Niger - Ténéré
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Niger - Ténéré
The Ténéré Desert is part of the Sahara Desert and extends from northeastern Niger into western Chad. It has an area of approximately 400,000 square km. The Ténéré has an extremely hot and dry climate. In its hottest areas the average high temperatures are above 40 °C for about 5 months. The name “Ténéré” comes from the Tuareg language and mean literally "desert".
Morning in Agadez
An early morning in Agadez. The Grand Mosque can be seen in the background. The Mosque is made of clay and is known as the tallest minaret ever built entirely out of mudbrick (27 meters). The original was built in 1515. It was rebuilt in 1844.
The Grand Mosque of Agadez
The Mosque is made of clay and is known as the tallest minaret ever built entirely out of mudbrick (27 meters). The original was built in 1515. It was rebuilt in 1844.
The Grand Mosque of Agadez
The Mosque is made of clay and is known as the tallest minaret ever built entirely out of mudbrick (27 meters). The original was built in 1515. It was rebuilt in 1844.
The Grand Mosque of Agadez
The Mosque is made of clay and is known as the tallest minaret ever built entirely out of mudbrick (27 meters). The original was built in 1515. It was rebuilt in 1844.
The Grand Mosque of Agadez
The Mosque is made of clay and is known as the tallest minaret ever built entirely out of mudbrick (27 meters). The original was built in 1515. It was rebuilt in 1844.
Street view, Agadez morning
An early morning in Agadez. The city is the fifth largest city in Niger. It has a population of around 110,000 people (2012). The historic centre of the town has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Ski shop in Agadez: Skiing on sand
A shop in Agadez sells and rents skis and snowboards! The shop was set up nearly 40 years ago by an enterprising man that saw a possible market for ski hire in the Sahara Desert. The equipment is used on dunes (sandboarding).
Migrant workers going back home to Niger from Libya
Migrant workers returning back home to Niger through the Ténéré desert from Libya. Here they have worked for 2-3 years as guest workers before they return to their home country. The journey can be quite risky as the trucks often suffers breakdowns leaving the passengers stranded in the heat of the day (and the cold of the night). The trip can take up to 10 days.
Migrant workers going back home to Niger from Libya
Migrant workers returning back home to Niger through the Ténéré desert from Libya. Here they have worked for 2-3 years as guest workers before they return to their home country. The journey can be quite risky as the trucks often suffers breakdowns leaving the passengers stranded in the heat of the day (and the cold of the night). The trip can take up to 10 days.
Migrant workers going back home to Niger from Libya
Migrant workers returning back home to Niger through the Ténéré desert from Libya. Here they have worked for 2-3 years as guest workers before they return to their home country. The journey can be quite risky as the trucks often suffers breakdowns leaving the passengers stranded in the heat of the day (and the cold of the night). The trip can take up to 10 days.
Migrant workers going back home to Niger from Libya
Migrant workers returning back home to Niger through the Ténéré desert from Libya. Here they have worked for 2-3 years as guest workers before they return to their home country. The journey can be quite risky as the trucks often suffers breakdowns leaving the passengers stranded in the heat of the day (and the cold of the night). The trip can take up to 10 days.
A truck with armed guards
A truck with armed guards from some facility in the Ténéré desert asks for water and cigarettes.
Car temporarily stuck in the desert
Car is temporarily stuck in the desert. Some digging in the sand and pushing are necessary.
Wide open spaces
Driving through wide open spaces in the Ténéré desert.
Camping out in the desert
Cooking food and camping out in the Ténéré desert.
The girls from Fachi greets rare visitors
The girls from Fachi comes to greets visitors. It is not every day that strangers come by. Fachi is an oasis surrounded by the Ténéré desert It has a population of around 2,000 people. It is one of the stopping points of the Agadez to Bilma caravans.
A girl from Fachi, Ténéré desert
One of the girls from Fachi. Fachi is an oasis surrounded by the Ténéré desert It has a population of around 2,000 people. It is one of the stopping points of the Agadez to Bilma caravans. Fachi is 240 kilometers west of Bilma and 320 km east of the Aïr Mountains.
A girl from Fachi, Ténéré desert
One of the girls from Fachi. Fachi is an oasis surrounded by the Ténéré desert It has a population of around 2,000 people. It is one of the stopping points of the Agadez to Bilma caravans.
A girl from Fachi, Ténéré desert
One of the girls from Fachi. Fachi is an oasis surrounded by the Ténéré desert It has a population of around 2,000 people. It is one of the stopping points of the Agadez to Bilma caravans.
A girl from Fachi, Ténéré desert
One of the girls from Fachi. Fachi is an oasis surrounded by the Ténéré desert It has a population of around 2,000 people. It is one of the stopping points of the Agadez to Bilma caravans.
Two girls from Fachi greets rare visitors
The girls from Fachi comes to greets visitors. It is not every day that strangers come by. Fachi is an oasis surrounded by the Ténéré desert It has a population of around 2,000 people. It is one of the stopping points of the Agadez to Bilma caravans. Just like in Bilma, salt is also produced in Fachi. Fachi is 240 kilometers west of Bilma and 320 km east of the Aïr Mountains.
Girls from Fachi in the sunset
Some girls from Fachi in the sunset. Fachi is an oasis surrounded by the Ténéré desert It has a population of around 2,000 people. It is one of the stopping points of the Agadez to Bilma caravans.
A small shop in Bilma
A gentle shop owner in Bilma. He sells various groceries: refreshments, clothes, soap, dry food, washing powder, tea, broth, sugar, coffee (typically things with a long shelf life).
Street life in Dirkou
There is life in the streets of Dirkou, a small town a little north of Bilma (with around 15,000 inhabitants).
People and livestock in Dirkou
Goats are driven to the market in Dirkou, a small town a little north of Bilma (with around 15,000 inhabitants).
Truck breakdown in the desert
Migrant workers returning back home to Niger through the Ténéré desert from Libya. Here they have worked for 2-3 years as guest workers before they return to their home country. The journey can be quite risky as the trucks often suffers breakdowns leaving the passengers stranded in the heat of the day (and the cold of the night). The trip can take up to 10 days.
Sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Camels in the sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Camels in the sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Camels in the sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Camels in the sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Camels in the sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Camels in the sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Camels in the sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Camping out at Arakaou
Camping below one of the sand dunes at Arakaou. The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Sand dunes of Arakaou
The massive sand dunes of Arakaou are located in the east of the Aïr mountains. Arakaou is an almost circular basin that has an opening to the Ténéré desert to the northeast. It was formed by a broken caldera of an extinct volcano. The dunes are among the highest in the Ténéré (up to 200 meters high).
Two men chatting at Assodé
Two men chatting at Assodé. Assodé was a town in the Aïr Mountains. It was abandoned after being sacked by the Tuareg forces during the Kaocen revolt of 1917.
Man enjoying the evening view at Assodé
A man is enjoying the evening view at Assodé. Assodé was a town in the Aïr Mountains. It was abandoned after being sacked by the Tuareg forces during the Kaocen revolt of 1917.
Lady from Assodé
A lady from a nomad family living near Assodé. Assodé was a town in the Aïr Mountains. It was abandoned after being sacked by the Tuareg forces during the Kaocen revolt of 1917.
Man from Assodé
A man from a nomad family living near Assodé. Assodé was a town in the Aïr Mountains. It was abandoned after being sacked by the Tuareg forces during the Kaocen revolt of 1917.
Pumping water from a well in Timia
Outside the small village of Timia, the EU has sponsored the excavation of wells. Timia is an oasis located in the Aïr Mountains. The commune had in 2011 a total population of around 14,000 people.
Pumping water from a well in Timia
Outside the small village of Timia, the EU has sponsored the excavation of wells. Timia is an oasis located in the Aïr Mountains. The commune had in 2011 a total population of around 14,000 people.
