Tunis steadily declined in importance. In addition to shipping bulk goods including phosphates, mineral ores and olives, La Goulette imports machinery and maintains ferry services with Europe. It also has a coal-fired power station and a variety of industry. The main features of tourist interest in La Goulette are the Spanish and Turkish fort and the gateway of the old Arsenal on the Tunis road. The Avenue Franklin Roosevelt is a pleasant promenade in summer. There are innumerable restaurants offering tasty fish dishes as well as mutton sausages, cutlets and chicken. Beyond the Harbor is a long sandy beach which attracts many visitors from Tunis.