Lake Sidi Mohamed Benali is a lake located in western Algeria, within the Sidi Bel Abbès Province, specifically on the lands of Ain Thrid municipality, approximately 1.7 kilometers from the city of Sidi Bel Abbès and near the East–West Highway.[1]
| Lake Sidi Mohamed Ben Ali | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 35°14′33″N 0°38′51″W / 35.24250°N 0.64750°W |
| Type | Lake |
| Basin countries |  Algeria |
| Built | 1940s |
| Max. length | 0.748 km (0.465 mi) |
| Surface area | 0.5 km2 (0.19 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Water volume | 3 km3 (1 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 456 m (1,496 ft) |
The lake covers an area of over 35 hectares, is surrounded by diverse floral vegetation, and provides a natural habitat for 26 species of water birds, fish, and various wildlife, including wolves, domestic cats, and hedgehogs.[2]
The lake is entirely man-made, created during the 1940s, and fed by the flow of the Sig River and Sarno Valley. It was constructed to manage the floodwaters of the Mekerra River, thus mitigating the risk of destructive floods that used to threaten the city of Sidi Bel Abbès.[3][4]
The lake occupies a natural basin carved into sedimentary terrain, which is sealed downstream by an earthen dam. The lake bed prevents water seepage due to sediment deposition, and its maximum depth reaches approximately 30 meters.[5][6]
Recent (2022) research at the lake suggests that rising temperatures adversely affect the food chain in the lake by reducing the number of zooplankton.[7]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Kreo. "Sidi Bel Abbes region: Lake Sidi Mohamed Ben Ali is a natural wonder". http://www.dknews-dz.com/ (in French). Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
- ^ "Sidi Mohamed Ben Ali Lake is a natural center that must be saved" (bfr-FR). Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
- ^ The rehabilitation of Sidi Mohamed Benali Lake.
- ^ Sidi Bel Abbes: Sidi Mohamed Benali Lake is a scenic natural site that needs to be promoted
- ^ Sidi Mohamed Benali Lake, Sidi Bel Abbes
- ^ Sidi Mohamed Benali's lake level boosted after recent rains
- ^ "Freshwater zooplankton behavior under temperature effects in a semi-arid Mediterranean area". Archived from the original on 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
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