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Nefta
Arabic:
nafta
Oasis town in Tunisia with about 30,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate), situated in the central-western part of the country, at the western end of the Chott el-Jerid.
The economy of Nefta is mainly agriculture of which dates are the central export commodity. Tourism is also of some importance. Nefta is also a centre for the trans-Saharan trade. Phosphates are extracted from the Chott el-Jerid.
Nefta is an important centre for popular Islam, with several Sufi brotherhoods represented. The large number of small mosques and zawiyyas are a result of their activities. There are 24 mosques in the old quarters and more than 100 zawiyyas.
History
In Roman times, the place was known as Aggarsel Nepte.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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