Natural Arches of Tassili National Park

Index Page 13 - Tin Aboteka Area - Map 6

ALG-124, Eor Arch, Tin-Aboteka Area. 7 meter height (estimated). From ALG-121 (The Gate of Tin-Aboteka), walk up 50 meters south to the reef side and bear east 100 meters along the reef, staying inside it to the arch. This area offers a bunch of natural rock openings in a few hundred square meters. Eor means "moon" in the Tuareg language.

ALG-126, Elou Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 7 meter height (estimated). To locate this arch, look through the opening of ALG-124 (Eor Arch). This double arch is visible 30 meters distant on a sort of terrace. Elou means "elephant" in the Tuareg language. The rock forming the double arch looks like a big elephant. Photo taken in early morning.

ALG-127, Elou Arch (small opening), Tin Aboteka Area. 2.2 meter span by 2.4 meter height (measured). Adjacent to ALG-126, to the left.

ALG-130, Agezeram Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 6.7 meter span (measured). This arch is located only about 60 meters to the right of ALG-126. Agezeram means "lizard" in the Tamahaq dialect.

ALG-128, Stargate Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 8.0 meter span (measured) by 15 meter height (estimated). Pass through ALG-130 (Agezeram Arch) and look to the left. The magnificent Stargate Arch appears magestically about 75 meters away to the north. Photo taken at sunrise. Due to the close location of the camp of Tin -Aboteka (approximately 300 meters), the author revisited this double arch in the evening after dark, under the full vault of stars, with the help of a headlamp.

ALG-129, Stargate Arch (smaller opening), Tin Aboteka Area. 4.5 meter span (measured). Adjacent to ALG-128, on the left (barely visible in photo at upper edge of shadow at lower left).

ALG-132, Jug Handle Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 6 meter height (estimated). Find this arch about 100 meters east of ALG-128 (Stargate Arch), on the lower level of the reef. Photo taken at sunset.

ALG-131, Dark Pillar Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 2 meter height (estimated). Find this arch about 150 meters east of ALG-132 (Jug Handle Arch) in the deep part of the area where corridors of rock interlock.

ALG-133, Akarouche Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 13.2 meters span (measured). GPS 32R 570113 2730399. Find this arch in the same area as ALG-131 (Dark Pillar Arch). Akarouche means "sandcat" in the Tuareg language.

ALG-167, Tuareg Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 4.5 meter span (estimated). Find this arch farther northeast from ALG-131 (Dark Pillar Arch) on the side of the bowl of Tin-Aboteka. Marmoud, the enthusiastic and skilled donkey driver on my trips, provides scale in the photo.

ALG-163, Terrace Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 6 meter height (estimated). This arch is located 400 meters northeast from the camp of Tin-Aboteka, on the other side of the reef. If you go along the reef side, the arch is located up on the rock. Great desert view through the opening.

ALG-125, Rock Art Trail Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 1.5 meter span by 1.5 meter height (estimated). From the bivouac area of Tin-Aboteka, go north on the rock art trail for about 400 meters. The trail passes next to this double arch. Check with your guide.

ALG-134, Reefside Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 7.8 meter span (measured). From The Gate (ALG-121), hike south (up) for 80 meters and exit the reef. Once outside, walk north 150 meters to this arch. The arch is located close to a balanced rock. The balanced rock is visible through the opening in the background of the photo.

ALG-135, unnamed arch 20, Tin Aboteka Area. 4 meter span (estimated). From ALG-134 walk north 100 meters to this arch.

ALG-141, unnamed arch 21, Tin Aboteka Area. 3 meter span (measured). Find this arch in the same area as ALG-135.

ALG-160, Djenoun Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 2 meter span (estimated). From ALG-123 (Tower Arch), walk northwest for about 400 meters to this arch. Djenoun means "evil one" in the Tamahaq dialect.

ALG-162, Perched Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 6 meter height (estimated). From the bivouac area of Tin-Aboteka, walk northwest up through rock masses and enshrined sand dunes 200 meters to a flat area. Cross the flat staying left along the rock of the reef for 300 meters. The arch is visible up on the rock. The view point is located near a star on the ground formed by lines of stones. Accessing the arch requires ability at rock climbing and is not recommended for everyone.

ALG-161, unnamed arch 22, Tin Aboteka Area. Find this double arch on an isolated rock mass on the other (north) side of the flat described with ALG-162.

ALG-158, Dryfall Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 1.5 meter span (estimated). Located somewhere in the northwest area of Tin-Aboteka.

ALG-157, unnamed arch 23, Tin Aboteka Area. 2.5 meter height (estimated). Located somewhere in the northwest area of Tin-Aboteka.

ALG-159, Secret Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 17.2 meter span (measured). GPS 32R 570284 2730000. From ALG-162 (Perched Arch), continue along the rock mass northwest for about 400 meters to a fault in the reef. Turn left (south) into a wash and walk up the dry drainage into a corridor for about 300 meters to a wash confluence. Turn right (northwest) and follow this wash 300 meters along the reef side. Once beside the GPS location, find an access into the reef by climbing a 2-meter steep wall. The arch is located about 50 meters inside the reef and is very well hidden. You cannot spot it until you are very close. The arch is very difficult to photograph but is very beautiful to the eyes.

ALG-156, Stilt Arch, Tin Aboteka Area. 4.5 meter height (estimated). From the access to Secret Arch (ALG-159), continue along the reef side of the wash for about 300 meters northwest to a junction of three washes near a big cairn. Turn right (north) and bypass the needles at the end of Tin-Aboteka. The arch is located on the side of the needles.

ALG-154, Big Low Arch, Unnamed Reef One. 16.6 meter span (measured). From Stilt Arch (ALG-156), cross the flat area and the camel tracks to the left side of Unnamed Reef One (about 100 meters). Walk about 400 meters in this same direction (west) to the arch.

ALG-155, Balcony Arch, Unnamed Reef One. 2 meter span (estimated). From Stilt Arch (ALG-156), cross the flat south across gravel and stone for about 900 meters straight ahead to the second fork of Unnamed Reef One. The arch is located on the reef side. Climbing to the arch is easy. Stilt Arch and the needles at the very end of the Tin-Aboteka reef are visible through the opening in the photo.

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