It consists of two bodies of water, the upper one pond-like, with a moderate degree of salinity and a biodiverse flora and fauna, and the lower one a sabkha or salt lake, with higher salinity, salt-encrusted margins and very little vegetation.

The area of the Ramsar site is 18,947 hectares (46,820 acres), the soils of the southern basin are saline and the vegetation sparse.

Several species of reptile and amphibian are found in the northern basin, as well as crustaceans, fish and small mammals.

The site is of international importance because of the waterfowl that breed and raise their young here.

The lakes are particularly productive because of the high temperatures experienced; more than 1% of the world populations of the ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) and the ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) breed at Sebkha el Melah.