Time Zone |
Africa/Tunis |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Africa/Niamey |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Matmata, located in southeastern Tunisia near the edge of the Sahara Desert, is a traditional Berber settlement. The town is famous for its unique underground cave houses, in which the inhabitants excavate deep pits in soft rock formations and then cut out rooms in the walls of the pits, which are warm in winter and cool in summer, making them a living fossil in the history of North African architecture. Star Wars and many other movies and TV shows have been filmed here, bringing this hidden town to the world. In addition to the cave houses, Martel also retains the traditional handicrafts and market culture of the Berbers. Visitors can experience such folk activities as baklava making and carpet weaving, and feel the primitive and peacefulness of the edge of the desert.
Diffa, the capital of the Diffa region in southeastern Niger, is located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and shares a border with Nigeria, making it one of the most important border cities in Niger. The city is located in the lower Niger River basin around the climate of the tropical desert climate, hot and dry throughout the year, the average annual precipitation is less than 300 millimeters. The economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry, and the surrounding areas are rich in millet, sorghum and livestock. Diffa, as a regional trade center, undertakes the function of cross-border trade with neighboring countries, such as Nigeria, and is especially famous for the trade of livestock, agricultural products and handicrafts. The city is culturally diverse, with Hausa, Tuareg and Kanuri ethnic groups living in the area, and is unique in its crafts such as traditional leather weaving and silversmithing. Despite infrastructural challenges, Diffa remains an important economic and cultural node in the south-east of the Niger, thanks to its strategic location and rich cultural heritage.