The City of Houmt Souk

The city of Houmt Souk is the administrative capital of Djerba Island. It lies about twenty kilometers from Ajim, the ferry arrival point, and El Kantara, the arrival point via the Roman road. Houmt Souk is the main town of the Djerba-Houmt Souk municipality. It serves as both the capital of a delegation and the seat of a municipality with four districts. The municipality had 75,904 inhabitants in 2014 and covers 176.54 km², excluding the Mezraya district. The city depends on the governorate of Medenine.

Houmt Souk developed on the site of an ancient Roman city called Gerba or Girba. This was the birthplace of two Roman emperors, Trebonianus Gallus and his son Volusianus. The city gave its name to the entire island. The inhabitants of Houmt Souk are called Souaga (plural of Sougui) by other islanders. The city lies on a plain on the north coast, devoid of waterways. The water table is generally brackish. Artesian wells dug during the French protectorate illustrate this, including Bir Erroumi, 767 meters deep, whose water is hot and ferruginous.

The City of Houmt Souk : Districts and Geography

The city is divided into four sectors: Taourit, Boumellel, Essouani, and Ejjouamaâ. Other municipal sectors include Mellita, Hachène, Fatou, Mezraya, Cedghiane, Erriadh, and Oualegh. Taourit and Essouani lie in the northern part of the city. Boumellel and Ejjouamaâ are in the southern part. The commercial center overlaps all four sectors. The sea borders the city to the north. The seabed is shallow off Houmt Souk. One must go nine kilometers from the coast to reach the –5 meter curve. The tides here reach 1.30 meters in magnitude. Ultimately, the city of Houmt Souk offers an authentic glimpse into Djerba’s administrative and cultural heart.