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Hoggar mountain, Algeria
The Hoggar Mountains are a highland region in the central Sahara region, in Algeria, along the Tropic of Cancer. It is a real stone desert consisting of granite formations that take on beautiful red colors at sunrise and sunset. The mountains cover an area of approximately 550,000 square km and are located about 1,500 km south of the capital, Algiers. The area is a largely rocky desert with an average elevation of more than 900 m above sea level. The highest peak, Mount Tahat, is at 2,908 m. Assekrem is a famous and often visited place where Charles de Foucauld built a hermitage in 1911. The nearest town to the Hoggar Mountains is Tamanrasset, a dusty oasis mainly populated by Algeria’s Tuareg people. This nomadic tribe has lived in the Sahara for millions of years. A Tuareg guide can show you the most interesting areas of the Hoggar Mountains.
The Hoggar Mountain range typically experiences hot summers, with a cold winter climate and Temperatures fall below freezing in the winter. Rainfall is rare and sporadic year-round. because the climate is less extreme than in most other areas of the Sahara, the Hoggar Mountains are a major location for biodiversity, including a number of relict species. What makes the mountains unique is the rocky and arid landscape that somewhat reminds Argentina’s moon valley and Mars’ landscape, even though there is some vegetation in some places and several rivers that cut through the landscape, among which there is only one oasis town, Tamanrasset, which is built in a desert valley.
Geology and Topography of Hoggar mountains
The mountains are primarily composed of metamorphic rock approximately 2 billion years old, although there are areas where more recent volcanic activity has laid down the much newer rock. Many dramatic peaks of the area, such as Ilamen, are the result of erosion wearing away extinct volcano domes, leaving behind the more resistant material that plugged the volcanic cores. The parts of their jagged, volcanic columns tower some 3,000m above sea level. The most prominent feature of the mountains is the Atakor volcanic field, where lava flows make a jaw-dropping scenery. The volcanic nature of Atakor began a whopping 20 million years ago and today its vents, exceeding 400 in number, emit steam and gases from the vents. the highlight of the Hoggar Mountains is Tassili du Hoggar, a vast landscape of eroded mesas, buttes, and arches that bears a strong resemblance to Utah’s Monument Valley.
A place to visit around Hoggar mountain
Ahaggar National Park
The Hoggar mountains are home to the Ahaggar National Park, one of the national parks of the country. The climate varies in this region from the season. The summers are usually hot, while the winters are quite cold, with rains that are very rare. Due to the difference from the rest of the Sahara, there is huge biodiversity here, which includes a number of relic species also. The reason why great attention has been given to them with the formation of the Ahaggar National Park. The tallest peak in the Hoggar range, Mount Tahat is located in the parking area, which covers approximately 450,000 square kilometers. The Hoggar National park has a good population of African wild dogs. some naturalists also find the presence of African cheetahs in the region.
Cave painting
Cave paintings discovered here which are dating back to 6,000 BC and they depict nature and wildlife which are nowadays mostly found in the more fertile parts of Africa. These prehistoric wall carvings depict creatures that made the Sahara their home long ago when the region was wetter and much more favorable. Crocodiles, hippos, and elephants share space on the reddish backdrops with human figures.
Charles de Foucauld
The hermitage of Charles de Foucauld is a small hermitage built in 1911 AD and located on the Assekrem plateau in the Hoggar Mountains in Tamanrasset Province, Algeria. It is the solitary place of, Charles de Foucauld. Charles de Foucauld was a French Catholic priest who lived in the Sahara in Algeria and died in 1916.
Travel and Trekking Hoggar Mountains
Most tourists to the Hoggar Mountains travel on either the Hoggar Circuit or the Assekrem Circuit, taking about 3 days on each to visit most of the notable places in the area. There is no food facility on the way, so be economical as possible with food, gas, and water when you plan a trek to the mountain. If it has rained, then the village of Tamikrest is a must-see attraction. An impressive waterfall tumbles off the heights and brings life-giving water to the desert oasis. Algeria is comprised of two big mountain ranges- the Atlas chain in the north, and the Hoggar in the south, which has a surface area similar to that of France. Due to the high altitude (an average of 2,200m), the temperatures are cool from November until March. Climbers have been coming from Europe to enjoy the winter warmth and adventurous technical climbing since the 1930s.
The current trend is to open new routes to the climber using a bolts system. This makes it easier for future climbers to just turn up at the route and start climbing. One of the benefits of this bolting trend is that the level of climbs available in Algeria is now much wider and is open to a majority of climbers. Climbing in the desert Immidir Region and in the Tefedest have enough future. The Hoggar Mountains are definitely one of the great, almost another world mountains from the African nation of Algeria. The mountain is great for hiking and walking experiences in the Sahara Desert.
Also, read- An Epitome of Bravery of Rani Laxmi Bai-“The Jhansi Fort”
How to reach the Hoggar Mountains
There is no direct connection from the Hoggar Mountains to Algiers. one can take travel to Tamanrasset airport and fly to Algiers.
Sources-Thealluringworld.com, americanalpineclub.org, touristlink.com, wikipedia.org,
