Algeria 1973

Algeria (1973): Chott el Hodna, Timgad, Mzab and Tassili n′Ajjer

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This page shows pictures of two trips that I made to Algeria in 1973. On the first tri, in April, I first went trekking along the southern shore of Chott el Hodna located about 200km southeast of Algiers, then I visited the Roman ruins of Timgad some 35km east of the town of Batna (see map below). On the second trip, in December I visited the M′zab region and the Tassili n′Ajjer, respectively 460km and 1500km south of Algiers.

Chott el Hodna:

Most of this shallow saline lake was dry when I trekked along its southern shore in April 1973. I had picked this place as a kind of training ground prior to the much more difficult trekking trip in the Danakil Depression that I had planned for the summer 1973 (see here).

Landscapes along the Chott el Hodna.

[One of my camps during the trek.]

Hamlets and oases south of Chott el Hodna.

Timgad:

The Roman town of Timgad was founded by Emperor Trajan around AD 100 and flourished until it was sacked by the Vandals in the 5th century. It is located on the northern side of the Aures mountains. During my visit in April these mountains (visible in some of the photos below) were still covered by snow. At an elevation of about 1000m Timgad was much colder than the Chott el Hodna and there were traces of snow in the ruins.

The Trajan Arch and the Forum are visible in the above photo, respectively on the left and on the center-left. The Aures mountains are visible in the background.

M′zab:

The M′zab is a small region of the northern Sahara that is populated by Mozabites, a Berber tribe. It consists of five walled towns, including Ghardaia and Beni Isguen, the architecture of which is particularly well adapted to the harsh environment.

Towns of M′zab.