Dune crest under the breath of the Sahara – Algeria
Under the low-angled light, a dune in the Algerian Sahara dissolves into the wind, a reminder of the shifting nature of the desert.
Every year, nearly 180 million tons of dust and sand rise from the Sahara, driven by the wind. Some of these particles then begin a spectacular journey, crossing the Atlantic over thousands of miles.
Carried by the trade winds, this Saharan dust reaches the Caribbean and South America, where it settles notably over the Amazon basin. It brings essential nutrients, particularly phosphorus, which is vital for soil fertility and the maintenance of the rainforest. Without this regular influx from the desert, one of the planet’s richest ecosystems in biodiversity could not renew itself in the same way.
Thus, this sand torn from the Saharan dunes recalls a fundamental truth: even the most arid and inhospitable environments play an essential role in the balance of life, linking deserts and tropical forests within a single global cycle.