In Tunisia, regions are called vilayets. There are 24 of them in the country in total. Such an administrative division developed in the state after its formation as a republic. One of the regions is called Gabes. Its territories stretch along the shores of a large gulf of the same name, which in ancient times was called Little Sirte.
The article will focus on the Gulf of Gabes and its coastal areas.
General Description
This is an amazingly beautiful place with its rich history and traditions. The Gulf of Gabes is located in Africa (northern shores) on the Mediterranean Sea. Its length is 41 kilometers, width - about 68 km, depth - 50 meters. The bay washes the coastal territory of Tunisia with a length of more than 100 km.
The nature of the tides is semi-diurnal (amplitude up to 0.4 meters). Water temperature - 14-29 ˚С.
In the southern zone of the entrance to the bay is the delightful island of Djerba, in the northern zone - Kerkenna. On the southern coast of the gulf there is a large port and industrial city of Gabes, which is the center of the southernTunisia. On the northern coast is Sfax - a major port city.
Fishing is developed in the Gulf of Gabes. 60% of Tunisia's fishing fleet is concentrated in the city of the same name with the bay.
Local features
The bay is located in the region popularly called "Western Tunisian Sicily". It is separated from Hammett Bay by the shallow waters of the Kerkenna Islands and small islets. The coastline gently slopes into the sea, creating shallow waters that extend to the small towns of Skheera, Zarrat and Mahares.
Two powerful sea currents, uniting in Gabes, create the most unique physical and chemical conditions that contribute to the formation of no less unique biological diversity. The phenomenon of the presence of different currents, typical for the Gulf of Gabes, is also a unique phenomenon. Differences in currents are observed both in the lower and upper layers of the sea. Sometimes they can reach huge sizes, and sometimes they are only up to two meters wide. The region is a unique biocenosis of the Mediterranean.
It should be noted that Gabes has been known since ancient times under the name "Surtis Minor".
City of Gabes
The administrative and commercial and transport center of the province of Gabes, stretching along the coast of the Gulf of the Mediterranean Sea of the same name, is a wonderful city with the same name, built in a palm oasis.
The key to the existence of the city is the reservoir Heart of Ueda, from which numerous irrigation canals depart. Gabes is the industrial center of Tunisia,engaged in industrial oil refining and producing cement. Pomegranates and dates are also grown here. Many residents of the city are engaged in fishing. The production of olive oil and wine is developed here.
On the shore of the bay there is a port, the terminal station of the railway. The city is a developing industrial center of Southern Tunisia.
Inhabitants of the Gulf of Gabes
One of the most common types of fishing in the bay is trawl fishing for stone red mullet. Tuna is caught in these places all year round (12 varieties), and the bulk of the fish - only in summer and spring. Among the tuna, the main ones are bonito, bonito and bluefin.
Octopuses live in the waters of the bay, for catching which fishermen use the old method. On ropes, a vessel hollowed out from the inside is thrown into the sea water, which has a hole into which the mollusk can swim in, but can no longer swim out.
The Gulf of Gabes is home to such marine life as sea bream, zuban, sargs, crucian carp and crustaceans, including king prawns. The latter are well exported abroad. It is the region of this bay that is especially important in catching these shrimps. It is known that they live mainly where there is a lot of plankton, dead seaweed, and the seabed is composed of muddy, dirty sand with the remains of extinct organisms. The king prawn lives at depths of 40-50 meters. This place is located northeast of Djerba. Also, many species of cephalopods live in the waters of the bay. total herethere are 6 varieties of octopuses, 13 species of decapods (squid).
