Chott Ech Chergui

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 / 34.35; 0.5 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 / 34.35; 0.5
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
Ramsar Wetland
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]

See also

• Wetlands portal

• Geography of Algeria
• Hautes Plaines