English: Lake Fetzara is located about 15 miles (25 km) south-west of Annaba, in Algeria. In 1857 it was still one of the most important freswater lakes of northen Africa, where a great number and variety of waterbirds came to breed. As soon as 1877 however, it was suspected by the Mokta El Hadid mine company to be the cause for malaria in the area. The lake was subsequently drained, and the site remained dry for long periods of time, losing a lot of its ornithological value. These draining works uncovered traces of roman settlement. Retaining winter floods in recent years has allowed Lake Fetzara to regain some of its importance as a nesting site.