Chott Melrhir

Chott Melrhir at a Glance

About Chott Melrhir

Chott Melrhir is a large endorheic salt lake (chott) in northeastern Algeria within Biskra Province. It is a seasonal saline basin that alternates between a shallow, evaporative salt flat and a brackish marsh depending on rainfall.

The landscape consists of broad, flat salt pans with patches of seasonal water and salt crusts. The area is remote and sparsely vegetated, with no permanent settlements on the chott itself.

The chott formed where drainage from surrounding highlands collects in a closed basin and evaporates, leaving salts behind; this seasonal flooding and drying is the main physical process shaping the site. It is part of the larger Saharan interior basin system and is monitored mainly for its hydrology and salt deposits.

The basin sits in the Algerian Sahara east of the Hauts Plateaux, within Biskra Province; the nearest sizeable city is Biskra, to the north of the chott.

When to Go

Best Time to Visit Chott Melrhir

Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable visiting window; summers are extremely hot.

Spring

March-May · 15-30°C

Pleasant temperatures and possible ephemeral lakes after winter rains.

Autumn

September-November · 20-32°C

Warm and dry with clearer roads and better visiting conditions.

Summer

June-August · 30-45°C

Very hot, often with mirage-like heat and inhospitable daytime temperatures.

Weather & Climate near Chott Melrhir

Climate

Chott Melrhir's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 8°C to 40°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 154 Unhealthy

Best Time to Visit

JuneMaySeptember

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

50°

Warmest Month

-2°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

Month	Comfort	Temp	Feels	Rain	Sky	Humidity	Wind	UV	Daylight
January	Excellent	8° - 16°	12°	10 mm	mostly sunny	59%	2.8 m/s	0.5 low	10.0h
February	Excellent	9° - 19°	14°	8 mm	mostly sunny	51%	3.1 m/s	0.8 moderate	10.8h
March	Excellent	12° - 22°	17°	11 mm	mostly sunny	43%	4.0 m/s	1.2 high	11.8h
April	Ideal	16° - 26°	21°	8 mm	mostly sunny	38%	5.0 m/s	1.6 very high	12.9h
May	Ideal	20° - 31°	26°	8 mm	mostly sunny	33%	4.7 m/s	2.0 very high	13.8h
June	Ideal	25° - 36°	31°	3 mm	clear	27%	4.5 m/s	2.4 extreme	14.3h
July	Ideal	28° - 40°	34°	1 mm	clear	24%	3.7 m/s	2.5 extreme	14.1h
August	Ideal	28° - 39°	34°	3 mm	clear	27%	3.5 m/s	2.1 extreme	13.3h
September	Ideal	24° - 34°	29°	8 mm	mostly sunny	36%	3.5 m/s	1.6 very high	12.3h
October	Ideal	18° - 28°	23°	12 mm	mostly sunny	42%	3.1 m/s	1.1 high	11.2h
November	Excellent	12° - 21°	17°	12 mm	mostly sunny	51%	2.7 m/s	0.6 moderate	10.2h
December	Excellent	8° - 17°	13°	8 mm	mostly sunny	60%	2.8 m/s	0.4 low	9.7h

Getting There & Around

How to Get to Chott Melrhir

Chott Melrhir lies in Biskra Province, inland from the Algerian Tell Mountains. Access is by road from Biskra or El Oued; long distances between settlements mean travel should be planned with fuel and supplies.

Tips for Visiting Chott Melrhir

The chott is in a remote, arid area-bring plenty of water and prepare for heat and sun exposure if exploring surrounding roads.
Respect local signage and avoid driving on the salt flats themselves-vehicles can become trapped and the surface is often uneven.
Best visited with a local guide if combining with birdwatching or regional natural history trips.

Chott Melrhir essentials