Chott Ech Chergui
Endorheic salt lake in Algeria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chott Ech Chergui (Arabic: شط الشرقي) is a large endorheic salt lake in Saïda Province, northwestern Algeria.[2] It is located at 34.35°N 0.5°E in the level terrain of the Hautes Plaines region between the Tell Atlas and the Saharan Atlas and is one of the largest lakes in Algeria.
| Chott Ech Chergui | |
|---|---|
| شط الشرقي (Arabic) | |
from space | |
  Chott Ech Chergui Chott ach-Chargui in Algeria | |
| Coordinates | 34.35°N 0.5°E |
| Type | Endorheic salt lake |
| Basin countries | Algeria |
| Max. length | 160 km (99 mi) |
| Max. width | 24 km (15 mi) |
| Surface area | 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,027 m (3,369 ft) above sea level |
| Designated | 2 February 2001 |
| Reference no. | 1052[1] |
Ecology
Chott Ech Chergui has an area of about 2000 km2 where water collects during the wet season, forming a number of large shallow salt lakes which become salt flats as they dry. The lake area has a length of about 160 km from ENE to WSW and lies at an average elevation of 1000 m.[3]
Chott Ech Chergui has been designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance. The Ramsar site has an area of 8555 km2 and is the natural environment for a number of threatened and vulnerable animal and plant species.[4]
