Climate Change: Snow in the Sahara Desert
In Algeria, snow fell on the dunes of the Sahara desert. Although unusual, this is not the first time this phenomenon has occurred in the region.
The city of Ain Sefra, also known as the “gateway to the desert”, is located in Algeria and is surrounded by the Atlas Mountains in the Sahara Desert. Usually, temperatures hover around 12 degrees in January, the coldest month of the year.
However, the mercury dropped sharply overnight, as it was down to -2 degrees in the desert. An astonishing phenomenon in this region which experiences stifling heat in summer (up to 58 degrees).
Snow on the Sahara Desert
As a result of these low temperatures, snow has arrived. Ice and white powder settled on the dunes of the world’s largest desert, creating stunning patterns in the sand. Karim Bouchetata, photographer, was on hand to take pictures of this amazing phenomenon.
Although it remains rare, it is not the first time that snow has fallen in the Sahara Desert and covered the dunes. In the space of 42 years, snowflakes have already fallen five times, including once in 2016, 2018 and 2021. The very first snowstorm occurred in 1979.
“Everyone was amazed to see snow falling in the desert, it’s such a rare event. The landscapes were incredible when the snow settled on the sand, which resulted in a superb series of photos,” said Karim Bouchetata.
In recent years, the region has recorded temperature changes and according to scientists, the desert could become a green zone again in about 15,000 years.
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