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MIDES

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Village of the canyon

mides Mides is little visited, primarily because there are few means of getting here except on an organized trip or with your own vehicle. Mides may be the most attractive of Tunisia's mountain oases, with a stunning gorge stretching for 3 km. The gorge was used as part of the village's natural defence in older days.
The gorge is distinct with its round shapes, and strong contrasts in colour.

The modern village is no more than number of white houses scattered around the barren hill above the oasis. It is like the locals didn't know how to arrange themselves when external threats were gone in modern times.
The traditional village was abandoned in 1969 when a flood after 22 days of rain destroyed many of the houses.

Walking the canyon

Walking the canyon will give you a proper image of its length. Most of the year it will be too hot to make it to the end. Also, this is the place to take in the basis of the village. The village was constructed as a continuation of the canyon walls, and depending on the light, the two will seem to merge into one.
The ground is filled with sand, and the sides are made up of walls of layers of stone dug through millions of years. The lower layer has a texture and a feel quite similar to marble, but I believe that it is really not.

Extreme life

little_animals At the point where you can walk down into the gorge, there is a microscopic green area, either fed by water coming down from the oasis or from its own source. Take a look! Inside the vegetation, you will easily find a surprising variety of life.
There are even frogs here, perhaps less than 20 making up an independent colony.