Toward the east and south of the governorate feature narrow escarpments of the dorsal Atlas Mountains and the western border is elevated.

A dammed lake, the Barrage Sidi Saad, commences on the northern border with Kairouan Governorate; within the administrative area its principal effect is to widen the main river, the Oued El Hatech which rises close to the Algerian border on the far west side of neighbouring Kasserine Governorate.

The river adjoins fields on the northern edge of the town of Sidi Bouzid.

A larger seasonal salt lake, the Sebkhet en Noual is largely within the area and on the south-east border.

[4] The smaller maximum-size Sebkhet Mecheguia forms a short part of the eastern border.