Kerkennah Islands

Kerkennah Islands
Native name:
قرقنة (Arabic)
Κέρκιννα(Greek)
  • Κέρκιννα:Cercinna
Kerkennah Islands seen from space
Kerkennah Islands is located in Tunisia
Kerkennah Islands
Kerkennah Islands
Geography
Coordinates34°42′N 11°11′E / 34.700°N 11.183°E / 34.700; 11.183
ArchipelagoMediterranean Sea
Area160 km2 (62 sq mi)
Administration
Demographics
DemonymKerkennian
Population16,439 (2022-04-23)

Kerkennah Islands (Tunisian Arabic: قرقنة qarqna; Ancient Greek: Κέρκιννα Cercinna; Spanish:Querquenes) are a group of islands lying off the east coast of Tunisia in the Gulf of Gabès, at 34°42′N 11°11′E / 34.700°N 11.183°E / 34.700; 11.183. The Islands are low-lying, being no more than 13 metres (43 feet) above sea level. The main islands are Chergui and Gharbi. The archipelago has an area of 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi) and a population of 15,501 (2014).[1]

Kerkennah's main town, Remla (on Chergui), had a population of 2,623 as of Census 2014-04-23.[2] The population of the islands significantly decreased during the 1980s due to drought. The islands were unable to provide suitable irrigation systems and, with clean water rapidly running out, many islanders were forced to leave for mainland Tunisia, the nearest city being Sfax.

  1. ^ "Information about Kerkennah, Tunisia". www.mediterraneanislands.org. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Wayback Machine". 2018-10-17. Archived from the original on 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2024-09-10.