Zembra


Zembra is a Tunisian island. The island is a tall rock formation, and as such contains many 400 metre-high cliffs. It has an area of. Located from Sidi Daoud and from the port of La Goulette, it is a natural extension of the peninsula of Cap Bon. Zembra is a natural fortress that housed a resort until 1976 and then passed into the hands of the Tunisian army. On the southern coast there are remains of an ancient harbour. The island has a Mediterranean climate.
Most probably is the Aegimouros island, which is mentioned by many ancient writers. Pliny the Elder called both the Zembra and Zembretta as Aegimuri.
Zembra has a fragile ecosystem and has been classified as a protected area by UNESCO since 1977. The island's vegetation consists of about 266 plant species which are distributed according to topography of land. The native soils include rock, clay, sand and magnesium lime. The flora is characterised by a canopy of dense bush, including olive and Phoenician juniper and gorse, and the presence of rare plants which favour of saline soils. There are also invertebrates and terrestrial mammals introduced by man, such as rabbit, , black rat and feral cat. In addition, Zembra is located on an avian migration route between Tunisia and the Strait of Sicily, and hosts more than 25,000 pairs of migrating birds which nest in the rocky cliffs. The island is home to the largest colony of shearwaters in the Mediterranean. Dolphins are also common in the waters surrounding the island.