Seybouse

The Seybouse is a river in northeastern Algeria. It rises in the interior hills of the eastern Tell region and flows northeast to the Mediterranean, emptying into the Gulf of Annaba near the city of Annaba. The lower valley forms the Seybouse Plain, a fertile agricultural area that has long supported settlement and farming.

The Seybouse drainage basin covers parts of eastern Algeria and is fed by winter rains. The river’s flow is strongly seasonal, with higher discharge in winter and spring and lower levels in summer. Its mouth near Annaba creates an estuary environment that influences coastal ecosystems.

Human activity has long shaped the river and its valley. The Seybouse Plain supports crops and grazing, while the coastal city of Annaba is urbanized and industrialized, placing pressure on water quality. Irrigation networks, drainage channels, and some dam infrastructure have been developed to manage water resources in the basin.

Environmental concerns and management efforts have focused on water quality, flood risk, and habitat restoration. Projects have aimed to improve sanitation, reduce pollution, and rehabilitate riparian areas along the lower Seybouse. The river remains an important component of eastern Algeria’s hydrology and rural economy, linking inland areas with the Mediterranean coast.