El Guettar | |
|---|---|
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  El Guettar Location in Tunisia | |
| Coordinates:34°20′14″N8°57′10″E / 34.33722°N 8.95278°E /34.33722; 8.95278 | |
| Country |  Tunisia |
| Governorate | Gafsa Governorate |
| Population (2014) | |
• Total | 14,088 |
| Time zone | UTC1 (CET) |
El Guettar (Arabic:القطارAl Qaṭār) is a town in centralTunisia inGafsa Governorate. It is traditionally known for itspistachio nuts.
In the 1950s,archaeologists found a crown of balls, 4,000silex, mammal's teeth and bones of animals laid out near a dried up watering hole which is some 40,000 years old. Testimony of devotion with regard to a spirit of the waters, source of any life, and ruins which may constitute the oldest religious "building" known in the world(Hermaïon of El Guettar).[citation needed]
DuringWorld War II the town was the site of theBattle of El Guettar between American forces underGeorge S. Patton, and elements of the GermanAfrika Korps led by generalJürgen von Arnim, as well asItalian forces led by GeneralGiovanni Messe in early 1943. The battle was later dramatized in the 1970 war filmPatton.
| Homes | Families | Males | Females | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4157 | 3343 | 6664 | 7424 | 14088 |
| National | |
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| Other | |
