The east coast of Skikda: an open-air museum

At Skikda, the sea, in reality, is only a must that ornamental spans the entire east coast of the wilaya, the Marsa Ben M'hidi, through Guerbes.

An authentic open air museum where intermingle beaches, bays, dunes, lakes, caves, ancient ruins and an impressive collection of flora and fauna to blush most successful global nature reserves. The east coast of Skikda starts at the foot of majestic Cape of Iron (Ras El Hadid) and its flagship staking impressive built in 1907 on a ironstone. Of these places that serve as recreation area and picnic in the spring and summer resort, it dominates the entire Gulf of Skikda. Skikda petrochemical platform One can see even the thick smoke that emerges over 100 km of the place. From here we begin the trip by walking downhill towards Marsa along a winding road surrounded by lush greenery. Downstairs, pebble beaches line the road to the village where the landscape changes dramatically.?

The area that housed the ancient Culucinatis and despite a glaring lack of tourism investments seems content to its natural assets. A recent study of the coastline of the wilaya of Skikda counted no less than 800 animal and plant species in this region where, unfortunately, the dynamite fishing remains widespread and seriously damaging a rare biodiversity. La Marsa to the huge mouth of the Wadi El Kebir and over 15 km of coastline, golden beaches formed of very fine sand particles are linked in a flawless continuity. R'mila the Masdarelle, Kef Lalla Fatma ... Repeater exotic, places additionally offer some remains as safe from vandals and especially the largest dune massif of the country that comes in continuation to the whole coast, from Marsa Guerbes.

Dunes galore surround a wetland of international importance, the Guerbes-Sanhaja, namely, that spans over 42 000 ha. Continuing the ride, we arrive at Guerbes the Paratianis antique. Remains (holy ruins) watch over the beach and fragments of a mosaic still attest to the prosperity of this ancient Roman city. Here we also find unique Roman baths of their kind across the country. Carved into the rock, these small "pools" are embedded in the reef to draw sea water. Nearby, the cave Ghar Hmam (the Cave of Pigeons) remains another curiosity, the oleaster looked just like to touch the soil and give the area the name of Lemsajed (prostrate).

Leaving Guerbes to survey the pass of Mount Filfila, one can not deny a little trip to Wadi Saboune which closes the sandy strip of the east coast. It's Bab Dzira that originate the huge cliffs of Mount Filfila, known mainly by its noble marble and richness of its ferruginous waters. Once gone through the CW12 amid a dense forest, is then allowed to survey the massive descent to the famous beach of Ben M'hidi that originates from the town of Platanes. From there, 7 km of beaches are conducted to accompany the sunbathers to the limits of the petrochemical area. Further still, we finally see the blue of Skikda and Stora. But this remains another story, another ballad that will tell ... one of these days.

* At Skikda, it's not just the sea. Let it be told so just to finish this administrative populism limiting tourism to simple calculations that strive to be recognized, too, the number of tourists who opt for Russicade antique.