HALQ AL-WADI

also called La Goulette, town, northern Tunisia, an outport for Tunis. Located on a sandbar between Lake Tunis and the Gulf of Tunis, it is linked to the capital by a canal 7 miles (11 km) long. The harbour complex is a base for a fishing fleet and handles a large portion of the country's imports and much of its exports (principally phosphates, iron ore, and fruits and vegetables). Halq al-Wadi (River's Throat) is also a popular bathing resort and residential section of Tunis. It has several large thermal electric-power plants. The remains of Hispano-Turkish fortifications lie inland. Pop. (1989 est.) 67,685.