Gafsa Lake

The Lac de Gafsa, commonly known as the "Mysterious Lake," unexpectedly surfaced in 2014 next to Om Laryes Road, 25 kilometers from the Tunisian town of Gafsa. Uncertainty surrounds the lake's genesis or origin. The most likely cause is that a little earthquake broke the rock above the water table, causing millions of cubic meters of water to rise to the surface. Since desert shepherds first came across the lake, Lake de Gafsa has gained both local and worldwide attention as a tourist destination. Since the lake was discovered, hundreds have traveled there merely to see it, dive off the scenic cliffs and swim or scuba dive in it. The development and presence of the Lake de Gafsa are referred to as a miracle or a curse by Tunisians who live in the dry desert region of that lake.

The origin of the lake is still the subject of numerous rumors. The most likely explanation, though, is that a little earthquake split a rock above groundwater, causing millions of cubic meters of water to rise to the surface. The lake now has a one-hectare surface area and a maximum depth of 18 meters. However, phosphate pollution makes bathing in Lac de Gafsa potentially dangerous. Phosphate, an extremely hazardous substance that permeates rocks and soils and is abundant in the Tunisian region, is a fact. The water in a contaminated lake is likely radioactive and cancer-causing. A strange reservoir appeared, and a few days later, algae blooms caused a dramatic change in the reservoir's color.

Location: Gafsa town