El Kantara القنطرة | |
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Coordinates: 35°13′00″N 5°42′37″E / 35.2166°N 5.7104°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Province | Biskra Province |
Time zone | UTC+1 ( CET) |
El Kantara ( Arabic: القنطرة, romanized: al qantara, lit. 'the bridge' [1]) is a town and commune in Biskra Province, Algeria. The 1911 Baedeker travel guide described it as "one of the most important caravan-stations in E. Algeria." The town is well known for the eponymous gorge nearby, described by locals as the "Mouth of the Desert". [2] The area was named El Kantara by Arab conquerors. [1]
The gorge is narrow, at only 40 metres (130 ft) wide, but the walls can be as high as 120 m (390 ft). [1]
Roman soldiers of the Third Augustan Legion dubbed the gorge Calceus Herculis (English: Hercules' Kick), in reference to the divine hero Hercules' legendary strength. [1] They also constructed an arched bridge over the river in the bottom of the gorge, in order to allow caravans and military supplies to pass through the town with ease. [1]
In the second century A.D., the town and bridge were guarded by Syrian archers who are thought to have planted the first date palm grove in the region. [1]
A highway and railroad follow the same path as the ancient Roman road through the town. [1]
35°13′31″N 5°42′23″E / 35.22528°N 5.70639°E
Les grandes Familles d'origine Arabe d'El Kantara sont : ABDELAZIZE, BELLAL, HOUFANI, KHIREDDINE, SAADLAOUD, SOURI, YOUB et ZEROUG. Le reste des familles sont d'origine Berbère.