The Chott el Jerid lake is the largest salt pan in the Sahara. It is a lake that dries up during the summer and replenishes itself with new rainwater every wet season.
Hot Summers
One of the Tunisia attractions that comes highly recommended by local resorts like Anantara Tozeur Resort, Chott el Jerid dries up completely during the summer to such a level that one can cross it on foot. Crossing by car is not advised as the crusted salt layer is very thin and thus dangerous. The colours of the lake turn into shades of purple or green during this time.
The Cold Seasons
During the cold seasons, the depth of the lagoon goes about 25m below sea level. Due to the irregular shape of the lake, the width can vary between 20 to 250 km.
A Lost Habitat
The surface of the lake covers about 7,000 square kilometres and was inhabited by crocodiles until the early 20th century. Today, only pink flamingos may occasionally visit, otherwise, it’s just human travellers.
Best Time to Visit
If you plan to visit the best time would be during the moderate spring months or the autumn months. Spring is from March to June, while autumn is from September to October.
