El Kala, Coastal town in El Tarf Province, Algeria
El Kala is a coastal settlement on a rocky peninsula in El Tarf Province, connected to the mainland by a sand bank. The small harbor sits exposed to northeastern winds, shaping the town's character and maritime activity.
The settlement was known as Thinisa during Roman times, when it served as an important Christian center in Numidia. Its coastal location supported long-term development as a port and trading point.
The town's identity is rooted in maritime work, with fishing and fish processing visible in daily activities and the waterfront landscape. These practices remain central to how locals live and use the space.
The town works well as a base for visiting El Kala National Park, which contains lakes and mountain areas to explore. The cooler seasons outside summer offer more comfortable conditions for getting around and seeing the landscape.
The area features Lake Mellah, a brackish lagoon system that is one of the country's most unusual ecosystems. This water body is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and hosts specialized wildlife found nowhere else in Algeria.
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