The Galite Islands (Tunisian Arabic: جالطة Jalita, French: La Galite, Italian: La Galita) are a rocky group of islands of volcanic origin that belong to Bizerte Governorate, northern Tunisia. They are located 38 kilometres (24 miles) northwest of Cape Serrat, the closest point of the Tunisian mainland coast, from which they are separated by the Galite Channel, and almost 80 km (50 mi) north-by-northeast of the city of Tabarka, and 150 km (93 mi) south of Cape Spartivento in the south of Sardinia. The islands of the group sit atop Banc de Galite.
The centrally situated main island La Galite is 5.4 km (3.4 mi) long east-west, and up to 2.9 km (1.8 mi) wide in the east. The area of the group is 9 square kilometres (3 sq mi), most of which La Galite accounts for. The main island has 200m high cliffs and is accessible only in the south on the bay Escueil de Pasque. A few fishermen's families live on the island. The highest peak at 391m is Bout de Somme (Grand Sommet), which is topped by a yellow lookout tower. Piton de l'Es', a prominent cone-shaped peak close to the most southeasterly point of the island, is 360m high.
Other islands
Besides the main island La Galite, there are two groups of islets or rocks, which are all inaccessible.
The Galitons de l'Ouest, or West Galitons, are 3 km (2 mi) southwest of the main island. They consist of the second largest and third largest islands of the Galite Islands, 158m high Le Galiton (area 0.4 km2) and 137m high La Fauchelle, immediately southeast of Le Galiton. On the peak of Le Galiton is a lighthouse, 14m high. In 1980, the Ministry of Agriculture declared Le Galiton a natural reserve, to protect the Mediterranean monk seals.
The smaller Galitons de l'Est, or East Galitons, also called Les Chiens or The Dogs, are at a distance between 1 and 2 km (1 mi) northeast of the main island. This group consists of three rocks, which are, from north to south, Gallo, Pollastro and Gallina (meaning "rooster", "chicken" and "hen" in Italian). Gallo is the largest of the three and is 119 m high.
About 25 km (16 mi) to the southwest are the Sorelle Rocks, or Écueil des Sorelles, which consist of two shallow rocky patches. A lighted buoy, fitted with a racon, is moored to the western patch, and another buoy to the eastern patch. A two meters high concrete block stands on the western patch.
13 km (8 mi) to the north of the group is the submerged Banc des Mazzarilles, with depths between 21 and 49 meters.
During World War II, La Galite hosted a small Italian naval base. Salvatore Todaro (it), an Italian war hero, died on La Galite in December 14, 1942.
Tunisian independence leader Habib Bourguiba was exiled to La Galite by the French colonial authorities from May 21, 1952 through May 20, 1954.
^"Archipel de la Galite". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
External links
Media related to Galite Islands at Wikimedia Commons
August 19, 2023
galite, islands, tunisian, arabic, جالطة, jalita, french, galite, italian, galita, rocky, group, islands, volcanic, origin, that, belong, bizerte, governorate, northern, tunisia, they, located, kilometres, miles, northwest, cape, serrat, closest, point, tunisi. The Galite Islands Tunisian Arabic جالطة Jalita French La Galite Italian La Galita are a rocky group of islands of volcanic origin that belong to Bizerte Governorate northern Tunisia They are located 38 kilometres 24 miles northwest of Cape Serrat the closest point of the Tunisian mainland coast from which they are separated by the Galite Channel and almost 80 km 50 mi north by northeast of the city of Tabarka and 150 km 93 mi south of Cape Spartivento in the south of Sardinia The islands of the group sit atop Banc de Galite GaliteNASA Landsat ImageGaliteGeographyLocationMediterranean SeaCoordinates37 31 37 N 08 55 43 E 37 52694 N 8 92861 E 37 52694 8 92861Total islands6 1 Major islandsLa Galite 5 4 km2 Le Galiton La FauchelleArea8 08 km2 3 12 sq mi Highest pointBout de Somme 391 m Administration TunisiaGovernorateBizerte GovernorateView of La Galite from Cap Serrat Old map of the Galite IslandsContents 1 Main island 2 Other islands 3 Natural history 4 Notes and references 5 External linksMain island EditThe centrally situated main island La Galite is 5 4 km 3 4 mi long east west and up to 2 9 km 1 8 mi wide in the east The area of the group is 9 square kilometres 3 sq mi most of which La Galite accounts for The main island has 200m high cliffs and is accessible only in the south on the bay Escueil de Pasque A few fishermen s families live on the island The highest peak at 391m is Bout de Somme Grand Sommet which is topped by a yellow lookout tower Piton de l Es a prominent cone shaped peak close to the most southeasterly point of the island is 360m high Other islands EditBesides the main island La Galite there are two groups of islets or rocks which are all inaccessible The Galitons de l Ouest or West Galitons are 3 km 2 mi southwest of the main island They consist of the second largest and third largest islands of the Galite Islands 158m high Le Galiton area 0 4 km2 and 137m high La Fauchelle immediately southeast of Le Galiton On the peak of Le Galiton is a lighthouse 14m high In 1980 the Ministry of Agriculture declared Le Galiton a natural reserve to protect the Mediterranean monk seals The smaller Galitons de l Est or East Galitons also called Les Chiens or The Dogs are at a distance between 1 and 2 km 1 mi northeast of the main island This group consists of three rocks which are from north to south Gallo Pollastro and Gallina meaning rooster chicken and hen in Italian Gallo is the largest of the three and is 119 m high About 25 km 16 mi to the southwest are the Sorelle Rocks or Ecueil des Sorelles which consist of two shallow rocky patches A lighted buoy fitted with a racon is moored to the western patch and another buoy to the eastern patch A two meters high concrete block stands on the western patch 13 km 8 mi to the north of the group is the submerged Banc des Mazzarilles with depths between 21 and 49 meters During World War II La Galite hosted a small Italian naval base Salvatore Todaro it an Italian war hero died on La Galite in December 14 1942 Tunisian independence leader Habib Bourguiba was exiled to La Galite by the French colonial authorities from May 21 1952 through May 20 1954 Natural history EditThe islands have been recognised as an Important Bird Area IBA by BirdLife International because they support populations of Audouin s gulls Eleonora s falcons and Sardinian warblers 2 Notes and references Edit Plus some reefs and a submerged group Archipel de la Galite BirdLife Data Zone BirdLife International 2021 Retrieved 14 February 2021 External links Edit Media related to Galite Islands at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Galite Islands amp oldid 1153812391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
