When snow rested on the mighty Saharan sands

The largest hot desert in the world, the Sahara Desert, surprised the world early today as pictures of snowfall emerged on the internet. The captivating images were taken by amateur photographer Karim Bouchetata on December 19, from near the desert town of Ain Sefra in Algeria. This extraordinary occurrence supposedly last took place in Ain Sefra in 1979, when a snowstorm for half an hour halted traffic in the town.

The second time in living memory, this year’s Sahara snow happened almost after 40 years. The incredible pictures are alluring to say the least. Bouchetata in a statement has mentioned, "Everyone was stunned to see snow falling in the desert, 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."

Ain Sefra, which is also known as the “Gateway to the Desert,” was founded in the year 1881 as a French garrison town. The place has recorded an average of 37 degree Celsius in summer, while during winter months the temperature can go as low as -10.2 degree Celsius. But such an occurrence is never expected in this region.


The pictures evokes a peculiar sense of satisfaction, to see the cold winter snow rest on the sands of the mighty Sahara, mixing up in each other, creating a surreal imagery of deep orange and white. One can only imagine the unexpected luck of people who happen to be passing by the desert during such a time. We can only hope that your travel luck is as blessed as the amateur photographer Karim Bouchetata’s.