Lake of Tunis, Tunisia
Tunis Lake forms the southern part of the Gulf of Tunis and was formed in the 11th century AD. Although the lake is a separate basin due to silting and disconnected from the sea, it is not disconnected from its environment and is affected by multiple factors.
The lagoon has been divided into Northern and Southern lakes since the French dredged a navigation canal in 1881 to allow boats to enter Tunis harbour. The lake provides food for more than 100 bird species that winter in the lake, as well as for the yellow-legged gulls and egrets that nest there. Commercial fisheries operating in the lake produce up to 500 tonnes a year.
The lake has been seriously degraded during the 20th century as a result of modern urban development. It is a Ramsar site and an IUCN category IV natural reserve. As a wetland of national importance, it is protected by the Forestry code and has been a natural reserve since 1993.
Epic Tunisia Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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