Trans-Saharan Highway
From the series “Most Dangerous and Lethal Roads”
Not only snow-covered routes and mountain roads, but also highways that pass through the deserted areas endanger motorists. The Trans-Sahara Highway links Nigeria and Algeria. It is the Algerian section of the road that is considered to be the most dangerous and troubled. The total length of the track is about 4500 km, much of it passes through the barren desert environments. More than half of the track is in extremely poor condition, which often causes serious accidents in the desert areas. Regular sandstorms await drivers. Even experienced drivers advise to “ride out a sudden storm” and try to pull the vehicle off the side of the road, so as not to be in the way of other drivers.
Some motorists prefer to travel only in the evening or at night. And all the matter is that it can be extremely hot in the afternoon. The air temperature in the desert usually reaches 50 degrees Celsius. At night, the abnormally high temperature does not interfere with driving. But still this isn’t a trip to be undertaken lightly. No proper lighting there is on the Trans-Sahara Highway, so moving along the trail in the dark is no less dangerous than during a sandstorm. The abundance of accidents on the road has long become a routine occurrence. The highway is of great importance to the local residents. It links a number of important settlements and industrial centres of the two countries. ... Complete sights collection
Tassili Ajjer
From the series “The Unesco World Heritage Sites in Africa”
In the south-east of Algeria, among the lifeless landscapes of the Sahara is the unique plateau of Tassili n'Ajjer. The main value of this area are rock drawings, some of them date to the 7th millennium BC. Currently, a plateau, the length of which is about 500 meters, is part of a large national reserve Tassili n'Ajjer, whose total area is more than 70000 square meters. Apart from the incredible archaeological objects, the mountains are also remarkable for the original geological formations.For thousands of years, under the influence of wind, incredibly beautiful and harmonious stone arches were formed from sandstone. Geologists have found out that stormy rivers once flowed through this area. Visitors can see more than 300 unique geological formations, look into mysterious caves and wander through one of the most valuable archaeological areas in the world.
In 1909, colorful rock drawings depicting people, animals and different life scenes were discovered on the plateau. They are still a good proof that this desolate desert was once full of life. Here, rivers flowed, on whose banks fertile soils were found. Herds of domestic animals were grazing on large meadows. A total of more than 15000 rock drawings were found on the plateau. The age of some of them is about 8 thousands years. The later drawings date to the first century AD. Tassili n'Ajjer is one of the world's largest clusters of rock art elements, making it a landmark of world significance. ... Complete sights collection
Ahaggar Mountains
From the series “Top 11 Dangerous Spots for Adrenaline-Seekers”
In Algeria, one of the main natural attractions is the Ahaggar massif. It is located near the town of Tamanrasset, that is the highest point in the state. Mount Tahat heads upward for 2 918 meters. Researchers found out that the mountains are of volcanic origin. For thousands of years, they have been acquiring a unique form given by the wind and water. Considering that the mountain is among the barren landscapes of the Sahara, it looks fantastic, especially at sunset. However, modern travelers can’t enjoy this amazing landmark without a risk to their life. The reason is a number terrorist groups that forage in the area. The way to Ahaggar, as well as a ride close to the world-famous landmark isn’t safe. Many travelers do not lose the hope that soon the situation in the area of Algeria will be normalized, and they will finally be able to see one of the natural wonders of the world.
It’s great to admire the rocky mountains at sunset, as their outlines are even more precise. In this light peaks are painted in rich pink color. The Ahaggar massif is the central attraction of the national park of the same name, which is famous for the unique representatives of fauna. It is home not only to cheetahs and mongooses that are traditional for African oases, but to rare species of wild cats and foxes that have not been investigated yet. ... Complete sights collection
