Known as Al-Ghout in the Wadi Souf region, located in the southeast of Algeria, this is an abyssal depression between sand dunes with a depth of 40 meters and a diameter of 80 to 200 meters, created by farmers. Water from the aquifer irrigates the land without direct intervention from the farmer, a process known in the region as the bali method. This allows citizens in the old Wadi Souf region to plant palm trees in the ghout and travel to work in more remote areas. The palms do not need additional watering and are visited only in spring for pollination and in autumn for harvesting. The creation of Al-Ghout involves raising sand using a caddy or by donkeys and mules, a laborious and strenuous process. However, the determination and love of the land by the parents and grandparents led to the creation of the ghout, which is now a source of regional pride and a testament to their intelligence and perseverance.
This agricultural practice specific to the Wadi Souf region was recognized as a world agricultural heritage by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2009. When observing these sands, one might imagine a green paradise amidst the golden dunes. The beauty of this scene is particularly striking at sunrise or sunset, with the palm trees nestled among the dunes. The FAO has classified it as a tourist attraction due to its scenic beauty and has supported efforts to preserve the unique pyramid palms, as European travelers have referred to them, from being lost.
Until the 1970s and 1980s, the palm oases in the depths of the desert were popular destinations for foreign tourists due to their natural beauty. Palm cultivation relies on traditional methods, with no machines or electricity, reflecting a simple, traditional way of life.
“Riffa_Al-Ramla”
The old Soviet man pictured here is digging a basin with extensive dimensions, hundreds of meters long and wide, and with a depth of 40 meters, from the flat earth and its proximity to the water.
Sand Lift:
This is a fundamental process when starting a new ghout or expanding an old one. The owner of the ghout either continues this process himself or hires workers known as Al-Ramalah. They use tools such as Al-Qafwa, Al-Zanbeel, and Al-Abana.
