Kneiss

The Kneiss archipelago contains four small islands surrounded by extensive mudflats and shallow waters covering 8,400 hectares in the Mediterranean Sea.

The islands received their name from 'knissa', meaning church in Tunisian Arabic, with archaeological remains of Fulgentius of Ruspe's monastery from 503 AD.

Local families, primarily women and youth, collect clams along the foreshore between November and April, maintaining traditional harvesting practices.

The reserve extends across 5,850 hectares of marine area and functions as a protected wetland under international Ramsar Convention guidelines.

More than 100,000 birds gather at these islands annually, representing seventy percent of Tunisia's bird species during winter migration periods.

Location: Sfax Governorate

Address: Kneiss, Tunisia

GPS coordinates: 34.36583,10.31139

Latest update: March 20, 2025 15:03