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The Sahara Desert is the last place you’d expect to find snow. It is, after all, one of the driest and hottest regions of the world with an average temperature of 30C. But in a surreal turn of events to mark the end of an already surreal year, the small desert town of Ain Sefra in Algeria woke up yesterday to find that the red sand dunes had unexpectedly turned white.
The bizarre phenomenon was caught on camera by amateur photographer Karim Bouchetata. “Everyone was stunned to see snow falling in the dessert,” he said. “It is such a rare occurrence. It looked amazing as the snow settled on the sand and made a great set of photos. The snow stayed for about a day and has now melted away.” This is only the second time in living memory that snow has fallen on the Sahara. The first time was in February 1979, also in Algeria.
More info: Facebook | Geoff Robinson Photography
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What do you think ?
Veronique Anketier 8 years ago
The last pictures make me think of cocoa poured over cream. Wait... why are we all fantasizing about food? :-D
Nuno Barros 8 years ago
It's so rare to rain this time of the year, that snow almost never falls! When it does rain it's usually too hot. Negatives are actually common this time of the year: https://goo.gl/ZJ4SN2
Nuno Barros 8 years ago
Rain is rare there, not cold temperatures in winter...
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Shari Mangus Morsli 8 years ago
My husband was born in Ain Sefra. I visited there this summer. It's got sand dunes but technically is not the desert. It's in the area where you start seeing sand but it isn't all sand.
Samantha P 8 years ago
I haven't even had snow on the ground yet and I live in California!!!! What's the odds of that??
Banana Pundae 8 years ago
Well you just wanna break everything 2016, well *pounces and ends. Well now 2017 is in jail so we have more of 2016 yay. I'm dead inside
Randy Aliwarga 8 years ago
You should tune in to Anggun's "Snow on the Sahara" song. A really nice song
Ahmad Pujianto 8 years ago
Hi.. There has been a song for this few years ago.. Check it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpj3ra3AeJk
Gabriella Lengyel 8 years ago
Amazing... could we expect a florishing sands soon? I'm making fun but the sight of snow in the Sahara is beautifull☃
Rimsha Khalid 8 years ago
I'm sorry but this is fake how can it snow in the driest and hottest climate no way unbelievable 100%
Nuno Barros 8 years ago
Freezing temperature this time are actually normal, it's just rain that isn't.
Load More Replies...
Andrew Ramirez 8 years ago
Please refrain form commenting about how global warming is a "myth." It's not. The fact isn't even disputable.
Veronique Anketier 8 years ago
The last pictures make me think of cocoa poured over cream. Wait... why are we all fantasizing about food? :-D
Nuno Barros 8 years ago
It's so rare to rain this time of the year, that snow almost never falls! When it does rain it's usually too hot. Negatives are actually common this time of the year: https://goo.gl/ZJ4SN2
Nuno Barros 8 years ago
Rain is rare there, not cold temperatures in winter...
Load More Replies... Shari Mangus Morsli 8 years ago
My husband was born in Ain Sefra. I visited there this summer. It's got sand dunes but technically is not the desert. It's in the area where you start seeing sand but it isn't all sand.
Samantha P 8 years ago
I haven't even had snow on the ground yet and I live in California!!!! What's the odds of that??
Banana Pundae 8 years ago
Well you just wanna break everything 2016, well *pounces and ends. Well now 2017 is in jail so we have more of 2016 yay. I'm dead inside
Randy Aliwarga 8 years ago
You should tune in to Anggun's "Snow on the Sahara" song. A really nice song
Ahmad Pujianto 8 years ago
Hi.. There has been a song for this few years ago.. Check it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpj3ra3AeJk
Gabriella Lengyel 8 years ago
Amazing... could we expect a florishing sands soon? I'm making fun but the sight of snow in the Sahara is beautifull☃
Rimsha Khalid 8 years ago
I'm sorry but this is fake how can it snow in the driest and hottest climate no way unbelievable 100%
Nuno Barros 8 years ago
Freezing temperature this time are actually normal, it's just rain that isn't.
Load More Replies... Andrew Ramirez 8 years ago
Please refrain form commenting about how global warming is a "myth." It's not. The fact isn't even disputable.
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