The Hoggar Mountains (Arabic: جبال هقار, Berber: idurar n Ahaggar) are a highland region in the central Sahara in southern Algeria, along the Tropic of Cancer. The mountains cover an area of approximately 550,000 km.[1]
This mountainous region is located about 1,500 km (930 mi) south of the capital, Algiers. The area is largely rocky desert with an average elevation of more than 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level. The highest peak, Mount Tahat, is at 2,908 m (9,541 ft).[1] The mountains are primarily composed of metamorphic rock approximately 2 billion years old, although there are areas where more recent volcanic activity has laid down much newer rock.[1] Several of the more dramatic peaks, such as Ilamen, are the result of erosion wearing away extinct volcano domes, leaving behind the more resistant material that plugged the volcanic cores.[1]
Topographic map of the Hoggar mountains
Assekrem is a famous and often visited point where Charles de Foucauld built a hermitage in 1911.[2] The main city near the Hoggar Mountains is Tamanrasset, built in a desert valley or wadi.
Environment
The Hoggar Mountain range typically experiences hot summers, with a cold winter climate. Temperatures fall below freezing in the winter. Rainfall is rare and sporadic year-round. However, since the climate is less extreme than in most other areas of the Sahara, the Hoggar Mountains are a major location for biodiversity, including number of relict species. The Hoggar Mountains are part of the West Saharan montane xeric woodlandsecoregion.
The Hoggar mountains are home to the Ahaggar National Park, one of the national parks of the country.[3] The tallest peak in the Hoggar range, Mount Tahat is located in the park area, which covers approximately 450,000 square kilometres (170,000 sq mi).[3]
Fauna and flora
Slightly to the west of the Hoggar range, a population of the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) remained viable into the 20th century, but is now thought to be extirpated within this entire region.[4]
Analysis of collected scat in 2006 showed the presence of the Northwest African cheetah in the region.[5][6] Between August 2008 and November 2010, four individuals were recorded by camera traps.[7] A single cheetah was filmed and photographed by Algerian naturalists in 2020 in the national park in the Atakor volcanic field whose peaks approach a height of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).[8]
Relict populations of the West African crocodile persisted in the Hoggar Mountains until the early 20th century.[9]
Prehistoric settlement is evident from extant rock paintings dating to 6000 BC.[10] The Hoggar Massif is the land of the Kel AhaggarTuareg.[1] The tomb of Tin Hinan, the woman believed to be the matriarch of the Tuareg, is located at Abalessa, an oasis near Tamanrasset.
The hermitage of Charles de Foucauld, which continues to be inhabited by a few Catholic monks, is at the top of the Assekrem plateau in the Hoggar Mountains.[11]
^ abcdeScheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. pp. 32–33. ISBN0-89577-087-3.
^Sattin, Anthony Ham, Nana Luckham, Anthony (2007). Algeria (1st ed.). Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet. p. 188. ISBN978-1741790993. assekrem.
^ abc"Ahaggar National Park, Saharan Algeria Region, Algeria". Algeria.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
^Hogan, C. Michael (2009). . GlobalTwitcher.com. N. Stromberg. Archived from the original on December 9, 2010.
^Busby, G. B. J. (2006). (PDF) (Master's thesis). Imperial College London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
^Busby, G. B. J.; Gottelli, D.; Durant, S.; et al. (November 2006). (PDF). Unpublished Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
^Belbachir, F.; Pettorelli, N.; Wacher, T.; Belbachir-Bazi, A. & Durant, S.M. (2015). "Monitoring rarity: the critically endangered Saharan cheetah as a flagship species for a threatened ecosystem". PLOS ONE. 10 (1): e0115136. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1015136B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115136. PMC4309643. PMID 25629400.
^Agence France-Presse (24 May 2020). "Critically Endangered Saharan Cheetah Seen in Algeria For The First Time in a Decade". Sciencealert.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
^Brito, J. C.; Martínez-Freiría, F.; Sierra, P.; et al. (2011). "Crocodiles in the Sahara Desert: An Update of Distribution, Habitats and Population Status for Conservation Planning in Mauritania". PLOS One. 6 (2): e14734. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...614734B. CiteSeerX10.1.1.293.4325. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0014734. PMC3045445. PMID 21364897.
^Haggett, Peter (2001). Encyclopedia of World Geography. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN0-7614-7289-4.
^Ham, Anthony (2007). Algeria. Lonely Planet. p. 188.
Ahaggar National Park - The Biodiverse Home of the Saharan Cheetah
January 31, 2023
hoggar, mountains, hoggar, redirects, here, confused, with, hoggard, disambiguation, arabic, جبال, هقار, berber, idurar, ahaggar, highland, region, central, sahara, southern, algeria, along, tropic, cancer, mountains, cover, area, approximately, landscape, ass. Hoggar redirects here Not to be confused with Hoggard disambiguation The Hoggar Mountains Arabic جبال هقار Berber idurar n Ahaggar are a highland region in the central Sahara in southern Algeria along the Tropic of Cancer The mountains cover an area of approximately 550 000 km 1 Hoggar MountainsLandscape of the Assekrem region in the Hoggar in Tamanrasset ProvinceHighest pointPeakMount TahatElevation2 908 m 9 541 ft Coordinates23 17 20 N 05 32 01 E 23 28889 N 5 53361 E 23 28889 5 53361 Coordinates 23 17 20 N 05 32 01 E 23 28889 N 5 53361 E 23 28889 5 53361NamingNative nameجبال هقار Arabic Idurar n Uhaggar Berber languages GeographyHoggar MountainsLocation in southern AlgeriaCountryAlgeriaHoggar National ParkIUCN category II national park Locator mapLocationTamanrasset Province AlgeriaNearest cityTamanrassetCoordinates22 08 N 6 10 E 22 133 N 6 167 E 22 133 6 167Area450 000 km2 170 000 sq mi Established1987 Contents 1 Geography 2 Environment 2 1 Fauna and flora 3 Cultural significance 4 Panoramic view 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksGeography Edit An oasis in the Hoggar Mountains This mountainous region is located about 1 500 km 930 mi south of the capital Algiers The area is largely rocky desert with an average elevation of more than 900 m 3 000 ft above sea level The highest peak Mount Tahat is at 2 908 m 9 541 ft 1 The mountains are primarily composed of metamorphic rock approximately 2 billion years old although there are areas where more recent volcanic activity has laid down much newer rock 1 Several of the more dramatic peaks such as Ilamen are the result of erosion wearing away extinct volcano domes leaving behind the more resistant material that plugged the volcanic cores 1 Topographic map of the Hoggar mountains Assekrem is a famous and often visited point where Charles de Foucauld built a hermitage in 1911 2 The main city near the Hoggar Mountains is Tamanrasset built in a desert valley or wadi Environment EditThe Hoggar Mountain range typically experiences hot summers with a cold winter climate Temperatures fall below freezing in the winter Rainfall is rare and sporadic year round However since the climate is less extreme than in most other areas of the Sahara the Hoggar Mountains are a major location for biodiversity including number of relict species The Hoggar Mountains are part of the West Saharan montane xeric woodlands ecoregion The Hoggar mountains are home to the Ahaggar National Park one of the national parks of the country 3 The tallest peak in the Hoggar range Mount Tahat is located in the park area which covers approximately 450 000 square kilometres 170 000 sq mi 3 Fauna and flora Edit Slightly to the west of the Hoggar range a population of the endangered African wild dog Lycaon pictus remained viable into the 20th century but is now thought to be extirpated within this entire region 4 Analysis of collected scat in 2006 showed the presence of the Northwest African cheetah in the region 5 6 Between August 2008 and November 2010 four individuals were recorded by camera traps 7 A single cheetah was filmed and photographed by Algerian naturalists in 2020 in the national park in the Atakor volcanic field whose peaks approach a height of 3 000 metres 9 800 ft 8 Relict populations of the West African crocodile persisted in the Hoggar Mountains until the early 20th century 9 The park also contains a population of herbivores such as the saharan subspecies of the barbary sheep and the Dorcas gazelle 3 Vegetation in this area includes trees such as Vachellia tortilis Vachellia seyal myrtle and Tamarix aphylla which are scattered throughout the area Other plants may include Citrullus colocynthis and Calotropis procera Cultural significance EditPrehistoric settlement is evident from extant rock paintings dating to 6000 BC 10 The Hoggar Massif is the land of the Kel Ahaggar Tuareg 1 The tomb of Tin Hinan the woman believed to be the matriarch of the Tuareg is located at Abalessa an oasis near Tamanrasset The hermitage of Charles de Foucauld which continues to be inhabited by a few Catholic monks is at the top of the Assekrem plateau in the Hoggar Mountains 11 Panoramic view Edit Panorama of The Ahaggar mountainsSee also EditFrance and weapons of mass destruction Saharan facilities Saharan rock art Teffedest MountainsReferences Edit a b c d e Scheffel Richard L Wernet Susan J eds 1980 Natural Wonders of the World United States of America Reader s Digest Association Inc pp 32 33 ISBN 0 89577 087 3 Sattin Anthony Ham Nana Luckham Anthony 2007 Algeria 1st ed Footscray Vic Lonely Planet p 188 ISBN 978 1741790993 assekrem a b c Ahaggar National Park Saharan Algeria Region Algeria Algeria com Retrieved 27 May 2020 Hogan C Michael 2009 Painted Hunting Dog Lycaon pictus GlobalTwitcher com N Stromberg Archived from the original on December 9 2010 Busby G B J 2006 The Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus in Northern Africa A Non Invasive Genetic Study of Carnivores from the Ahaggar Mountains Southern Algeria PDF Master s thesis Imperial College London Archived from the original PDF on 2020 09 21 Retrieved 2010 09 22 Busby G B J Gottelli D Durant S et al November 2006 A Report from the Sahelo Saharan Interest Group Office du Parc National de l Ahaggar Survey Algeria March 2005 Part 5 Using Molecular Genetics to study the Presence of Endangered Carnivores PDF Unpublished Report Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2010 09 22 Belbachir F Pettorelli N Wacher T Belbachir Bazi A amp Durant S M 2015 Monitoring rarity the critically endangered Saharan cheetah as a flagship species for a threatened ecosystem PLOS ONE 10 1 e0115136 Bibcode 2015PLoSO 1015136B doi 10 1371 journal pone 0115136 PMC 4309643 PMID 25629400 Agence France Presse 24 May 2020 Critically Endangered Saharan Cheetah Seen in Algeria For The First Time in a Decade Sciencealert com Retrieved 27 May 2020 Brito J C Martinez Freiria F Sierra P et al 2011 Crocodiles in the Sahara Desert An Update of Distribution Habitats and Population Status for Conservation Planning in Mauritania PLOS One 6 2 e14734 Bibcode 2011PLoSO 614734B CiteSeerX 10 1 1 293 4325 doi 10 1371 journal pone 0014734 PMC 3045445 PMID 21364897 Haggett Peter 2001 Encyclopedia of World Geography Marshall Cavendish ISBN 0 7614 7289 4 Ham Anthony 2007 Algeria Lonely Planet p 188 Further reading EditKeenan Jeremy 1977 The Tuareg People of Ahaggar London Allen Lane Penguin Books ISBN 0 7139 0636 7 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hoggar in French A website about the park Park data on UNEP WPMC Ahaggar National Park The Biodiverse Home of the Saharan Cheetah Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hoggar Mountains amp oldid 1116816857, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
