El Kala

The largest National Park in the North of Algeria, covering 76384 ha.

Declaration Date: December 1990
Surface area: 76348 ha
Administrative division: Wilaya d'El Tarf

Human Activities

  • Agriculture
  • Extensive animal husbandry
  • Apiculture
  • Fishing and forest exploitation

Ecological Characteristics

  • Last refuge of the Barbary Red Deer (Cervus elaphus barbarus).
  • Very remarkable bird life, more than 60 000 migratorybirds every winter.
  • Lakes of international renown: lake Tonga, lake Oubaira,
  • El Mellah Lagoon, listed by Ramsar as internationallyimportant wetlands.
  • A mosaic of marine, dune, lake and forest ecosystems.  Marine strip rich in corals, Posidonia meadows and fish.


Fauna :

  • Mammals : 29 species
  • Birds : 195 species
  • Reptiles : 17 species
  • Amphibians : 07 species

Flora :

  • Rare species : 27 %
  • Protected species : 26 species

Protection Classification

On a national level :
National park established by degree n°83-462 of 23 July 1983

Legal status:
Public establishment of an administrativenature (EPA)

> Back to Biosphere Reserves in Algeria

                                                                                               Last updated: July 2011

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