2014-03-08

Guelta d'Archei | Amazing lake in Sahara Desert

Guelta d'Archei is a wonderful place in the heart of the Sahara Desert. It is located in the Ennedi Plateau, in north-eastern Chad, south-east of the town of Fada. The Guelta d'Archei is inhabited by several kinds of animals, most notably the Nile crocodile, which is one of the last places in the Sahara where Nile crocodiles are found. 

Geltow d'Arshey located in the north-east of the Republic of Chad.
The Middle Holocene remains, as well as rock paintings, indicate that this species once thrived across most of today's Sahara Desert and in swamps and rivers along the South Mediterranean shores. The small group of surviving crocodiles in the Guelta d'Archei represents one of the last colonies known in the Sahara today; the Tagant Plateau colony in Mauritania has likely been extinct since 1996. The word "guelta" means "wetland". The reservoirs of this wetland are supported by groundwater. Guelta d'Arshey lies in an extensive desert area, making access to this wonderful place difficult. 

Image by Flickr user josephescu
The Guelta d’Archei is probably the most famous guelta in the Sahara
Image by Flickr user josephescu

The underground water meets a land depression and it comes to the surface, forming what we would call an oasis
Image by Flickr user A.Bielecki

The Guelta d'Archei is probably the most famous guelta in the Sahara. It is located in the Ennedi Plateau, in north-eastern Chad, south-east of the town of Fada. The Guelta d'Archei is inhabited by several kinds of animals, most notably the Nile crocodile
Image by Flickr user josephescu

The Guelta d'Archei is probably the most famous guelta in the Sahara. It is located in the Ennedi Plateau, in north-eastern Chad, south-east of the town of Fada. The Guelta d'Archei is inhabited by several kinds of animals, most notably the Nile crocodile
Image by Flickr user josephescu

The Guelta d'Archei is probably the most famous guelta in the Sahara. It is located in the Ennedi Plateau, in north-eastern Chad, south-east of the town of Fada. The Guelta d'Archei is inhabited by several kinds of animals, most notably the Nile crocodile
Image by Flickr user josephescu

Guelta d'Arshey | Amazing lake in Sahara Desert
Image by Flickr user josephescu

The Guelta d'Archei is probably the most famous guelta in the Sahara. It is located in the Ennedi Plateau, in north-eastern Chad, south-east of the town of Fada. The Guelta d'Archei is inhabited by several kinds of animals, most notably the Nile crocodile
Image by Flickr user josephescu

The Guelta d'Archei is probably the most famous guelta in the Sahara. It is located in the Ennedi Plateau, in north-eastern Chad, south-east of the town of Fada. The Guelta d'Archei is inhabited by several kinds of animals, most notably the Nile crocodile
Image by Flickr user josephescu

Guelta Archei is a watering place for camels located in the Ennedi plateau. The guelta is also inhabited by a very small number ( between 1 and 7 there are only estimations) of the Nile crocodile. This is one of the last colonies of crocodiles in the Sahara. There is another colony in Mauritania. You can see the crocodile on the right edge.
Guelta Archei is a watering place for camels located in the Ennedi plateau. The guetta is also inhabited by a very small number (between 1 and 7, there are only estimations) of the Nile crocodile. This is one of the last colonies of crocodiles in the Sahara. There is another colony in Mauritania. You can see the crocodile on the right edge. Image by Flickr user Hannes Rada

The Guelta d'Archei is probably the most famous guelta in the Sahara. It is located in the Ennedi Plateau, in north-eastern Chad, south-east of the town of Fada. The Guelta d'Archei is inhabited by several kinds of animals, most notably the Nile crocodile
Image by Flickr user josephescu

The Guelta d'Archei is the most famous permanent water source in the Ennedi region of Chad. Everyday, hundreds of camels are herded into the guelta in order to drink. That particular morning, one of the herdsmen was claiming that 850 of them were at once in the guelta. The value of a camel ranges between 250 EUR up to 800 EUR (and more). They are mainly raised for the milk they produce and as transport animals (not for the meat).
Image by Flickr user A.Bielecki

The Guelta d'Archei is the most famous permanent water source in the Ennedi region of Chad. Every day, hundreds of camels are herded into the guetta to drink. That particular morning, one of the herdsmen was claiming that 850 of them were at once in the guelta. The value of a camel ranges between 250 EUR and 800 EUR (and more). They are mainly raised for the milk they produce and as transport animals (not for the meat). 
Source — Wikipedia

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