Chott el Djerid
| Chott el Djerid | |
|---|---|
| File:Djerid3.jpg | |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Type | Salt lake, endorheic basin |
| Primary inflows | groundwater |
| Primary outflows | terminal Evaporation |
| 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 |
Chott el Djerid (Tunisian Arabic: شط الجريد Šoṭṭ el-Jarīd) also spelled Sciott Gerid and Shott el Jerid,[1][2][3][4] is a large endorheic salt lake in southern Tunisia.
Contents
Geography
The bottom of Chott el Djerid is located between 10 and 25 meters below sea level.[5] Roughly in the shape of a wolf, with a width of 20 km (12 mi) at its narrowest point, it reaches 250 km (160 mi) in overall length. At times, parts of it appear in various shades of white, green and purple.[6] The narrow eastward inlet of the chott is also known as Chott el Fejej.
It is the largest salt pan of the Sahara Desert with a surface area of over 7,000 km2 (some sources state 5,000 km2). The site has a typical hot desert climate. Due to the harsh climate with mean annual rainfall of below 100 mm and daytime temperatures sometimes reaching 50 °C or more during summer with dense solar radiation, water evaporates from the lake. In summer Chott el Djerid is almost entirely dried up, and numerous fata morganas occur.
During winter, a small tributary of water can be seen discharging into the lake.[7]
Surrounding area
South of Chott el Djerid, the Grand Erg Oriental desert begins. The towns of Kebili and Douz are also located south of the lake.
Access
The lake can be crossed by foot and even by car, but this is very dangerous since the salt crust is not always firm.
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.[6]
Fauna
Relict populations of the West African crocodile persisted in the Chott el Djerid until the early 20th century.[8]
Namesakes
Chott el Djerid is the namesake of the Jerid Lacuna an Endorheic hydrocarbon lake on the Saturnian moon Titan. That lake is located 66.7°N and 221°W on Titan's globe and involves liquid methane and ethane,[9] instead of water.
In popular culture
Chott el Djerid was used as a filming location for the Star Wars series,[10] among others. It was also described in Jules Verne's last novel, Invasion of the Sea.
See also
References
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- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Crocodiles in the Sahara Desert: An Update of Distribution, Habitats and Population Status for Conservation Planning in Mauritania". PLOS ONE. February 25, 2011.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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