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Arak gorges

earth science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Arak gorges are a special part of the desert. They sit in the Tamanrasset Province of Algeria. These deep canyons are quite far from the city. They are about 330 kilometres from Tamanrasset. These landforms are very important to the desert landscape. They show us how the earth changes over time.

Long ago, flowing rivers carved these deep canyons. The water cut through the rock over many years. Now, the bottom of the canyon is a dry wadi. A wadi is a river bed that stays dry. The walls of the gorge are very high. The climate in this area is extremely dry. It only gets 60 to 75 mm of rain each year.

Life still finds a way to live here. Hardy plants grow despite the lack of water. Many animals call these rocky walls home. You might see red-headed rock agama lizards. You may also see wheatear birds nearby. Small vultures fly high above the cliffs.

People have visited this place throughout history. There are no permanent human settlements there now. However, we know people were there before. They left behind many stone tools. They also left behind small burial mounds. These items show that humans used the gorges.

Think about how a river works like a knife. It slowly cuts through soft ground over time. The Arak gorges are a great example of this. They show how water shapes our big world. Even a dry place can hold many secrets. It is a quiet and ancient land.

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