Chott el-Jérid hosted Ultra Mirage on 3 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 07:14 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Chott el-Jérid hosted the tenth Ultra Mirage El Djerid in the Tozeur region on 3 October 2026, bringing an organised desert race to one of southwestern Tunisia's largest saline landscapes. The event combined the salt-lake setting with routes across sand, dunes, rocks, dry river beds and oasis terrain.
Ultra Mirage El Djerid brought runners to Tozeur on 3 October
The Ultra Mirage El Djerid race took place on 3 October 2026. The organiser listed four single-stage formats: 25km, 50km, 100km and 100 miles, with the routes crossing varied terrain in the Djerid region.
The organiser describes the race as open to professional ultra-runners and people interested in ultra-trail. Its published information also identifies the Association Ultra Marathon Tunisie as the organisation behind the event and places the race around Tozeur in the south-west of Tunisia. A separate event account places the 50km course against the Chott el-Jérid landscape and gives the tenth edition a programme running from 1 to 4 October 2026. the organiser's 3 October listing records the 2026 edition and its final runners list, while the published event programme links the race with the salt lake and Tozeur.
Chott el-Jérid's salt flats shaped the race setting
The natural site is a large saline lake in south-western Tunisia. Encyclopaedia Britannica describes a salt-flat basin of about 4,900 square kilometres, with water remaining mainly in its lowest areas except after heavy rain.
The lake forms part of a wider depression that once extended westwards from the Gulf of Gabes. Tozeur and Nefta stand on its periphery, and a roadway crosses the salt flats as a route towards the desert oases and hinterland towns. That fixed road and the changing surface explain the contrast between an accessible viewpoint and the demanding terrain used by the race. Britannica's lake profile records the site's saline geology, location and connection with Tozeur.
Why the 3 October race matters for the lake landscape
Ultra Mirage El Djerid gave the lake a current sporting connection rather than treating it only as a roadside viewpoint. The race's listed surfaces - from soft sand and small dunes to rocks and dry river beds - correspond to the broader Djerid landscape described around Tozeur.
The event also placed an international endurance format alongside a natural site whose appearance changes with rainfall and evaporation. The lake may hold water in its lowest areas, but much of the basin is known for its salt flats, making the road and marked event routes important points of orientation for visitors.
Visiting Chott el-Jérid: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Ultra Mirage El Djerid race took place on 3 October 2026 in the Tozeur and Djerid region.
- The race was a scheduled sporting event, while the salt lake remains a natural landscape crossed by a public roadway.
- Chott el-Jérid lies in south-western Tunisia, with Tozeur and Nefta on its periphery and a road crossing the salt flats.
- The terrain includes salt flats, sand, dunes, rocks and dry river beds. The salt crust is not uniformly firm, so marked routes and the roadway should not be treated as permission to walk anywhere across the basin.
- The official language is Arabic, and the national currency is the Tunisian dinar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Chott el-Jérid
When did Ultra Mirage El Djerid take place at Chott el-Jérid?
The tenth edition took place on 3 October 2026 in the Tozeur and Djerid region.
Where is Chott el-Jérid and how do you get there?
The saline lake is in south-western Tunisia, with Tozeur and Nefta on its periphery. A roadway crosses the salt flats and links the desert oases and hinterland towns.
What is Chott el-Jérid?
It is a large saline lake and salt-flat basin whose water is concentrated in the lowest areas except after periods of heavy rain.
