Tunisia
Tunisia is an Islamic state in north Africa, bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. The northern part (including the old city of Carthage) was originally controlled by the Phoenicians.
Geography
Tunisia has plenty of wooded areas and hills & mountains near Algeria. The land is quite fertile in this area, with the highlands of the eastern Sahara Atlas Mountains to the west, and the north / north east on the Mediterranean. The Medjerda River runs from north east Algeria through Tunisia emptying into the Gulf of Tunis & the Lake of Tunis.
In the near south is salt lakes running west to east. Beyond these is the Sahara Desert and is slowly encroaching north.
Ecosystem
The country itself has a tendency of being hot and mostly dry, though not always as the Saharan Atlas Plateau and the Mediterranean Sea brings moisture to many parts. This is seen in the highlands, and near the coast allowing for a variety of plants & animals to thrive while still maintaining the ability to survive arid conditions. Where there is water there is life and many are found in and around the coast, rivers, lakes, and the Wadis.
Ecosystem Cycles
The majority of the year has a hot summer with later in the year, going into the next, brings more spring-like conditions allowing for precipitation to fall and spread out into underwater layers.
Localized Phenomena
Dust & sand storms can be common, allowing for large areas to be covered in dust & sand for extended periods. Sometimes there are thunder storms bring heavy rain along with thunder & lightning when the conditions are right to bring damper cooler air off the Mediterranean Sea, & the Atlantic See in the odd instance, as far as hot air blowing of the Sahara. These can be ferocious in nature giving an ominous appearance to the region when they appear.
Storms at sea can happen too, and are almost as bad leading to the loss of trade & ships with their crews.
The odd instance there are rumours that a few boats have been attacked by monstrous sea creatures not far from Tunis. The odd sailor will tell of hideous tentacled creatures, fishlike men, massive sea serpents, or other monstrosities attacking from the depths. Many think it is just the overactive imaginations of sun scorched sailors or foreigners, although a few point to that there are meant to be an old temple not far off shore near the ruins of Carthage of a fishlike god dating back to the time of the Phoenicians or earlier that was in use. It's destruction is said to be attributed to any number of invading peoples from the Phoenicians themselves, to the Greeks, Romans, and especially the Vandals who were Alannic Christians. Nobody can say for sure though.
Fauna & Flora
There is a number of woody scrublands and forested regions in the region, especially in the Plateau areas. Many of these are a mix of trees local to North Africa and can easily survive in harsh dry climates, and grasses are rarely if ever found in the region.
A number of animals live in Tunisia especially a number of gerbils. The four-toed jerboa (large eared rodent), as well as the North African Gerbil, James's Gerbil, Pale Gerbil, Lesser Short-Tailed Gerbil, Sand Gerbil, and Fat-Tailed Gerbil are common rodents along with the Shaw's Jird. The Dorcas Gazelle, Mountain Gazelle, and Slender-Horned Gazelle are common prey animals with goats being common too. Snakes & lizards are common. Two endemic lizards are known: the Desert Agma and the Natterer's Gecko. Some amphibians are common with the Brongersma's Toad which is endemic to the coast of North Africa. The Houbara Bustard and the Nubian Bustard. Barbary Macaques, and African Leopards are common, along with Red Foxes, European Otters, Cuvier's Gazelle, Barbary Sheep, Barbary Loins, and the Atlas Bears are common.
Atlas Cedar is common, along with Aleppo Pine, Maritime Pine, Spanish Fir, and the endemic Algerian Fir. European Yew and juniper bushes too. Cork Oak, White Willow, Quercus Afares (a deciduous oak) are endemic.
The odd Basilisk has been sighted, along with Jackalweres & Jackals. Also rarely seen is Rocs and Purple Worms, along with Sea Serpents, and other watery evils.
Natural Resources
Timber is common, and salt is also harvested, both from the salt lakes & the sea. Metals have been mined from the Atlas Mountains in the past, as well as sea fish too.
History
Farming and agriculture spread to the region in about 4000 BC from the Nile Delta, and were initially coastal communities who were the ancestors of the Berbers. Geatulians & Libyans also inhabited the region to as nomads and regularly mixed with each other. The Persians eventually reached the region and intermarried with the Geatulians becoming the Numidians, while the Medes (another group) became the Mauri who developed into the Moors. Both the latter are classed as the primogenitors of the Berbers.
In the 12th Century BC, the Phoenicians arrived from the Levant and took up residence along the coast, settling there as well as building many communities. One of these eventually became the ancient city of Carthage, and they set up a number of trade routes, marrying into the local population as well. During these early centuries they led a successful war against the Greeks in the island of Sicily and remained relatively unscathed until the rise of Rome.
Rome had learned to have a standing army and looking to become the dominant nation in the Mediterranean, started a war with the Phoenicians leading to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Punic Wars. This led to Hannibal threatening Rome itself in the 2nd Punic War, and the final destruction of Carthage at the end of the 3rd Punic War.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Berbers had a measure of control that eventually changed when the Vandal tribes arrived from their original lands. The Vandals ingrained themselves into the Berber lifestyle, at this point being pretty much Romanised, and led them to rebuild many of the settlements. Tunis was built taking in elements of Carthage, and also allowed themselves to be renamed as Tunisians after this as well lending it's name to the country as a whole.
At one time after the Vandals the Byzantine Empire took over ruling the country before the Moors took it back by force.
Eventually the Moors took over along with mass conversions by the Umayyad Caliphate when former fell under their control. Eventually splitting but still allied to the Umayyads after they lost most of their lands to the Abbasid Caliphate, Tunisia is a thriving country though has lost much in the way of power in the region. The country is useful for trade mainly to the east of north Africa and the Middle East due to its location.
Tourism
Tourism is not overly common but does take place. Many come to visit the mosque in Tunis, explore the region with it's rumours of treasures and old ruins in the eastern Sahara Atlas Plateau, or to hunt exotic animals.
"Tunisia, a place of history and hidden power. Why do you think it was inhabited by others for so long? It's not just the aspect of trade coming in to the capital Tunis, there's something else. Some thing buried at the end of that plateau.
I know it was discovered after we found that mine, the one those foreign 'Elves' used. They found something deep in there. Something they weren't meant to.
Other than that, you can make coin there, as a bodyguard, or a mercenary. Always needed. And as for the everything else, there's the mosque, and the nomads. They always need help or some information can be bought from them at a price."
Legate Michelangelo, of Rome.
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