Am Timan
Encyclopedia
Am Timan is a city in Chad
and is the capital of the region
of Salamat
. Am Timan means "mother of twins," although the reason for the name is not known. As the capital of the prefecture, it has the area's secondary school
and a clinic
, and hosts the largest market
day and holiday celebrations.
During the conflict period, a cotton
plantation and processing plant just outside the city were destroyed.
The city's sand airport
was upgraded by the French Foreign Legion
in 1971 to allow military air transports to supply the anti-rebel effort. At the time, the only practical way in or out of the city was by air.
Since the dry season lasts for about ten months of the year, water becomes a problem as the dry season progresses. Aquifer
s are accessed by digging deeper and deeper into the bed of the Bahr Salamat
(river). The river becomes strong flowing with the onset of rain, however, and the children enjoy swimming in it.
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
and is the capital of the region
Regions of Chad
||The country of Chad is currently divided into 22 régions. From independence in 1960 until 1999 it was divided into 14 préfectures. These were replaced in 1999 by 28 départements. The country was reorganized again in 2002 to produce 18 régions...
of Salamat
Salamat Region
Salamat is one of the 22 regions of Chad with its capital at Am Timan. The region's economy is based on subsistence agriculture, breeding, fishery and cotton.-Demography:The region's population was 308,605 inhabitants in 2009....
. Am Timan means "mother of twins," although the reason for the name is not known. As the capital of the prefecture, it has the area's secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
and a clinic
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
, and hosts the largest market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
day and holiday celebrations.
During the conflict period, a cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
plantation and processing plant just outside the city were destroyed.
The city's sand airport
Am Timan Airport
Am Timan Airport is an airport serving Am Timan in Chad.- Airlines and destinations :* Toumaï Air Tchad...
was upgraded by the French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
in 1971 to allow military air transports to supply the anti-rebel effort. At the time, the only practical way in or out of the city was by air.
Since the dry season lasts for about ten months of the year, water becomes a problem as the dry season progresses. Aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
s are accessed by digging deeper and deeper into the bed of the Bahr Salamat
Bahr Salamat
Bahr Salamat is an intermittent river in Chad. It flows south into the Chari River. The river flows, when it does, through the community of Am Timan and through the a protected area, the Bahr Salamat Faunal Reserve. It flows with water....
(river). The river becomes strong flowing with the onset of rain, however, and the children enjoy swimming in it.