endorheic basin
An endorheic basin (; also spelled endoreic basin or endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes ...
in the
Hodna
The Hodna (french: Le Hodna) is a natural region of Algeria located between the Tell and Saharan Atlas ranges at the eastern end of the ''Hautes Plaines''. It is a vast depression lying in the northeastern section of M'Sila Province and the weste ...
region, towards the eastern end of the ''
Hautes Plaines
The Hautes Plaines ("High Plains", ar, الهضاب العليا), also known as Hauts Plateaux, is a steppe-like natural region located in the Atlas Mountains in northern Algeria. It stretches more than in an east northeast – west southwes ...
''. 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''.
Ecology
The ''chott'' area provides an important habitat for certain endangered species such as the
Cuvier's gazelle
Cuvier's gazelle (''Gazella cuvieri'') is a species of gazelle native to Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, and Tunisia. It is also known as the edmi.
, the
marbled duck
The marbled duck, or marbled teal (''Marmaronetta angustirostris'') is a medium-sized species of duck from southern Europe, northern Africa, and western and central Asia. The scientific name, ''Marmaronetta angustirostris'', comes from the Greek ...
and different kinds of
bustards
Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large, terrestrial birds living mainly in dry grassland areas and on the steppes of the Old World. They range in length from . They make up the family Otididae (, formerly known as Otidae). Bust ...
, as well as indigenous fish species.
The ''Chott el Hodna'' was declared a
Ramsar site
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O)
*** Permanent 8 ha (P)
*** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts)
**
Geography of Algeria
Algeria comprises square kilometers of land, more than 80% of which is desert, in North Africa, between Morocco and Tunisia. It is the largest country in Africa. Its Arabic name, Al Jazair (the islands), is believed to derive from the rocky ...
*
Hodna
The Hodna (french: Le Hodna) is a natural region of Algeria located between the Tell and Saharan Atlas ranges at the eastern end of the ''Hautes Plaines''. It is a vast depression lying in the northeastern section of M'Sila Province and the weste ...