Wadi Majardah

river, North Africa

Also known as: Bagradas River, Oued Medjerda, Wadi Mejerda

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Also spelled:: Wadi Mejerda

Or:: Oued Medjerda

Latin:: Bagradas

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Wadi Majardah, main river of Tunisia and the country’s only perennially flowing stream. Wadi Majardah rises in northeastern Algeria in the Majardah (Mejerda) Mountains and flows northeastward for 290 miles (460 km) to the Gulf of Tunis, draining an area of about 8,880 square miles (23,000 square km) before it enters the Mediterranean Sea. Dams along the river and its tributaries provide valuable irrigation water for the surrounding plains, which are a major wheat-growing area. The river’s rate of discharge varies from less than 140 cubic feet (4 cubic metres) per second in summer to between 53,000 and 88,000 cubic feet (1,500 to 2,500 cubic metres) in winter. Its two main tributaries are the Oued Mellègue (Wadi Mallāq) and the Oued Tessa (Wadi Tassah). Main riverine settlements include Souk Ahras, in Algeria, and Jendouba (Jundūbah), in Tunisia.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Laura Etheredge.