Zembra (Tunisian Arabic:زمبرةZimbraⓘ) is aTunisianisland. The island is a 432-metre-tall (1,417-foot) rock formation, and as such contains many 400 metre-highcliffs. It has an area of 369 hectares (912 acres).[1] Located 15 kilometres (8 nautical miles) fromEl Haouaria and 50 km (27 nmi) from the port ofLa Goulette, it is a natural extension of the peninsula ofCap Bon. Zembra is a natural fortress that housed a resort until 1976 and then passed into the hands of theTunisian army. On the southern coast there are remains of an ancient harbour.
Zembra is most probably the same island calledAegimurus (Ancient Greek:Αἰγίμορος) by many ancient writers.[2][3][4]Pliny the Elder called both Zembra andZembretta Aegimuri.[5]
Zembra has a fragileecosystem[6] and has been classified as aprotected area byUNESCO since 1977.[7][8] With the nearby islet of Zembretta, it is also classified as anImportant Bird Area (TN003).[9] The island has aMediterranean climate. The native soils include rock, clay, sand and magnesium lime.
Zembra is a localhotspot (nano-hotspot) for the vascular flora on the scale of Tunisia, and anImportant Plant Area (IPA) for North Africa.[10] The island's vegetation consists of about 266 plant species; theflora is characterised by a canopy of dense bush, includingolive,Phoenician juniper andgorse, and the presence of rare plants which favour saline soils.
There are also invertebrates and terrestrial mammals introduced by humans, such as rabbit,Corsican sheep, black rat andferal cat.Dolphins are also common in the waters surrounding the island. TheMediterranean monk sealMonachus monachus (CR) used to visit the island, but the last sightings were reported in 1975.[9]
In addition, Zembra is located on an avian migration route between Tunisia and theStrait of Sicily, and hosts more than 25,000 pairs of migrating birds which nest in the rocky cliffs. The island is home to the largest colony ofScopoli's shearwaters in theMediterranean (20,000 breeding pairs). The 9 km of cliffs of the island also hold 10 breeding pairs ofPeregrine falconsFalco peregrinus, one of the highest densities known for this species. Other breeding birds include the rareAudouin's gullsLarus audouinii (10 pairs),European shagsPhalacrocorax aristotelis andCaspian gullsLarus cachinnans (100 pairs).[9]
The island, along with the neighbouring islet ofZembretta, has been designated anImportant Bird Area (IBA) byBirdLife International.[11]
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37°08′10″N10°48′32″E / 37.13611°N 10.80889°E /37.13611; 10.80889
