Jerba, Djerba [key], island, 197 sq mi (510 sq km), SE Tunisia, in the Mediterranean Sea at S entrance to the Gulf of Qabis. Fruit and olives are grown on the island, once identified as the land of the lotus eaters. It was anciently an important Phoenician trading center, and much later a base for Spanish and Ottoman corsairs. The island's extensive Roman remains and beaches make the island a popular tourist destination, and the El Ghriba synagogue is the site of an annual pilgrimmage. Jerba has an international airport.
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