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| Tassili |
Tassili n'Ajjer is a mountain range located south-east of Algeria, high arid plateau consists of sandstone, over 1 000 meters and extending Sahara Centre from 50 to 60 km from east to West, and 800 km from north to south, an area of nearly 120,000 km2, is the 5th of France. Over its entire surface stand heavily eroded rock formations emerging from
Over
millions of years, the soil Tassili n'Ajjer was washed away
by water. Then, when the drought set in, it was the turn of the user wind and constantly polish the furniture rocks. The little rain or outstanding rivers remain an important cause of erosion,
because no plant cover retains
the waters digging the rocks. Another cause of erosion: temperatures. The difference between night and day is sometimes fifty
degrees. The
stones literally burst through
the effect of these sudden
changes to become sand dust(a phenomenon called frost wedging or cryoclasty).
The
massif is inhabited by the Tuareg group Kel Ajjer. Its
main town is Djanet, a
small oasis in western
edge of the region.
Cultural
Park Tassili
(72 000 km2) listed
since 1982 on the World Heritage List of UNESCO and classified biosphere reserve since 1986. Endangered animals such as the Barbary sheep and
many species of gazelle found
refuge. It is
considered to date, as the largest open air museum in the world.
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| Tassili |
We can see in this national park
many cave paintings (especially in Wadi Djerat and on the plateau Sefar) dating
from about 9 to 10 thousand years, recalling that
the Sahara was once green and fertile land. Many drawings of cattle herds led by shepherds. Tassili N'Ajjer is composed of sandstone, layers of silt and solidified sand, from the seas that covered the entire world's largest desert. There are many thousands of years lived here men who have left traces
of their daily concerns; there are indeed hunting scenes, dance and prayer.
