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Think the Sahara is just endless sand? Think again! Join us as we uncover 10 mind-blowing places hidden in the world's largest hot desert—ancient cities, otherworldly rock formations, and movie-famous landscapes. Ready to see the Sahara’s wild side? Hit subscribe for more awesome adventures and tell us in the comments which place wowed you most! #Travel #History #Geography #Adventure #Nature
👉 This channel was created in collaboration with https://www.youtube.com/@noelpolotv
0:00 - Introducing the Sahara Desert
1:24 - Tassili n'Ajjer: Algeria's Plateau
2:43 - Chinguetti: Ancient City of Mauritania
4:03 - Erg Chebbi: Morocco's Sand Dunes
5:17 - Siwa Oasis: Egypt's Sanctuary
6:33 - Eye of the Sahara and Ait Ben Haddou
9:11 - Salt Lakes, Oases, and Ancient Settlements
11:28 - White Desert, Matmata, and Sahara Legacy
👉 This channel was created in collaboration with https://www.youtube.com/@noelpolotv
0:00 - Introducing the Sahara Desert
1:24 - Tassili n'Ajjer: Algeria's Plateau
2:43 - Chinguetti: Ancient City of Mauritania
4:03 - Erg Chebbi: Morocco's Sand Dunes
5:17 - Siwa Oasis: Egypt's Sanctuary
6:33 - Eye of the Sahara and Ait Ben Haddou
9:11 - Salt Lakes, Oases, and Ancient Settlements
11:28 - White Desert, Matmata, and Sahara Legacy
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TravelTranscript
00:00The Sahara covers an area almost as large as the United States, but fewer than 3 million
00:06people live in this vast region.
00:09It is the largest hot desert in the world, where daytime temperatures can exceed 50 degrees
00:14celsius while at night it can drop to zero.
00:20But if you think of the Sahara as just a vast sea of sand and emptiness, it doesn't reveal
00:25what is truly hidden here.
00:26Beneath this dry environment, there are extraordinary geological formations that seem like they
00:33came from another planet.
00:35There are structures that can be seen in their entirety from space and landscapes that have
00:40served as locations for some of the most famous movies in film history.
00:45For many centuries, different civilizations have not only survived the harsh conditions
00:50here, but have also built cities, libraries and trade routes that connect Africa to other
00:56parts of the world.
00:59In this video, let's discover 10 places that show the two different faces of the Sahara,
01:05a harsh territory formed over millions of years, and a desert that people have learned to inhabit
01:11despite extreme hardship.
01:14But before we begin, if you are new to our channel, please click the subscribe button and
01:19also hit the notification bell so you will always be updated with our latest videos.
01:25Tassili, Niger, Algeria in the south-eastern part of Algeria, near the border of Libya and
01:31Niger, there is a vast plateau called Tassili, Niger.
01:37This region rises to over 1,000 meters high and is surrounded by ancient dry rivers, deep
01:43canyons and cliffs that can only be traversed on foot or by camel.
01:48The most remarkable thing about Tassili, Niger is its unique geology.
01:53Over millions of years, wind and water shaped the sandstone, creating more than 300 natural
02:00arches and rock formations that look like a forest made of stone.
02:06The elevation of the area and the ability of the rocks to store water have helped unique
02:11species like cypress and Saharan myrtles survive here.
02:16These endangered trees have been living in this area for thousands of years.
02:22Aside from its importance in geology, the plateau also hides one of the largest collections of
02:28rock art in the world.
02:29There are more than 15,000 paintings and carvings estimated to be up to 12,000 years old.
02:36These are evidence of a time when the Sahara was a green savanna that could be inhabited.
02:43Cingueti, Mauritania.
02:45In the middle of Mauritania, east of the Adrar plateau, lies Cingueti, a city founded in
02:51the 13th century.
02:52For many centuries, it has been known throughout the Arab world as one of the holy cities of
02:58Islam.
02:59Its origin is connected to the caravan trade.
03:02Caravans carrying gold, salt and ivory between Africa and the Mediterranean passed through here,
03:08as well as pilgrims traveling to Mecca.
03:12Because of the continuous arrival of travelers, Cingueti became a center of learning.
03:18It had more than 30 private libraries where ancient manuscripts about religion, astronomy,
03:25mathematics and law were kept.
03:27Some of these manuscripts are almost a thousand years old.
03:32At present, only five remain, and they are cared for by the same families who have inherited them
03:38through each generation.
03:40But Cingueti is facing a major threat, the relentless advance of the Sands.
03:45The once great city that used to have around 200,000 inhabitants now has only a few thousand
03:53residents.
03:53As the sand slowly covers the streets and stone houses, it is truly a library slowly being
04:00swallowed by the desert.
04:05In the southeastern part of Morocco, near the border of Algeria, lies Erdchebi, a vast sea
04:13of sand that is about 28 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide.
04:20Some of the golden sand dunes reach up to 150 meters high, an impressive height even for
04:26those who have been to other deserts.
04:29In the Moroccan Sahara, fine, dense sand is unusual.
04:35Most of the area is made up of vast, rocky plains where there are few tall sand dunes to climb.
04:43The sands here move slightly each year, sometimes up to half a meter.
04:48Even though the movement is slow, it continues to show that the desert is never truly still.
04:55At the foot of Erdchebi, you'll find Merzuga, the village that serves as the gateway to this
05:02breathtaking landscape.
05:06Here live the Berber communities who for many generations have learned to adapt their way
05:11of life to the rhythm of the desert and to their caravans that carry salt.
05:17Siwa Oasis, Egypt.
05:20In the western desert of Egypt lies the Siwa Oasis, a vast oasis filled with palm trees.
05:27For thousands of years, it has served as a sanctuary of life in one of the driest regions of the
05:32country.
05:32The inhabitants here are primarily of Berber origin, descendants of nomads who came from the Maghreb.
05:41They also preserve their own language called Siwi, which is very different from the Arabic used in most of Egypt.
05:48But what made Siwa famous around the world is the oasis of Amun.
05:54Here you can find the ruins of the ancient temple, where pharaohs and pilgrims used to go to seek advice
06:00from the god.
06:03It's similar to how the ancient Greeks went to the Oracle of Delpha.
06:06Today, Siwa combines ancient ruins, freshwater springs, lakes with salty and turquoise waters, and the Shali Fortress.
06:17The fortress was built using kerchef, a local material made from a mixture of salt and mud.
06:23It is an oasis that has remained almost intact over many centuries and has become an important part of the
06:30ancient roots in Egypt.
06:32Eye of Sahara, Mauretania, on the Adra Plateau of Mauretania, you can find the Rishat structure, more commonly known as
06:40the Eye of the Sahara.
06:42It is a large circular geological formation with a diameter of approximately 50 kilometers.
06:48It is so large that it's almost impossible to see its entire shape from the ground.
06:55It became well known in 1965, after it was photographed from space by astronauts of the Gemini Fortress.
07:01For a mission, even though it was not yet fully understood how it was formed.
07:07At its center are rocks estimated to be up to 2.5 billion years old, while the rocks on its
07:14outer parts are younger.
07:17For many years, it was believed that this might be a crater formed by the impact of a meteorite.
07:23But later on, geologists concluded that it was not a meteorite crater.
07:28Instead, it is a large geological dome that was gradually carved and shaped by erosion over millions of years.
07:37Its exact origin is still being studied.
07:44In the southern part of Morocco, on both sides of the Onila River, about 30 kilometers from Ouarzazate, you will
07:52find 8 Ben Hadou.
07:53It is an ancient fortified community made up of several buildings constructed from adobe.
08:00Its origins date back to medieval times, when it served as an important stop on the caravan trade route connecting
08:07Marrakesh and the Sahara.
08:09This is where those transporting gold, silver, and salt passed through between territories that are now part of Morocco, Mali,
08:18Niger, and Sudan.
08:19Its walls are made of hardened earth and reinforced by towers at the corners.
08:25For many centuries, these structures have withstood harsh conditions using materials that come directly from the earth instead of modern
08:34cement and other materials.
08:36Within the community, you can still see parts of the old city including the mosque, fortified grain storage, and houses
08:44with up to 5 floors that used to belong to wealthier families.
08:48Today, most of the original residents have crossed the river and moved to a smaller and more modern town.
08:57But, 8 Ben Hadou still stands and much of its fame is due to the film industry.
09:04The mud walls have served as the location for countless movies and other productions.
09:10Chaut El Jered, Tunisia Chaut El Jered is located in the south of Tunisia, and it is one of the
09:18largest salt lakes in Africa, covering more than 5,000 square kilometers.
09:23For most of the year, the lake almost completely dries up and becomes a flat white plain that stretches as
09:30far as the eye can see.
09:32During the winter season, some parts are filled with shallow water and small streams.
09:37But because of the intense desert heat, it takes a long time for the water to completely evaporate.
09:43Crossing this area by car is a unique experience.
09:46The road becomes a straight line that seems endless, while on both sides there are only vast and empty landscapes.
09:55At first glance, it might be mistaken for an icy landscape because of its white color, even though it's in
10:01the middle of the African desert.
10:03Beneath the thick crust of salt, you can see traces of an ancient seabed, remnants from a time when this
10:09region was still connected to the Mediterranean Sea.
10:14Awadain, Mauritania, in the northeast of Tingeti, on the Adrar Plateau, you can find Awadain.
10:21It was founded in the 12th century, around 1147 by the Berbers on top of an older settlement.
10:28Like Tingeti, Awadain developed as an important stop for caravans crossing the Sahara carrying gold and salt.
10:36Because of its prosperity, it is said that some residents became very wealthy back then.
10:41In 1487, the Portuguese established a trading post here because of the city's strategic location.
10:49But Awadain also began to decline and it never fully regained its former prosperity.
10:55The battles between clans, changes in trade routes, and armed conflicts in the region during the 20th century gradually reduced
11:04its population.
11:06Today, Awadain is almost a ghost town.
11:09The stone walls, the mosque, and the remains of ancient grain storage facilities still stand.
11:15The old town has been recognized by UNESCO as part of a World Heritage Site.
11:20Awadain is also one of the last settlements you will pass before reaching the Richat structure, more commonly known as
11:25the Eye of the Sahara.
11:28White Desert
11:40The history of these rocks began around 60 million years ago, when this region was still covered by a shallow
11:48sea.
11:50Over millions of years, thick layers of limestone and other sedimentary rocks accumulated here.
11:55As the water gradually receded, the ancient seabed was exposed and began to be shaped by wind and erosion.
12:03The result is white rocks that seem to have been sculpted by nature over a very long period of time.
12:10They have shapes that resemble giant mushrooms, chess pieces, and various animals.
12:15Even today, you can still find marine fossils here, including remains of mollusks and crustaceans, traces of the ancient sea
12:24that once covered this area.
12:26At dusk, the white rocks take on shades of purple and orange.
12:30And when the full moon is bright, the scenery takes on an unusual appearance, making it look like a cold
12:37and almost polar place.
12:39A breathtaking view that seems out of place in the middle of the hot desert.
12:44In 2002, the white desert was declared a national park to protect its unique landscape and the animals that live
12:52there.
12:53Among the animals found here are the fennec fox and the dorcas gazelle.
12:57And there is also a local legend that adds to the mystery of the place.
13:02It is said that an army once disappeared without a trace in a place in this region.
13:08This was the army of Cambyses II of Persia, who in 524 BC was traveling to conquer the Oracle of
13:14Amun at the Siwa Oasis.
13:19Matmata, Tunisia, in the south of Tunisia, at the foot of the Dahar Mountains, lies Matmata, a place known for
13:26its Berber communities and its unique type of architecture.
13:30Instead of building upwards, the people here dig downwards.
13:34For many centuries, families have been digging their homes into the ground.
13:39They start with a large circular courtyard that is dug into the soft rock.
13:45Around this, they make the rooms, the kitchen, and animal pens like tunnels buried underground.
13:53This design is not accidental.
13:56The troglodyte houses help maintain almost the same temperature inside throughout the year.
14:02Because of this, the residents are protected from extreme heat during summer and cold weather during winter.
14:10Because the houses are buried underground, they are almost invisible from the outside.
14:15Because of this, they served as safe shelters during various times of conflict, including World War II and the battles
14:24against the French Protectorate.
14:26In 1969, a severe flood destroyed a large part of Matmata and prompted the residents to build a new community
14:35a few kilometers away.
14:38However, some families chose to remain in their original homes.
14:43From the ancient ruins of Tsingeti and Owadain to the adobe passageways of Eid Ben Haddu, these ten places tell
14:53one shared history from different perspectives.
14:57They show how people adapted to one of the most difficult, yet most fascinating places to live in the world,
15:04the Sahara.
15:06The Sahara is a vast territory that has changed greatly over time.
15:12It is also a place where many people have found ways to stay and survive despite all the challenges.
15:18Where there were once green savannahs and shallow seas, now you will find vast sands and rocks shaped by the
15:25wind.
15:25And in places that seem impossible to live in, there are still people who will do whatever it takes to
15:31survive.
15:33For many generations, they built libraries, fortified cities, and houses carved right into the rock.
15:41Structures that have endured for many cycles.
15:44What truly defines the Sahara is not just its size or its extreme dryness.
15:50What also matters is the ongoing struggle between an environment that tests every form of life and the intense determination
15:57of people to adapt to it.
16:00Each of these places shows a different way people and the desert coexist.
16:05Sometimes their way of life is harmonious and balanced, but at other times their coexistence with the environment is fragile
16:13and full of danger.
16:15Which corner of the Sahara do you find most interesting? Share your answer in the comments.
16:21And if you want to keep discovering the most fascinating places on our planet, subscribe to Noel Polo Television.
16:29See you in our next video!
16:38See you in the next video!
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