Nefta - Corbeille de Nefta

The Corbeille ("Basket") is the name given to the 30m/100ft deep depression at the head of the oued in Nefta, filled with a closely planted grove of tall palms. Here two small streams fed by a number of springs at the north end of the gorge join to form the oued which waters the oasis. The springs which feed the oued now have a much less abundant flow than in the past. In 1893 they supplied 1,000liters/220gallons of water a second, but in 1982 the flow was only 300liters/66gallons a second. It has been necessary, therefore, to drive wells down to a depth of 600 to 1,000m (2,000 to 3,300ft) to tap the ground-water far below. There is a pleasant walk through the Corbeille, following the warm stream to a clearing in the palm-grove where the water has formed a pool.