Tassili n'Ajjer

For the album by Tinariwen, see Tassili (album).
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tassili n'Ajjer
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Landsat multilayer image of the Tassili n'Ajjer

Type Mixed
Criteria i, iii, vii, viii
Reference 179
UNESCO region Arab States
Inscription history
Inscription 1982 (6th Session)
Location of Tassili n'Ajjer in Algeria.

Tassili n'Ajjer (Berber: Tasili n Ajjer, meaning "Plateau of the Rivers"; Arabic: طاسيلي ناجر) is a mountain range in the Algerian section of the Sahara Desert. It is a vast plateau in south-east Algeria at the borders of Libya and Niger, covering an area of 72,000 km2.

Prehistoric art

The range is also noted for its prehistoric rock art and other ancient archaeological sites, dating from the Neolithic era when the local climate was less dry, savannah rather than desert. The art is no older than 9–10 millennia, according to OSL dating of associated sediments, but may be younger.[1] The art depicts herds of cattle, large wild animals including crocodiles, and human activities such as hunting and dancing. According to UNESCO, "The exceptional density of paintings and engravings...have made Tassili world famous as from 1933, the date of its discovery. 15,000 engravings have been identified to date."[2]

Geography

The Tassili n'Ajjer range extends from 26°20′N 5°00′E / 26.333°N 5.000°E / 26.333; 5.000 east-south-east to 24°00′N 10°00′E / 24.000°N 10.000°E / 24.000; 10.000, and the highest point is Adrar Afao, 2158 m, at 25°10′N 8°11′E / 25.167°N 8.183°E / 25.167; 8.183. The nearest town is Djanet, about 10 km southwest of the range. Much of the range, including the cypresses and archaeological sites (see below), is protected in a National park, Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site, named the Tassili n'Ajjer National Park.

The plateau is also of great geological and aesthetic interest: the panorama of geological formations with "rock forests" of eroded sandstone resembles a strange lunar landscape.[3]

Geology

The range is composed largely of sandstone. Erosion in the area has resulted in nearly 300 natural rock arches being formed, along with many other spectacular landforms.

Ecology

Because of the altitude and the water-holding properties of the sandstone, the vegetation here is somewhat richer than in the surrounding desert; it includes a very scattered woodland of the endangered endemic species Saharan Cypress and Saharan Myrtle in the higher eastern half of the range.

The ecology of the Tassili n'Ajjer is more fully described in the article West Saharan montane xeric woodlands, the ecoregion to which this area belongs. The literal English translation of Tassili n'Ajjer is 'Plateau of the rivers' referring to a time when the climate was repeatedly far wetter than it is today (see Neolithic Subpluvial).

Relict populations of the West African crocodile persisted in the Tassili n'Ajjer until the 20th century.[4]

In popular culture

Gallery

See also

Further reading

Tassili n'Ajjer National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location Tamanrasset Province, Algeria
Coordinates 25°10′0″N 8°10′0″E / 25.16667°N 8.16667°E / 25.16667; 8.16667Coordinates: 25°10′0″N 8°10′0″E / 25.16667°N 8.16667°E / 25.16667; 8.16667
Area 72,000 km²
Established 1972

References

  1. Mercier, Norbert; Le Quellec, Jean-Loïc; Hachid, Malika; Agsous, Safia; Grenet, Michel (July 2012). "OSL dating of quaternary deposits associated with the parietal art of the Tassili-n-Ajjer plateau (Central Sahara)". Quaternary Geochronology 10: 367–373. doi:10.1016/j.quageo.2011.11.010. Retrieved 7 March 2013. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
  2. "Tassili n'Ajer". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. "Tassili National Park, Sahara Algeria". Archmillennium.net. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  4. "Crocodiles in the Sahara Desert: An Update of Distribution, Habitats and Population Status for Conservation Planning in Mauritania". PLOS ONE. 25 February 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tassili n'Ajjer.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tassili n'Ajjer Cultural Park.
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