 The Chott Ech Chergui has an area of about 2000 km² where water collects during the wet season, forming a number of large shallow salt lakes which become salt flats as they dry.The lake area has a length of about 160 km from ENE to WSW and lies at an average elevation of 1000 m.

Chott Ech Chergui has been designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance.The Ramsar site has an area of 8555 km² and is the natural environment for a number of threatened and vulnerable animal and plant species.