# Where in the world...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 8, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199 "2001-11-08T15:39:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199/1 "2001-11-08T15:39:29Z")

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Ok, just where (exactly) is “Timbuktu” (sp?) located?

- Jinx

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**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199/2 "2001-11-08T15:43:16Z")

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[Mali](http://www.thesalmons.org/lynn/wh-timbuktu.html)

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199/3 "2001-11-08T15:44:03Z")

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It’s in Mali  
[![](https://www.africa.upenn.edu/CIA_Maps/Mali_19856.gif) ](https://www.africa.upenn.edu/CIA_Maps/Mali_19856.gif)

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**Author:** ![cell\_420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@cell\_420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cell_420)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199/4 "2001-11-09T07:41:35Z")

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The word “Timbuktu” (or Timbuctoo or Tombouctou) is used in several languages to represent a far-away place but Timbuktu is an actual city in the African country of Mali.

Located near the edge the Niger River during the rainy season (but about 8 miles from the river during much of the year), Timbuktu was founded by nomads in the twelfth century and it rapidly became a major trading depot for the caravans of the Sahara Desert.

go here for a map and other info [http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa101300a.htm?iam=dpile&terms=Timbuktu](http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa101300a.htm?iam=dpile&terms=Timbuktu)

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**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199/5 "2001-11-09T13:08:09Z")

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Now, the question is, where is Timbuk3? 🙂

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**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199/6 "2001-11-09T13:15:42Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Spritle \*  
> \*\*Now, the question is, where is Timbuk3? 🙂 \*\*

[http://www.timbuk3.com](http://www.timbuk3.com)

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**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199/7 "2001-11-09T14:37:53Z")

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is Carmen Sandiego?

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**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world/92199/8 "2001-11-09T14:42:03Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by cell\_420 \*  
> **The word “Timbuktu” (or Timbuctoo or Tombouctou) is used in several languages to represent a far-away place but Timbuktu is an actual city in the African country of Mali.**

So how did this all come about???

Gp