Sbiba | |
|---|---|
  Sbiba Location in Tunisia | |
| Coordinates:35°32′48″N9°4′25″E / 35.54667°N 9.07361°E /35.54667; 9.07361 | |
| Country |  Tunisia |
| Governorate | Kasserine Governorate |
| Area | |
| • | 0.86 sq mi (2.23 km2) |
| Population (2014) | |
• Total | 6,513[1] |
| Time zone | UTC1 (CET) |
| Postal code | 1270 |
| Website | Sbiba Official Website |
Sbiba (Arabic:سبيبة) is a city surrounded by chains of mountains in the province ofKasserine.
Sbiba is in the Midwest of Tunisia on the latitude of 35° and 36°, about 70 km far fromKasserine, bounded on the north withJedelienne,Sbeitla to the South. Sbiba was founded by theRomans. German forces defeated United States forces in the vicinity of Sbiba in an early part of theTunisian campaign in World War II.
In the bookAl-Istibsar fi 'agaib al-Amsar, written in the late 12th century, the author described it as:[2]
"An ancient and timeless city, with flowing rivers and running waters that drive the mills. It was once a place of great significance, abundant in cultivated lands and thriving villages. [..] No land inIfriqiya was more fertile than this, nor more abundant in orchards, fruits, and flowing springs. The city has a great and magnificent spring, built in ancient times by the early peoples."
The city is located at the site of the ancient city ofSufes at the altitude of 630m. By the city is located the Mount Jbel Mghuila which is the highest peak in the region with 1370m.
The city is famous for its apples, tomatoes and fresh water. Sbiba produces nearly 40% of the Tunisian total production of apples and tomatoes due to its very advanced system of irrigation. Despite its population of around 55,000, Sbiba suffers from a lack of national and international investments in the fields of industry, agriculture and especially services.
