Chott el Hodna

35°26′N 4°46′E / 35.44°N 4.76°E / 35.44; 4.76TypeEndorheic salt lakeBasin countriesAlgeriaMax. length77 km (48 mi)Max. width16 km (9.9 mi)Surface area76,000 ha (190,000 acres)Surface elevation394 m (1,293 ft) above sea levelDesignated2 February 2001Reference no.1053^[1]

The Chott el Hodna (Arabic: شط الحضنة) is a very shallow saline lake in Algeria. It is located within an endorheic basin in the Hodna region, towards the eastern end of the Hautes Plaines.^[2] The Chott el Hodna includes seasonal brackish and saline pools and marshes, but the central zone of the lake is characterized by a complete absence of vegetation.

J. Despois argues that the Chott el Hodna is not a proper Chott, but a Sebkha.^[3]

Ecology

The chott area provides an important habitat for certain endangered species such as the Cuvier's gazelle, the marbled duck and different kinds of bustards, as well as indigenous fish species. The Chott el Hodna was declared a Ramsar site on 2 February 2001.^[4]

See also

• Geography of Algeria
• Hodna

References

External links

• Mohamed Meouak, Le Hodna occidental entre régions méditerranéennes et plaines désertiques : organisation des terroirs, communautés rurales et productions agricoles au Moyen Âge
• Introduction: Les hautes plaines de l'Est de l'Algérie