And the answer: Tunisia.
Tunisia borders Algeria on the left and Libya on the right. The country enjoys temperate weather and bountiful vegetation in the regions closest to the Mediterranean sea. It is home to over 11 million people.
Tunisia is celebrated across the world for its gorgeous natural sites, enjoyable city life, and vibrant culture. The Republic of Tunisia is home to many historic sites such as Roman ruins and structures left over from the Stone Age. In fact, some artifacts found in Kebili are estimated to be from around 200,000 years ago. Unsurprisingly, then, these ancient grounds were used to film scenes from the original Star Wars trilogy.
Tunisia also hosts a range of significant religious sites in various cities. Kairouan, Tunisia is considered to be the fourth most important city in Islam, after Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded in 670 CE, making it the oldest Muslim-Arab base in the Maghreb (AKA, that part of north Africa). The city is also home to The Great Mosque of Kairouan, which is considered to be the oldest mosque in the Maghreb.
Tunisia is part-home to the largest desert in the world. The Sahara Desert, with a total area of some 3,320,000 square miles, covers much of North Africa, including Southern Tunisia. In contrast, Tunisia also holds about 1,000 miles of Mediterranean coastline to its north. This makes for highly varied environments within the Republic, such as fertile land to the north and arid sand to the south.
Learn more about the history and significance of Tunisia here.
