George Steinmetz

Algeria has the biggest piece of the Sahara, the greatest number of oases, and an extraordinary variety of surreal arid landscapes. Algeria’s oases were developed with ancient methods of irrigation. Some use ancient underground aqueducts from distant wells, while others were excavated to reach shallow water drawn up by camel, donkey, and mechanical pump for family gardens. And the different oasis towns have their own distinct and beautiful architectural styles as well. In the deep south is the Central Sahara, where strong Harmattan winds sandblast bedrock into surreal sculptures that emerge from a sea of sand.