Timbuktu, Mali

Amazing city of Timbuktu is considered the center of origin of Islam in Africa. Since ancient times it has being at the crossroads of important trade routes. Surrounded by desert landscapes, Timbuktu is one of the hottest cities in the world, as the temperature here can reach up to 55°C. This fact doesn’t bother numerous tourists visiting the city in search of amazing sights and new experiences.

There you can see unique ancient manuscripts and architectural monuments and adore bizarre houses. Currently, the city is home to over 35,000 people; several mosques and madrassas continue to operate here. The main threat to the city is the Sahara desert, which is continually expanding, so each year there is more and more sand on the streets of Timbuktu.

Despite the harsh climate, locals are never happy with coming rain. The fact is that it causes irreparable damage to their buildings constructed mainly of clay. Such houses save pleasant coolness even in the midst of a hot day; now unique buildings of clay are under UNESCO protection. Ancient mosques of Timbuktu house hundreds of manuscripts, whose age is a little less than 1,000 years. Djinguereber Mosque built in 1327, as well as excellent mid-15th century Mosque of Sidi Yahya is notable among many attractions of this sultry Malian city. Next - Badlands