Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 11 Panoramic view of Zima
lake with drain water channel,
vegetation and salt deposit
as a site of biological and ecological interest (SIBE), and as a
reserve where hunting is strictly forbidden.
Geologically, the Zima Lake is located in sandstones in
the core of a Palaeozoic syncline. These sandstone beds are
overlain by Permo-Triassic deposits which consist of red
sandstone and marl with salt intercalations, succeeded by
Late Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, predomi-
nantly marls and marly-limestones with gypsum intrusions.
The sequence is completed by various Quaternary deposits,
saline silts, sands, conglomerates, gravels and calcretes. The
surrounding soils are carbonated humus, very dark, some-
times red (El Mokhtar et al. 2012 ).
The area is characterized by low rainfalls (150
become one of the most important areas in Morocco for
avifauna which includes Gull - billed Tern , Kentish Plover ,
Black - winged Stilt and White Stork , if it were to bene
t from
even a minimum of protection. More than forty species of
birds have been recorded in the salt sabkha, with a maximum
number of 3000 birds recorded during the last 12 years,
including approximately 1,000 Pink Flamingo and 2,000
Anseriform birds with at least two interesting species,
Shelduck and Marbled Teal, as well as Shoveller , Northern
Pintail and Ruddy Shelduck . The lake is home to several
threatened and vulnerable bird species listed on the Red List
of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, such
as: Marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris and Ruddy
Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea , Greater Flamingo Phoenic-
opterus ruber , Shelduck and Tadorna tadorna ; and some
protected species in France that are listed in category A2 of
the Agreement on migratory birds of African-Eurasian
Migratory Water-birds (AEWA), such as Sterne Hansel,
Sterna nilotica (Radi et al. 2004 ;Th
200 mm),
-
a very high evaporation (876 mm in 1993
1994) and a
Mediterranean arid to temperate winter climate.
The entire wetland is surrounded by a belt of halophytic
vegetation covered by a thick layer of
-
lamentous algae and
angiosperms Potamogeton pectinatus providing great
o-
ristic richness (Negre 1960 ; Abbad 1993 ). More than thirty
species of plants have been documented at this locality
including Aeluropus littoralis , Agrostis stolonifera , Arthro-
cnemum indicum , and A. halimus , among others. Moreover,
the Lake supports many species adapted to hypersaline
seasonal wetlands, including two rare endemic plants, spe-
cies of Caryophyllales (Angiosperms): Halopelis amplicauli
and Spergularia tenuifolia .
This site also has great ornithological value, for both
wintering and breeding. It hosts abundant aquatic birds:
99,000 during wet years and an average of 3,860 birds
during the period from 1996 to 2000 (Radi et al. 2004 ;
Th
venot et al. 2003 ).
The Zima Lake is known for its salt deposits, and is
considered one of the most important continental salt sources
in Doukkala-Abda region, with an annual production of
30,000 tons. The salt derives from sub-surface saline
é
ows
at shallow depth, migrating from the ground-water of the
Chemaia plain (El Mokhtar et al. 2012 ). Extraction of the
salt, for use by the food-industries, is undertaken by the
Cheri
an Society of Salt ( SCS ) that provides jobs for
fty
workers from the surrounding villages.
The lake area supports, particularly, pastoral agriculture,
and possesses high aesthetic and recreational value, which
could be better promoted to encourage recreational activities.
é
venot et al. 2003 ). Furthermore, this vast wetland could
Search WWH ::




Custom Search