| Chott el Djerid | |
|---|---|
 In summer Chott el Djerid is almost entirely dried up, as seen in this photo from May 2021. | |
  Chott el Djerid Chott al-Djarid inTunisia | |
| Coordinates | 33°42′N8°26′E / 33.7°N 8.43°E /33.7; 8.43 |
| Type | Salt lake,endorheic basin |
| Primary inflows | groundwater |
| Primary outflows | terminalEvaporation |
| Basin countries | Tunisia |
| Max. length | 250 km (160 mi) |
| Max. width | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Surface area | 7,000 km2 (2,700 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | +10–25 m (33–82 ft) |
| Designated | 7 November 2007 |
| Reference no. | 1699[1] |
Chott el Djerid (Arabic:شط الجريدŠoṭṭ el-Jarīd) also spelledSciott Gerid andShott el Jerid,[2][3][4][5] is achott, a largeendorheicsalt lake in southernTunisia. The name can be translated from the Arabic into English as "Lagoon of the Land of Palms".[6]
The bottom of Chott el Djerid is located between 15 and 25 meters (about 50 to 80 feet) above sea level.[7] The lake's width varies widely; at its narrowest point, it is only 20 km (12 mi) across, compared to its overall length of 250 km (160 mi). At times, parts of it appear in various shades of white, green and purple.[8] The narroweastward inlet of the chott is also known asChott el Fejej.
It is the largestsalt pan of theSahara Desert, with a surface area of over 7,000 km2 (some sources state 5,000 km2). The site has a typicalhot desert climate. Due to the harsh climate with mean annual rainfall of below 100 mm and daytimetemperatures sometimes reaching 50 °C (122 °F) or more during summer with densesolar radiation, water evaporates from the lake. In summer Chott el Djerid is almost entirely dried up, and numerousfata morganas occur. It is situated at33°42′N8°26′E / 33.700°N 8.433°E /33.700; 8.433 in the center-west of the country, between the cities ofTozeur andKebili.
Duringwinter, smalltributaries of water can be seen discharging into the lake.[clarification needed][9]
Because theflooded area is very variable, values presented for the area of the lake (or its basin, which is almost always dry), can vary widely. Some sources provide values for surface area as high as 10,000 km².
Currently,freshwaterirrigation schemes are being applied in the region to help eliminate salt from soils and increase the productive area.[citation needed]
South of Chott el Djerid, theGrand Erg Oriental desert begins. The towns ofKebili andDouz are located south of the lake, and the city ofTozeur is located just to the northwest.
The lake can be crossed by foot and even by car, but this is very dangerous since the salt crust is not always firm.[citation needed]
During winter, when the lake is full, it can be crossed by boat. Piles of salt at its edges are collected for salt production processing.[8]
Relict populations of theWest African crocodile persisted in the Chott el Djerid until the early 20th century.[10]Pink flamingos have been known to use the shores of the lake as nesting sites in springtime.[6]
Chott el Djerid is the namesake of theJerid Lacuna, anendorheic hydrocarbon lake on theSaturnian moonTitan. That lake is located at 66.7°N and 221°W and containsliquidmethane andethane instead of water.[11]
There has been a growing interest in permanently connecting the Chott el Djerid to theMediterranean to create aSahara Sea since the mid 2010s with the creation of the association Cooperation Road[12] which in 2018 obtained the approval of the Tunisian government.[13]
A similar project was also considered in the 19th and 20th century byFrance inFrench Tunisia.[14]
Chott el Djerid was used as a filming location for theStar Wars series,[15] among others.
According to a legend, it was where theGreek goddessAthena was born.[16]
It was described inJules Verne's last novel,Invasion of the Sea.
The lake is the setting ofFrank Heller's bookThe Thousand and Second Night, An Arabesque.
The bookIn The Desert by the German novelistKarl May begins near the lake and describes a dangerous crossing attempt.
Media related toChott el Djerid at Wikimedia Commons
