guelta

Terres Touareg

The gueltas, sources of life in the heart of the Sahara

At the heart of the arid and majestic landscapes of the Sahara lie hidden treasures that are little-known but essential to life: the gueltas. These rare waterholes are much more than just natural basins.
For the Tuareg people, they embody survival, spirituality and the fragile balance between nature and desert. At the crossroads of geology, ecology and nomadic traditions, let’s discover the
importance of these Saharan oases.

What is a guelta?

A guelta is a natural basin where water accumulates in a desert environment. This type of depression is typical of the Hoggar and Tassili n’Ajjer mountain ranges in the Algerian Sahara. They are generally found at altitudes of between 1,000 and 2,000 metres, and vary in depth from 4 to 15 metres.

Gueltas are of vital importance to the Tuareg people. These waterholes, which are sometimes rare, enable the Tuareg to water their herds, and also serve as a vital stopover for migratory birds.

Fragile but essential oases

A guelta can be temporary or permanent. Some have existed for centuries. They are fed by run-off from rocky slopes, by groundwater contained in the alluvial deposits of wadis, or by springs, sometimes in the form of small waterfalls.

The longevity of a guelta depends mainly on its geographical location. When it is located in a deep canyon or valley, the water is better protected from the intense evaporation of the desert.

Water levels vary according to the season. From October onwards, during the rainy season, you can see streams of water gushing out of the cliffs. But as soon as the dry season arrives, the gueltas gradually recede, giving way to a few residual pools at the height of the Saharan summer.

The emblematic gueltas of the Sahara

Some of the best-known gueltas in the Sahara include :

  • The Archei guelta in Chad, famous for its desert crocodiles.
  • The Essendilène guelta, the hidden jewel of the Tassili n’Ajjer, is one of the most emblematic of the Algerian Sahara. Nestling in the heart of a canyon, it fascinates travellers with its emerald water and lush vegetation.

A precious and little-known biodiversity

Despite their isolation, the gueltas are home to exceptional biodiversity. Little studied by science, these wetlands are veritable reservoirs of life in the heart of the desert. The permanence of the water allows unique ecosystems to develop.

There are algae, which feed small fish, themselves the prey of many birds. The banks are lined with palm trees, laurels and tropical trees, as well as Lavandula antinea, a rare lavender from the mountains of the central Sahara.

These sites are now protected by international bodies such as UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention, which recognise their value as a fragile and remarkable natural heritage.

In an environment as extreme as the Sahara, every drop of water is precious. The gueltas are true refuges for fauna, flora and human communities such as the Tuaregs, who have learned to live
in harmony with these fragile environments. As well as their ecological role, they represent an exceptional natural heritage that must be preserved in the face of climate change.

Terres Touareg
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