Kerkennah Islands

Kerkennah Islands

Native name: قرقنة (Arabic) Standard Arabic: qarqna Κέρκιννα(Greek) Κέρκιννα: Cercinna
Kerkennah Islands seen from space
Kerkennah Islands
Geography
Coordinates	34°42′N 11°11′E / 34.700°N 11.183°E / 34.700; 11.183
Archipelago	Mediterranean Sea
Area	160 km2 (62 sq mi)
Administration
Tunisia
Demographics
Demonym	Kerkennian
Population	15,501 (2014-04-23)

Kerkennah Islands (Tunisian Arabic: قرقنة qarqna^ⓘ; Ancient Greek: Κέρκιννα Cercinna; Spanish:Querquenes) are a group of islands lying off the east coast of Tunisia in the Gulf of Gabès, at 34°42′N 11°11′E / 34.700°N 11.183°E / 34.700; 11.183. The Islands are low-lying, being no more than 13 metres (43 feet) above sea level. The main islands are Chergui and Gharbi. The archipelago has an area of 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi) and a population of 15,501 (2014).^[1]

Kerkennah's main town, Remla (on Chergui), has a population of 2,000. The population of the islands significantly decreased during the 1980s due to drought. The islands were unable to provide suitable irrigation systems and, with clean water rapidly running out, many islanders were forced to leave for mainland Tunisia, the nearest city being Sfax.