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Timbuktu, Mali

Good Points

Timbuktu is an ancient town deep in Mali at the southern edge of the Sahara desert. Its fabled riches of gold and jewels inspired the imaginations of Europeans for over five hundred years. The universities in the town, based in the mosques, have been famous for centuries as major seats of learning. The wealth of the city declined in the 18th century as the main trade routes shifted from the northern route over the desert to the sea routes from the west coast of Africa. Now Timbuktu is a dusty desert town although the famous mosques are still there. It attracts thousands of visitors each year although the journey to reach it is probably now as important as the town itself.