EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Scant Water In A Harsh Land

Reservoir
Northern Algeria

Explanation:  Somewhere over northern Algeria, in the mountainous region of the Hauts Plateaux, is this pool of life.

Algeria is a harsh, arid land in northern Africa, and every water source is, essentially, a giver of life.  Rivers are often dammed to provide reservoirs, as water is terribly scarce here, requiring sustainable water use policies.  

Algeria's water management plans include desalinization of water from the Mediterranean Sea for its coastal cities, reservoir waters as a source for agricultural development, and movement of water to water-scare areas (Drouiche et al. 2012).  

In an era of increasing climate aridity -- resulting as well in devastating forest fires -- meeting these challenges may become a test of both political and personal resolve.  

  
Information:
     Drouiche, N., N. Ghaffour, M.W. Naceur, H. Lounici, and M. Drouiche.  2012.  Towards sustainable water management in Algeria.  Desalination and Water Treatment 50(1-3):https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.719477.
     Drouiche, N., R. Khacheba, and R. Soni.  2020.  Water policy in Algeria.  Pp. 19-46 in Zekri, S., editor.  Water policies in MENA countries.  Global Issues in Water Policy, vol. 23.  Springer, Cham.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29274-4_2.
     Sahour, H., M. Vazifedan, and F. Alshehri.  2020.  Aridity trends in the Middle East and adjacent areas.  Theoretical and Applied Climatology 142:1039-1054.