Libya

AIN EDDBAN

Right on the border with Tunisia, about 50 km from Ghadames, there is a salt flat called Sabkhat Mujazzam, where Ain Eddban is located. This area, considered a depression, was most likely a salt lake which has now dried up, revealing two small lakes, one fresh water and one salt water.
An extremely mysterious place and to date not well documented.

COORDINATES     30°15'19.1" N 9°49'55.0" E

Ain Eddban Libya map

Ain Eddban Salt Lakes

The Arabic name Ain Eddban (Arabic: عين الذبابة) translates to "Eyes of the Fly", describing its distinctive shape resembling the eyes of a fly when viewed from above.

The two basins of water both from the ground and from the sky take on different colors due to their depth.

Ain Eddban Libya drone

photo by Giulio Aprin

 

While the bigger lake is shallow, the smaller lake reaches 35 meters in depth. A cone-shaped morphological characteristic of the deepest lake is reported with its maximum surface diameter of approximately 50 meters. The diameter decreases to 4 meters when at 10 meters depth, then to 3 meters when reached the bottom of the lake.

Ain Eddban Libya

photo by Giulio Aprin

 

From a depth of 0 to 10 meters, there are dense underwater algae.

Ain Eddban Libya drone

photo by Giulio Aprin

 

 

Between a depth of 10 to 35 meters the surrounding walls are made of black volcanic rocks.

Ain Eddban Libya salt lakes drone

photo by Giulio Aprin

As you descend from the surface to the bottom, the water's salinity decreases, while the temperature remains relatively stable at 18 degrees Celsius, as recorded in October.

Swimming in the lakes is possible but requires utmost caution.

Ain Eddban Libya lakes

photo by Giulio Aprin

Ain Eddban, despite its remote and delicate location, occasionally attracts curious visitors and those seeking unique camping spots to find tranquility.

Ain Eddban Libya salt lakes drone

photo by Giulio Aprin

Ain Eddban Libya salt lakes drone

photo by Giulio Aprin

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1 Comment

  1. Vitor Esteves
    February 20, 2024 / 3:10 pm

    Intriguing place G! Would love to have witnessed the immense body of water that one day layer there.

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