Chotts

Chotts are large endorheic salt lakes or salt flats in the arid regions of the Sahara, especially in Tunisia and Algeria. The term chott derives from local usage for salt flats or saline depressions.

Geographically, chotts are low-lying basins with no outlet to the sea. Rainfall is infrequent and irregular; when water collects, evaporation concentrates dissolved minerals, forming salt crusts of halite and other evaporite minerals. Many chotts are seasonally flooded and become shallow saline lakes, while others remain dry or intermittently wet, leaving extensive salt plains.

Ecology in chotts is harsh due to high salinity, which limits animal life. However, brine-tolerant microorganisms and crustaceans can occur in wetter periods. Some chotts serve as stopover sites for migratory birds, and the surrounding areas can support specialized desert flora and fauna.

Human use and study of chotts include salt extraction and salt pans in certain locations. The flat, reflective surfaces and stark landscapes also attract tourism and geomorphological study. Chotts are important for understanding desert basin processes, paleoclimate records, and dust generation in the Sahara.

Notable example: Chott el Djerid in Tunisia is one of the best-known and largest salt lakes in the region, often cited in references about North Africa’s chotts. It exemplifies the cycle of episodic filling and evaporation that characterizes these features.