Lesser Syrtis

Gulf of Gabès خليج قابس Lesser Syrtis
Satellite image of the Gulf of Gabès
Gulf of Gabès Location in Tunisia
Coordinates	34°00′N 10°25′E / 34.000°N 10.417°E / 34.000; 10.417Coordinates: 34°00′N 10°25′E / 34.000°N 10.417°E / 34.000; 10.417
Ocean/sea sources	Mediterranean
Basin countries	Tunisia
Max. length	50 km (31 mi)
Max. width	70 km (43 mi)
Settlements	Gabès

The Gulf of Gabes, also Cabès, Cabes, Gaps,Arabic: خليج قابس‎‎ ḫalīǧ qābis, also known as Lesser Syrtis (from Greek ; Syrtis Minor in Latin), contrasting with the Greater Syrtis in Libya, is a gulf on Tunisia's east coast in the Mediterranean Sea, off North Africa. The gulf roughly spans the coast from Sfax to Djerba. At the head of the gulf is the city of Gabès (Ghannouche) where the tides have a large range of up to 2.1 m at spring tides. Both Gabès and Sfax are major ports on the gulf, supporting sponge and tuna fisheries, with Gabès being the economic and administrative center.

The Latin name Syrtis Minor is used by Pliny the Elder, quoting an earlier description in Polybius 1.39.2, who uses the equivalent Ancient Greek: ἡ μικρὰ Σύρτις (elsewhere also Σύρτις ἡ μικρὰ, Σύρτις ἡ μικροτέρα, ἡ μικροτέρα Σύρτις).

An alternative name was Λωτοφαγῖτις σύρτις Lotophagitis surtis "Syrtis of the lotus-eaters," reported by Strabo. (Compare Syrtis Major, the ancient name of the Gulf of Sidra.)