Which Algerian salt lake is the lowest point in Algeria?

Chott Melrhir is the Algerian salt lake that forms the country’s lowest point.

Located in northeastern Algeria, Chott Melrhir is a large endorheic salt lake, meaning its water does not drain to the sea. It lies in a broad depression south of the Aurès Mountains and is usually partly or almost completely dry, depending on seasonal rainfall and evaporation.

The lake’s surface can fall below sea level, while its salt-encrusted floor reflects the extreme aridity of the northern Sahara. Temporary pools may appear after rain, but intense evaporation soon concentrates dissolved minerals and leaves broad salt flats.

Chott Melrhir is sometimes confused with Tunisia’s Chott el Djerid, another famous Saharan salt lake. Chott el Djerid is larger and lies across the border in Tunisia, whereas Chott Melrhir is the notable below-sea-level depression in Algeria.