First snow covers Algerian Sahara in the last 30 years

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This might not be the first place you’d expect to find a festive snowy scene, but these incredible images show the Sahara desert looking particularly chilly.

It is just the second time in living memory that snow has fallen, with the last occasion being in February 1979.

snow sahara algeria, snow sahara algeria pictures, snow sahara algeria video, snow sahara algeria december 2016
via Facebook / Karim Bouchetata

The pictures were taken by amateur photographer Karim Bouchetata in the small Saharan desert town of Ain Sefra, Algeria on December 19, 2016. He captured the amazing moment snow fell on the red sand dunes in the world’s largest hot desert.

snow sahara algeria, snow sahara algeria pictures, snow sahara algeria video, snow sahara algeria december 2016
via Facebook / Karim Bouchetata

This time the snow stayed for a day in the town, which is around 1,000 metres above sea level and surrounded by the Atlas Mountains.

snow sahara algeria, snow sahara algeria pictures, snow sahara algeria video, snow sahara algeria december 2016
via Facebook / Karim Bouchetata

Karim said: ‘Everyone was stunned to see snow falling in the dessert, it is such a rare occurrence. It looked amazing as the snow settled on the sand and made a great set of photos. The snow stayed for about a day and has now melted away.

snow sahara algeria, snow sahara algeria pictures, snow sahara algeria video, snow sahara algeria december 2016
via Facebook / Karim Bouchetata

The Sahara Desert covers most of Northern Africa and it has gone through shifts in temperature and moisture over the past few hundred thousand years.

Although the Sahara is very dry today, it is expected to become green again in about 15,000 years.

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