El Kantara ( El Kantara "الكنترة" word comes from Latin " Centuriation " ( Derja : meaning a bridge) ) 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".
2-514: The gorge is narrow, at only 40 metres (130 ft) wide, but the walls can be as high as 120 m (390 ft). Roman soldiers of the Third Augustan Legion dubbed the gorge Calceus Herculis (English: Hercules' Kick), in reference to the divine hero Hercules ' legendary strength. 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
4-598: The town with ease. In the second century A.D. , the town and bridge were guarded by Syrian archers who are thought to have planted the first date palm grove in the region. A highway and railroad follow the same path as the ancient Roman road through the town. 35°13′31″N 5°42′23″E / 35.22528°N 5.70639°E / 35.22528; 5.70639 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. This article about
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