Medjerda River

Medjerda
The Medjerda River
Native name	واد مجردا
Basin
Main source	Tell Atlas, Algeria
River mouth	Gulf of Tunis, Mediterranean Sea
Size	22,000 km^2 (8,500 sq mi)
Country	Algeria and Tunisia
Physiognomy
Length	460 kilometres (290 mi)

a view of the river

The Medjerda River (Tunisian Arabic: واد مجردا‎) is a river in North Africa flowing from northeast Algeria through Tunisia before emptying into the Gulf of Tunis and Lake of Tunis. With a length of 450 km (280 mi), it is the longest river of Tunisia. It is also known as the wādi (or oued) Majardah and Wadi Mejerha and it was known as Bagrada in ancient times.^[1]

Course

It originates in the Tell Atlas, part of the Atlas Mountains, in northeastern Algeria and then flows eastwards to Tunisia, then entering the Gulf of Utica of the Mediterranean Sea. Its course has a length of 460 kilometres (290 mi). It is the most important and longest rivers in Tunisia and is dammed in several locations, being a major supplier of water to the country's wheat crops.

Gulf of Utica was formed during the postglacial transgression about 6,000 years ago. Over time, fluvial deposits from the Medjerda gradually filled up the northern part of the gulf. The succession of events during historical times has been inferred from ancient documents and archaeological evidence. Besides morphological ground observations, aerial and satellite photographs have been used to analyze how the landscape has evolved over the past 3,000 years. The gulf's southern part was filled up in late ancient times. The sea gradually withdrew from the northern part during the Middle Ages and modern times. The Ghar el Melh lagoon is the last vestige of what used to be the Utica gulf.

Following the last big flood in 1973, the Medjerda shifted, once again, its course. It now flows through a canal originally dug to evacuate the overflow of flood waters.^[2]

History

Historically the Medjerda is Tunisia's crucial waterway providing water to the country supply facilities, it is also vital to the people living near the river. Water from the Medjerda is used for irrigation and is pivotal to the region's agriculture.

A very strategic river in North Africa, it was fought over and settled many times in history by the Berbers, Phoenicians, Punics, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, and the Ottomans. Several major cities, such as Utica, Carthage, and eventually Tunis were founded on or in close proximity to it.

See also

• Sidi Salem Dam

References

1. Azedine Beschaouch, De l'Africa latino-chrétienne à l'Ifriqiya arabo-musulmane: questions de toponymie, CRAI, vol. 130, n°3, 1986, pp. 530-549
2. Ameur Oueslati, Faouzia Charfi & Fadhel Baccar, La basse vallée de Oued Majerda et la lagune de Ghar El Melh, projet WADI

Coordinates: 37°07′N 10°13′E / 37.117°N 10.217°E