Tifernine Dunes

The Tassili N’ Ajjer of southeastern Algeria consists of large areas of sand dunes and substantial areas of sandstone outcrops. This photograph vividly displays the differences between these two major landforms.

The Tifernine Dunes were named after the intermittently-flowing, south-to-north Tifernine watercourse along the southwestern edge of the dunes. The dark, weathered sandstone rocks that border the Tifernine Dunes to the east and southwest have deep, narrow ravines that comprise a well-entrenched drainage pattern through the higher elevations of the surrounding plateau. This erosion process began millions of years ago when the climate was much wetter. This region now receives less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of rainfall annually.

This distinctive geographical feature provides Space Shuttle astronauts with a reference point in the much larger Sahara Desert.

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