Mythical yet real: Discover where to find Africa's "Golden Paradise" (photos).

Timbuktu is often depicted as a distant, almost mythical place that exists only in legends for many. In reality, Timbuktu is an ancient city in Mali, located on the edge of the Sahara in West Africa, writes IFLScience.

Its reputation as a remote, legendary location stems from its significant historical influence and association with tales of immense wealth. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Timbuktu was a major center of knowledge, abundance, and spirituality.

It was renowned for its majestic mosques and public spaces, from which Islamic culture and thought spread throughout Africa. At the height of its glory, the city boasted around 100,000 inhabitants, attracting scholars and pilgrims from across the Muslim world.

One of the most influential figures in Timbuktu's history was Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century. His incredible wealth, largely amassed through gold trade, made him one of the richest individuals in history.

According to some modern estimates, his fortune was around $400 billion—a figure that once positioned him as the richest person to have ever lived.

Recognizing the historical significance of the city, UNESCO declared Timbuktu a World Heritage site in 1988. The city continues to preserve its cultural heritage through three magnificent mosques—Djinguereber, Sankore, and Sidi Yahya—and sixteen mausoleums, despite challenges such as desertification, poverty, and past conflicts.

Timbuktu's association with mystery and remoteness became prominent in the 19th century, as writers contributed to its mythical status. In 1829, Alfred Tennyson depicted it in his poem "Timbuktu" as a place of "mystery" and "strange music on the wind's howl."

The fascination of Europeans with this city can be attributed to limited knowledge of Africa prior to colonization. In Leo Africanus's 1526 book "Cosmography and Geography of Africa," the wealth of Timbuktu was described, mentioning gold nuggets used as currency.

These accounts led Europeans to envision the city as Africa's equivalent of El Dorado, the mythical city of gold. This perception was heightened by the city's remoteness and the difficulties faced by explorers in reaching it.

When European explorers finally arrived, they found a city far removed from the golden paradise of legend. However, the historical and cultural significance of Timbuktu remains relevant, and its name continues to evoke wonder and intrigue in people's imaginations.

We also discussed the 3000-year-old complex in Egypt, where gold was processed for thousands of years.