Timbuktu
… is an oasis town which is situated at the edge of the Sahara. It was established in the 11th century and obtained its prosperity 400-500 years later. During the reign of the Songhay, a nation and kingdom in Africa, this desert city was an important trade centre. Slaves and gold from the South were exchanged for copper, salt and horses from the North. Until the beginning of the 19th century the city was known for its wealth and was considered to be the centre for Islamic scholarships with many schools and libraries. Today Timbuktu is threatened by the constant expanding desert. Since 1988 the three mosques, the graveyards and the Mausoleum are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage.