"Amazing Chott El Djérid" Top 5 Page for this destination Chott El Jerid by JLBG

Chott El Jerid Travel Guide: 39 reviews and 101 photos

In the Maghreb, a “Chott” is a large depression where water gathers and evaporates, leaving a deposit of salts. Chott El-Djérid is the largest and spreads in Southern Tunisia on 120 km from East (Kébili ) to West (Hézoua). It is 5,000 square kilometers. It belongs to an alignment system of evaporation basins, south to the Atlas ridge that runs from Agadir, Morocco to Gabès, Tunisia.

The Chott El-Djérid is flanked westwards by the oasis of the Djerid (Nefta, Tozeur; Kriz, etc…) and east and southwards by the oasis of the Nefzaoua (Douz, Kebili, Fatnassa, etc…). The Great Eastern Erg begins just south to the Nefzaoua and brings its sand into the Chott when there are strong southerly winds. The Chott El-Djérid is followed westwards by smaller chott Gharsa, in Tunisia and chott Melhrir, in Algeria and north-eastwards by chott El Fedjadj which actually is merely a narrow extension of Chott El-Djérid (90km x 30 km)

Chott El Djerid

In Winter and Spring, the chott is covered by a thin layer of water and looks almost like a lake. At the end of Spring, when this picture was taken, the chott looks like mud, from greyish to brownish. It is only later that more water evaporates and salt crystallizes.

Last visit to Chott El Jerid: Mar 2003
Intro Updated Sep 22, 2011
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Reviews (10)

Plant growing nevertheless - Chott El Jerid

Plant growing nevertheless Things to Do (10)

Of course in the central part of the chott El Djerid, nothing grows. However, it has not a rim with on one side the... more travel advice

Composition of the salts - Chott El Jerid

Composition of the salts Things to Do (10)

I have written "salts" and not "salt. Actually, the mean composition of the water input in the chott (surface water +... more travel advice

A difficult choice Things to Do (10)

Then you have to make your choice. Either you avoid Summer to visit Southern Tunisia and the weather will be more... more travel advice

Tyre marks on the salt surface - Chott El Jerid

Tyre marks on the salt surface Things to Do (10)

These phenomenon explain why it is only in summer that you will be able to see the Chott in all its beauty. However, it... more travel advice

Comments (9)

Basaic Oct 19, 2011 at 2:37 PM Report Abuse

very interesting page. Looks like fun!
angiebabe Jun 5, 2007 at 2:50 AM Report Abuse

Have enjoyed your pics and info on the Chott - i only got down to Douz and unfortunately agreed to go back instead of my plans to Tozeur and Chott!next time...!thanks
LoriPori Jan 15, 2007 at 3:25 AM Report Abuse

Also interesting page, but again another harsh area to travel to. I don't know how you do it Jean-Louis.
barryg23 Nov 24, 2006 at 12:50 PM Report Abuse

Great tips on the Chott. I really enjoyed our drive from Kebili to Tozeur. It must be great in summer but I don't think I could bear the heat.
BluBluBlu May 29, 2006 at 1:11 AM Report Abuse

Out of the way...but fascinating! Well done JL! Blu
tini58de Jan 15, 2006 at 2:42 AM Report Abuse

I love the desert! Great page, Jean Louis!
Maillekeukeul Aug 2, 2005 at 4:30 AM Report Abuse

I chott el Jerid, but I did not shoot no deputy...
matcrazy1 Mar 23, 2005 at 3:54 PM Report Abuse

The best tips on Chott El Jerid I have ever read. Thanks for refreshing my great memories.
freya_heaven Feb 24, 2005 at 2:56 PM Report Abuse

Very interesting Jean Louis, I was lucky to have a great sunrise over the salt lakes here. Such a desolate area! (~_~)