It was established in 2000, and covers an area of 33 hectares (82 acres).[2][3] Ramsar says of it: "An hypersaline coastal sebkha with limestone rock formations to the south, dunes and mudflats with extensive shrubs from west to east. The site has two connections to the sea, and at high tide seawater reaches the sebkha during winter and raises the water level to about one meter, but freshwater springs decrease the salinity to some degree. Part of El Kouf National Park, the site is an important wetland for migratory and resident waterbirds and has great potential for ecotourism and birdwatching."[3][4]