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In pictures: Snow Falls In Algeria’s Sahara Desert
Snow has fallen in the Sahara Desert in north-western Algeria as temperatures plummeted to below freezing.
![Picture dated January 6th shows a covering of snow in the Sahara Desert near Mekalis in northwestern Algeria.](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2182/production/_122887580_d54a1005-7aeb-4548-9019-bb5e05585172.jpg?resize=678%2C556&ssl=1)
For children from nearby towns such as Mekalis, it was a welcome relief from the scorching heat of the world’s largest hot desert.
![Picture dated January 8th shows a covering of snow and ice in the Sahara Desert near Ain Sefra in northwestern Algeria.](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/6FA2/production/_122887582_da9c3d4a-7db6-4781-aee2-cecad2a2f7d0.jpg?resize=678%2C486&ssl=1)
The ice crystals formed stunning patterns in the desert sands.
![Picture dated January 8th shows a covering of snow and ice in the Sahara Desert near Ain Sefra in northwestern Algeria.](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/96B2/production/_122887583_45c9b5a7-8043-4153-82cd-9c435effced8.jpg?resize=678%2C486&ssl=1)
Dunes – ideal for sliding – were also partially covered by the snow and ice.
![Picture dated January 8th shows a covering of snow and ice in the Sahara Desert near Ain Sefra in northwestern Algeria.](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/BDC2/production/_122887584_a112bba8-c9a3-41ba-b05d-f55d62728744.jpg?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1)
The snow in the town of Ain Sefra – known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert – was only a light dusting.
![Picture dated January 8th shows a covering of snow and ice in the Sahara Desert near Ain Sefra in northwestern Algeria.](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/4892/production/_122887581_95bde039-3fc9-4f5e-a534-52b220c1a39c.jpg?resize=678%2C556&ssl=1)
Temperatures in the town, which is surrounded by the Atlas mountains, dropped below -2 for the last three nights but this is only a few degrees colder than average at this time of year, says BBC Weather’s Nicky Berry.
![Picture dated January 6th shows a covering of snow in the Sahara Desert near Mekalis in northwestern Algeria.](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E4D2/production/_122887585_c0e28333-4d3c-4425-aec0-1eacc0cc96ef.jpg?resize=678%2C556&ssl=1)
The snow was not a complete surprise – there were also falls in 2021, 2018 and 2017.
![Snow in the Sahara desert near the town of Ain Sefra, Algeria Snow in the Sahara Desert, Ain Sefra, Algeria - 20 Dec 2016](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10BE2/production/_122887586_9edca256-452c-45e4-89d7-0b5e608fec14.jpg?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1)
But the snow on the red sand dunes in December 2016 did come as a shock. Residents of Ain Sefra said that it was the first time since 1979 they had seen snow, suggesting the phenomenon is now becoming more common.