Monday words: chott, endorheic

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chott (shŏt), noun

A dry salt lake, usually in North Africa.
Also spelled 'shott'.  Etymology:  from Arabic šaṭṭ (شط), bank or coast.

endorheic (en-duh-ree-ik), adjective

Of or relating to interior drainage basins.

An endorheic basin is is a closed drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water.
Water only leaves the basin through evaporation or seepage.

etymology:  Greek endon (within, interior) + rhein (to flow or drain)

Here's a view from space of Chott Melrhir in northern Algeria.  Chott Melrhir is an example of an endorheic basin.



Wikipedia lists examples of endorheic basins (including Devil's lake, which is about an hour from where I live).