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El Kantara
القنطرة
El Kantara; القنطرة
	El Kantara; القنطرة
	Coordinates: 35°13′00″N 5°42′37″E / 35.2166°N 5.7104°E
Country	Algeria
Province	Biskra Province
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)

El Kantara (El Kantara "الكنترة" word comes from Latin "Centuriation" (Derja: meaning a bridge) ^[1]^[2]) 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".^[3]

The gorge is narrow, at only 40 metres (130 ft) wide, but the walls can be as high as 120 m (390 ft).^[2]

History

Roman soldiers of the Third Augustan Legion dubbed the gorge Calceus Herculis (English: Hercules' Kick), in reference to the divine hero Hercules' legendary strength.^[2] 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.^[2]

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.^[2]

Present infrastructure

A highway and railroad follow the same path as the ancient Roman road through the town.^[2]

Notable people

Saïd Chengriha, senior military leader

Gallery

above the Roman bridge in Katara Gorge
below the bridge
El Kantara

References

^ "صول الزراعة في بلاد المغرب القديم" (PDF).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. pp. 197–198. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.
^ "The Ravine, I, El Cantara, Algeria". World Digital Library. 1899. Retrieved 2013-09-26.

External links

Images of El-Kantara (including bridge and mosque) in Manar al-Athar digital heritage photo archive resource

35°13′31″N 5°42′23″E / 35.22528°N 5.70639°E / 35.22528; 5.70639

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.