El Kala (Arabic: القالة, Latin: Thinisa in Numidia) is a seaport of Algeria, in El Tarf Province, 56 miles (90 km) by rail east of Annaba and 10 miles (16 km) west of the Tunisian frontier.

[citation needed] The old fortified town was built on a rocky peninsula about 400 metres long, connected with the mainland by a sand bank.

The strings wind around the coral plants, and the men pull them up, extracting large amounts, which are sold for great sums of money.

A trade bastion[clarification needed] called "Bastion de France" by its Corsican founders was established during that period principally for the exploitation of red coral and also to facilitate trade between southern France and that part of northern Algeria.

In 1806 the British consul-general at Algiers obtained the right to occupy Bona (Annaba) and La Calle for an annual rent of £11,000; but though the money was paid for several years no practical effect was given to the agreement.

The French regained possession in 1817, were expelled during the wars of 1827, when La Calle was burnt, but returned and a new town was built up along the coast in 1836.

[1] In 1933, the Ancient diocese of Thinisa in Numidia was nominally restored as a Catholic titular see of the lowest (episcopal) rank.