this post is part 4 of a series covering my trip to Algeria this past February
South of Brezina, in the Algerian province of El Bayadh, lies a series of mesas marking the start of the Sahara. I’ve visited the area on three occasions, the first of which was during a sandstorm in December 2017.
The sandstorm provided an atmosphere in keeping with the other-worldly geological formations, echoing Mars as much as the Grand Canyon. The limited vegetation suggests some moisture or rainfall in the area, however the cliffs themselves are made up of soft clay which breaks off under light impact. High winds limited my exploration during this first visit – we found shelter in a small valley and had a sandy picnic.
I returned in June 2019 to visit during a warm and clear morning, and was able to see much more. From a distance the mesas present as solid masses, imposing figures looming over the low, sparse vegetation and bright orange sand. All photos taken by Emily Silber or the author.
Meandering around and through these formations revealed ridges and valleys and layers upon layers of cliffs framing more cliffs. The formations presented a new face at each turn and obscured and revealed more geologic formations beyond. This place with a thousand faces looks unrecognizable from the overhead satellite view, but from this vantage point one can see the limited perspective offered by each photo.
Each time I visit the area we include a stop between the two largest and most northerly formations. The valley between these formations narrows as you move west, culminating in a sand dune raised about halfway up the cliff side.
The area is a tourist destination and serves as camping spot for locals and travelers alike. Additional photographs, including from on top of the cliffs, can be found on this website.
Adam Achrati 