Satellite picture of Tunis

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. The Arabic language (Arabic: ‎ translit: ), or simply Arabic (Arabic: ‎ translit: ), is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... This mid bay barrier in Narrabeen, a suburb of Sydney (Australia), has blocked what used to be a bay to form a lagoon. ... Gulf of Tunis is a large gulf in northeastern Tunisia. ... Satellite image The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean almost completely enclosed by land, on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. ...

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 costal 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. A map of the central Mediterranean Sea, showing the location of Carthage (near modern Tunis). ... For other senses of this name, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood event A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ... Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood event A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ... La Goulette (Arabic: , Halq al Wadi) is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. ...

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.

References

• The equivalent German-language Wikipedia article (retrieved 28 February, 2006)