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 divineheroHercules' 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]
^ abcdefgScheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. pp. 197–198. ISBN0-89577-087-3.
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.
Algeria
