Lake of Tunis
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The Lake of Tunis (Arabic: البحيرة El Bahira, French: Lac de Tunis) is a natural lagoon located between the Tunisian capital city of Tunis and the Gulf of Tunis (Mediterranean Sea). The lake covers a total of 37 square kilometres, about 14 square miles, in contrast to its size its depth is very shallow. It was once the natural harbour of Tunis.
[edit] History
The connection Tunis-Carthage was very important to the Romans as it meant control over the fertile hinterland. The Romans therefore built a dam through the lake. The dam is used today as an expressway for automobiles and railway connecting Tunis to the harbour La Goulette and the coastal cities of Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, and La Marsa.
The northern lake includes the island of Chikly, once home to a Spanish stronghold, and is now (since 1993) a nature reserve.
Due to the lake's continuing aggradation during the 19th century, the French colonial force traversed the lake with a 6 mi long, 150 ft wide, and 20 ft deep canal.
[edit] References
- The equivalent German-language Wikipedia article (retrieved 28 February, 2006)
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