Morphologie.

Abstract

The Tunisian platform is formed by a series of shallow dipping terraces separated by slopes of varying importance. The Kerkennah uplift is bounded to the NE, E, and SE, by the 150-250m bathymetric slope; to the NW it changes progressively towards the Hammamet gulf; to the SW it drops towards the gulf of Gabes axis. The Kerkennah platform has a very flat relief with 0 to 50m of water and the 38km long SW-NE Derkennah archipelago at its centre. Between the 'cliff' (150-200m) which surrounds the shelf 'sensu stricto', and the 400 to 500m bathymetric contours, which marks the Sicilo-Maltese channel or the Tripolitanian deep, is another series of terraces. The gulf of Gabes is a vast runnel spread between the Tunisian shelf and the Jeffara shoreline, orientated E-W, gently sinking to join the Tripolitanian Deep and the Zohra trench. -from English summary