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Natural Arches of Tassili National Park


Index Page 22 - Jabbaren Area - Map 11

ALG-61, Long Slit Arch, Jabbaren Area. 7.5 meter span (measured). GPS 32R 573328 2706886. This arch is located at the Jabbaren site on the lower part of the cairned loop trail. You can find the arch where the trail skirts the canyon valley rim. Jabbaren site can be reached from the Tin-Kani site via Tin-Essou (about 6 hours hiking) or from Djanet-Ifni and the 4WD road to the bottom of the Tassili cliff. From there it will take 4 hours to climb to the Jabbaren site via Akba Aroum (Aroum Pass). Jabbaren site is located on the lower level of the plateau ledge. There are few natural arches in the area but an abundance of great rock art. Most of the people who visit the Jabbaren site do not use donkney but hike there and back on the same day. If this is your choice, be ready for a very long and strenuous day. To fully enjoy the site, the author recommends a minimum two day trip. Jabbaren means "giant" in the Tamahaq dialect.
ALG-61
ALG-62, Shepherd's Fresco Arch, Jabbaren Area. 6.2 meter span (measured). GPS 32R 570402 2706625. From ALG-61 (Long Slit Arch), continue on the cairned loop trail northwest, leaving the rim trail and entering into the maze (rock blocks). Walk inside the little maze for 5 minutes to the oval opening. The trail goes by the arch. As the name suggests, there is a beautiful fresco on the side of the opening. The rock art is estimated at 8,000 years old. The shepherd people living there in the past were perhaps fascinated by rock opening symbolism. If you like both arches and rock art, you will have a great moment here.
ALG-62
ALG-64, unnamed arch 60, Jabbaren Area. 2 meter span (estimated). This small arch is located on the side of the trail farther up trail from ALG-62 (Shepherd's Fresco Arch). It is located half way between ALG-62 and a little Tamarisk tree into the little maze.
ALG-64
ALG-63, Tallit Arch, Jabbaren Area. 4.1 meter span by 2.3 meter height (measured). From ALG-64, leave the trail and explore the labyrinthe area (west) to find this arch. Tallit means "full moon" in the Tamahaq dialect.
ALG-63
ALG-65, unnamed arch 61, Jabbaren Area. 2.5 meter span (estimated). Explore the area around ALG-63 (Tallit Arch) to find this one.
ALG-65
ALG-511, Two Tarout Arch, Jabbaren Area. 2 meter height (estimated). From the official campsite of Jabarren, walk 400 meters north to the beginning of Jabbaren Oued. Follow the drainage down canyon to two cypress trees, called "Tarout" in Tamahaq dialect. The arch is located futher down canyon to the right. The two Tarout are visible through the arch, hence the name.
ALG-511
ALG-512, Slit Arch, Jabbaren Area. 2 meter height (estimated). From ALG-511 (Two Tarout Arch), walk down canyon for 600 meters and pass on the way four more "Tarout" (cypress trees). Pass the fourth cypress tree and walk up the little drainage carved in the sandstone for 100 meters to a dry pothole. The arch is located above the photole to the right. If you walk futher down canyon past the fourth cypress tree, you will arrive at a huge pile of fallen blocks before the wash drops into a deep gorge.
ALG-512

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