Landscape in Belgium

Salt lake of Coipasa - Bolivia

Schächental - Canton Uri - Switzerland

Landscape in Enneri Bardague - Chad

Fatamorgana in the area of Illizi - Algeria

Landscape in Finland

Gauchos cross with their cattle herd the Río Aluminé - Province of Neuquén - Argentina

USA - Landscape and Engraving - Saguaro National Park in Arizona

Huascarán, the highest mountain of Peru - Callejón de Huaylas

Region of Audienne - Brittany - France

Evening atmosphere at the seaside - Brittany - France

On the island of Ouessant - Brittany - France

Fisherman in the Gulf of Morbihan - Brittany - France

Lonely tree on a field of rape - Brittany - France

View from the Lighthouse St. Mathieu - Brittany - France

Sunset on the Atlantic - Brittany – France

F - Provence - Spring is here....

F - Camargue - Transhumance in the Rhone Delta

F - Provence – Lavender fields in mid-July

F - Provence - Blossoming almond trees and vines in spring

The caravan crosses the desert near the Crab’s claw - in the background the Oued Arakao - Niger

March through the dunes of Erg Izane in the area of Chiriet - Niger

Crossing the almost endless desert of Erg Izane - Niger

The desert of Erg Izane doesn't seem to have an end - Niger

The caravan starts early in the morning - Adrar Bous region - Niger

Dunes at Saoura in the Grand Erg Occidental

Caravan against the backdrop of a thunderstorm at Smara (Spanish Sahara).

Indonesia - Sulawesi - Rice fields at Sinjai

Canada – B.C. – At sea - North of Prince Rupert

USA-Alaska - Evening in the Sitka Sound - Tlingit Region

Panoramic view of the sacred city of Machu Picchu, seen from Huayna Picchu

The salt of Maras is still extracted like in the days of the Incas.

The sacred city of Machu Picchu, seen from Huayna Picchu.

Dunes and a dead tree - This tiny dead tree contrasts with the immense and sensual sand dunes caressed by the wind. - Tenere - Niger

Objective Arakao - At the edge of the Aïr and the Ténéré, the Arakao mountains become visible on the horizon, setting the goal of a long day's march for the caravan. Caution: Bring enough water! - Niger / between Aïr and Tenere / 1999

Dunes in Arakao - The Arakao region is part of the Aïr Massif, which is still one of the most wooded areas in the Sahara. However, at the border of the Ténéré and its dunes, the already sparse vegetation disappears abruptly. - Niger / between Aïr and Ténéré / 1992

Exploring - Like a Scout leader, Abakaoua explores the narrow passage that leads to the top of the dunes of Ifiniyane.

The lost stone - At sunset, the shadow of a rare stone points north-east. - Niger / Ténéré / 1975

Marble, Oued (Wadi) In-Gall - At the foot of marble blocks, the sea of sand crashes like the ocean against the jagged cliffs that have been polished during millennia. - Niger / Aïr / 1992

Color variations - Only green is missing, the rarest color in the desert... and symbol of life.

The great outdoors… - The caravan moves southeast, towards the endless Ténéré. - Niger / Ténéré / 2000

Guelta of Enghar - Probably the coldest water in the Aïr! The sun never shines into the depths of this rock cleft on the trail to Toufouchi. - Niger / Aïr / 2001

Guelta of Agamgam - Among volcanic walls, clan chief Abakaoua leads his camels to a drinking hole and its amazingly fresh, cool water.

Hanging from the moon - In this lunar landscape, a tree spreads its network of roots and branches across a wide area to catch the meager dew necessary for its survival. Yet another miracle! - Niger / Aïr / Piste d'Agamgam / 1992

The only possible way - In a narrow canyon, the caravan of camels examine the only passable route through the rocky chaos. - Abri Ilem / Niger / Aïr

The red boulder - A clear day on wadi Tafidet, which – though rarely – carries water from the Aïr to the Ténéré. Driven by an exceptional flood, this rock broke off its route and, when the sun reappeared, had landed here. - Niger / Ténéré / 1992

Where there’s water, there's life - The waterhole of Iffazane offers a rare treasure: water, which provides for fresh greenery throughout the year. - Niger / Aïr / 2002

Return from the well - The donkeys are tired, the water odres are full and the sun approaches its zenith: a common sight on the track between Iferouâne and Arlit. - Niger / Aïr / 2003

Gazelle grass - In the Ténéré, vegetation is often limited to individual grasses, sparse food for gazelles and cattle, but a poetic toy for the wind.

The dunes and the bird - A picture puzzle: Where is the bird? With a magnifying glass, one can see the black and white Moulay-Moulay (white-crowned wheatear from the Sahara, Oenanthe leucopyga), which is traditionally regarded as a lucky charm for travelers.

Dunes at Temet - In the dry season, the Wadi Temet consists only of a red-hot riverbed featuring the silhouette of a dead tree, which the dunes protect and threaten at the same time. - Niger / between Aïr and Ténéré / 2003

Marble and wood, a still life - A composition of desolate eternity in the land of Kel-Kédélé.

Dusk over the Arakao - The dead tree in backlight is reminiscent of a fallen figure by Giacometti. - Niger / between Aïr and Ténéré

Light and Shadow - The sun rises on Arakao. Nothing will disturb the silence of the shadows or the stillness of the light. - Niger / between Aïr and Ténéré / 1992

The great crossing - Through rippled sand waves and immense dunes, the way of the caravan seems to be without end. - Niger / Ténéré / Erg Izane / 2001

Draw me a shadow - Shadow of life, shadow of death in the solitude of the desert. - Niger / Between Aïr and Ténéré / 1999

Lone Tree, region of Adrar Bous - How did this tree grow roots here? How has it survived the winds, the hungry herds and the men looking for lumber? Maybe they let it live because it provides unexpected shade in return. - Niger / Ténéré / 2003

Balance - The sculptor god has chosen a huge space under the sky for the exhibition of his work. Admission is free for all who endeavor to come here. - Niger / between Aïr and Ténéré / 2000

Silent sands - Listen to the song of the dunes, a mysterious symphony of souls and bodies. - Niger / Ténéré / Arakao / 1992

Large Arch - 89 meters long, Landscape Arch is the largest arch in the world. Under the combined action of water and high thermal amplitudes, erosion has stripped away the more brittle layers of the red sandstone, leaving intact only the most resistant parts (Arches National Park, Utah, USA). - 1972

Azalaï is the name given to the caravans that transport salt from Bilma to Agadez. The route is strenuous and dangerous even for the dromedaries, as proved by this skeleton in the foreground.

At the edge of the Ténéré (Niger), the wind avidly shapes the beautiful dunes of Temet. This sea of sand is only limited by the high mountains of the Aïr in the distance.

Guardamonte - The landscapes in Northwest Argentina are more mountainous and the vegetation is harsher than in the pampas. To deal with prickles and thorns, the gaucho equips his horse with a double layer of rigid, resistant leather called guardamonte, which gives him the appearance of a medieval warrior. (Campo Alegre, Province of Salta).

Transhumance in the Camargue - Recognizable by their white hair coat, the Camargue horses, with their perseverance and their small size, meet all the requirements of the shepherds. In the Camargue, there are numerous herds of bulls, but the breeding of horses is rare and requires, depending on the season, long and arduous migrations. (Pond Scamander, Petite Camargue, France) - 1979

Bavella Needles - Corsica is no ordinary island; it is, in fact, an actual mountain in the sea. The Bavella Needles are 1899 meters high. Punta di u Furneddu and Punta Mufrareccia are part of a long ridge that extends across the island from northwest to southeast. - 1980

A surreal lunar landscape in the middle of the Sahara: the salines of Teguidda-n-Tessoumt on the Hoggar road, which leads from the Algerian border to Agadez (Niger). The saline water is taken from the source in buckets dug in the salt-gorged sand. The sun does the rest.

The Ténéré is one of the least populated regions in the world, except here on the “salt route” from Bilma to Agadez (Niger), where loud trucks have replaced the steady, serene pace of the camel caravans.

In order to reach Djanet (Algeria) on the Tamrit high plateau (Tassili n'Ajjer), one must overcome – on foot or by camel – three steep, rocky paths known as akbas, one after the other.

Norway - Koppvatnet - The northern province of Nordland features various glacial lakes divided by imposing gneiss mountains. The E6 road passes by lake Kobbvatn and leads through numerous tunnels, for which toll fees must be paid.

Canada - For a long time, the frozen Ottawa River constituted the easiest way for the Indians and the first European explorers to reach the Great Lakes region. After this first winter day, facing the Isle-aux-Allumettes, the frost will not take long to cover these calm, clear river waters.

Algeria - Moul n'Aga - Landscape in Tadrart

In the Patagonia, the Perito Moreno glacier front is 60 m high and 5 km long, towering over the Lago Argentino, into which from time to time mighty blocks of ice thunder down. This 30-km long glacier, with an area of 250 km2, is the only one in Argentina – and perhaps in the whole world – that has remained hardly untouched by the climate change.

If you have not seen the sky in Patagonia, you have not seen Argentina. The clouds, lit up by the sunlight and in constant change, are blown across the landscape by often strong winds. Countless windmills pump the scarce though essential water for men and cattle from the deep water table. - Estancia Las Toscas / Patagonia / Argentina

Touareg caravan - On their way to a distant water source, the caravan stop before nightfall, and then the camels are fed with the hay they carry on their packs. - Niger / Ténéré / Erg Izane / 2000

Crossing the Tagardet pass in the Aïr mountains.

Between the Aïr and the Ténéré (Arakao, Niger), it is dusk in the Sahara and the “crab pincer” of the mountains suddenly forms one of the most beautiful dunes in the world.

At the edge of the Ténéré, Chef Abakaoua leads the way.

Arrival at the Kel Tédélé camp site.

White marble rising from the sands in the Kogo region. (Oued Gouloukou, Aïr, Niger)

Here at the guelta one can find the precious liquid, even when the river dries up. - Guelta Baloumat / Aïr / Niger

In the morning light, a caravan strolls in the Temet wadi - Aïr / Niger

Filling up with water for people and camels at the Takarit well. (Oued Takarit / Aïr / Niger)

Last efforts in the Ténéré before arriving at the well - Erg Izane / Ténéré / Niger

Adventure in sight - In the Sahara, buses and trucks for passenger transport are rare and fares are expensive. Between Bilma and Agadez, they follow the traditional path of salt caravans. - Niger / Ténéré / 2002

Dried plant in the dunes - Erg Brousset / Ténéré / Niger

Arakao, dunes and dead tree - between Aïr and Ténéré / Niger

Arakao, dead tree - Aïr / Niger

Algeria - Moul n'Aga - Landscape in Tadrart

The fuming dune - Moul n´Aga / Tadrart / Algeria

Dead tree at Tagueït - Aïr / Niger

White marble rising from the sands in the Kogo region. (Oued Gouloukou, Aïr, Niger)

Grand Erg Occidental in the morning - Algeria

Dune and single tree - In-Djaren / Tadrart / Algeria

Oued Adjirigoudou, Takabar volcano - Aïr / Niger

The lost stone, evening - Oued Tafassasset / Ténéré

Climb to the guelta d'Agamgam - Aïr / Niger

Aïr / Descent to Adrar Chiriet At the end of a long and beautiful day in the desert, the tired caravan will set up camp in the pasture, between dunes and mountains. Tomorrow will be another day.

Aïr / Dunes near Tezirzek / To the next well In the labyrinth of dunes, the guides know how to find the way to the well where they can get water for men and camels.

Erg Izane / Departure into beauty When the shadows are getting longer, they highlight the beauty of the last dunes before reaching the "blue mountains" in the Erg Izane.

Aïr / Tagueït / The guide In the desert, it is always the man of knowledge and experience who chooses the best route to preserve the resources of the caravan.

Erg Izane / Getting into another world The caravan is about to enter a mineral universe that is no longer the world of men but that of an intact nature where only the nomads know how to survive.

Ténéré / The long walk Beyond the dunes of Izane, the massif of Tahmert will be the point of arrival in the evening of a long and beautiful day sailing through the Sahara.

Ténéré / Erg Izane / Stop in the shadow No tree, no rock as far as the eye can see. For the rest of a few minutes, the only shadow is that of the camels, but they can only turn their backs to the sun.

Arakao / The reward Nestled in the heart of the desert, the site of Tchin-Taborak is a jewel like no other. Here is the image of eternity and peace of soul.

Erg Izane / Waking up in the heart of the world Immense, mystical and intimate at the same time, the deep Sahara reveals itself to those who show themselves worthy. Patience, humility and respect are the keys.

View of the Green River as it flows through Canyonlands National Park (Utah), created in 1964. The river was given its name in the 16th century by the Spaniards, impressed by the bordering vegetation, rare in the parched landscape, which was reflected in the water.

Bryce Canyon (Utah), at an elevation of about 8200 feet, presents one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. The remarkable coloration of the rock is due to its composition of iron (red and brown) and manganese (violet).

Thunderstorm over the Grand Canyon (Arizona). View from Mather Point in the National Park at 7,000 feet. Lightning, as the harbinger of rain, was stylized as a zig-zag line on southwestern pottery and in petroglyphs.

Hairpin curves of the Sanjuan River, one of the tributaries of the Colorado, near Mexican Hat in the southeast corner of Utah.

One of the most impressive Anasazi ruins of the American Southwest: White House Ruin in Canyon de Chelly National Monument (Arizona). Built into the cliff between heaven and earth, "White House" owes its name in part to the whitewashed facade. It was built in 1066 and was part of a community encompassing 175 rooms and four kivas, which could be reached only by ladders.

In the morning light
Dunes near Jabbaren.
Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Sand pyramid
This tree has to feel quite lonely in this mineral universe.
Algeria - Tadrart - In-Djaren - 1993

In the midday heat
Piton and landscape with a camel skeleton of which only the skull remains.
Algeria - Tadrart - Tin-Merzouga - 1993

Art in the desert
Natural rock sculpture between Djanet and the cliffs south of Tassili.
Algeria - South Tassili - 1993

Dunes and monoliths
Dunes of Tarka on the border between Niger and Chad.
Chad - Tibesti - 1967

At Tibesti
Typical landscape of Tibesti around Zouar, former military camp. In the background the Botoum peak.
Chad - Tibesti - 1968

Tree of Ténéré
The Ténéré tree was a lonely acacia tree, considered to be the most isolated tree on Earth, the only one within a 400 km radius. It was an important landmark for caravans crossing the Tenere desert.
In 1973, the tree was knocked down by a Libyan truck driver, probably drunk. The dead tree was transported to the National Museum of Niger in Niamey and replaced by a simple metal sculpture representing a tree.
Niger - Tenere - 1967

Azalai in the sandstorm
Azalaï, a camel caravan led by the Tuaregs, transports various goods crossing the Ténéré desert to exchange them for rock salt or sell them on the Sahel markets. The trip usually takes place between October and November and lasts about forty days.
Niger - Tenere - 1967

Entering another world
The caravan is about to enter a mineral universe that is no longer the world of men but that of an intact nature where only the nomads can survive.
Niger - Aïr - Erg Izane - 2002

Caravan
In the Aïr, the guide searches on foot for the best passage for his caravan through the dunes. Niger - Aïr - Erg Izane - 2000

In the morning light
Caravan in the Temet wadi.
Niger - Aïr - 2003

Aerial photograph of the McBride Glacier in Glacier National Park, Alaska.

View of the Nass River late in the afternoon near Old Aiyansh, in the heart of the land of the Nisga’a. In the background is the coastal range.

The Skeena River in autumn. This stretch is between Kispiox and Hazelton.

View from the sandspit on Moresby Island over Shingle Bay to the coast of Skidegate, located on Graham Island. The Queen Charlotte range is visible in the background.

Aerial view of Anthony Island, location of the ruins of the Ninstints. In the background left is Kunghit Island. (See photos 8-13.)

Swampy forest in Naikoon Provincial Park on Graham Island.

Long Beach, with drift wood. The beach, located halfway up the western coast of Vancouver Island, is part of Pacific Rim National Park.

Evening on Howe Sound near Squamish, with Mount Ellesmere, elevation 1,768 meters (5,835 feet). The weather, so typical for the Northwest Coast, is foggy and cloudy.

Located between Vancouver and Squamish, Shannon Falls cascades 335 meters (1,105 feet) down into Howe Sound. It is one of the many beautiful sights on the Northwest Coast.

Shawtlans Passage, between Prince Rupert and Port Edward.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
La Cordillère des Andes recèle quelques-uns des plus hauts sommets de la planète. Le Huascarán, qui se dresse dans la Cordillera Blanca, impose au paysage sa majestueuse silhouette ; il atteint l'altitude de 6768 mètres. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Les fleuves de la forêt suivent un cours capricieux qui change d'une année à une autre au gré des périodes de crue et de décrue. L'Ucayali rejoint ici le Marañon pour former l'Amazone. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Une zone très humide, appelée ceja de montaña, sépare la Cordillère des Andes de la forêt tropicale (Selva). . - Entre Tingo María et Pucallpa. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Sur le parcours des rivières de la forêt se trouvent des lagunes peu profondes entourées d'une-végétation luxuriante. On y aperçoit des huttes dans lesquelles vivent les Indiens. - Yanamono près Iquitos, Loreto. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Les champs de cultures en terrasses sur les flancs escarpés de la Sierra ont permis une utilisation rationnelle de la terre. Ceux de Moray, dans le département du Cuzco, sont de forme circulaire et auraient été employés à la culture de la coca.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Vallée du Río Apurimac dans laquelle vivaient des tribus hostiles aux Incas. Paysage caractéristique de la Sierra centrale.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
El condor pasa... «Le condor passe», chanson folklorique péruvienne, que semble illustrer, au-dessus de l'océan Pacifique, le survol de l'oiseau sacré des Andes. Parfois, en effet, le cuntur vénéré par toutes les ethnies de l'ancien Pérou et «messager du Soleil» des Incas plane majestueusement sur les déserts infinis du littoral.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Sinueux et torrentueux, le rio Apurimac - le «Seigneur qui parle» - s'étrangle en grondant dans un étroit canyon avant de se joindre à mille affluents qui, tous ensemble, formeront beaucoup plus loin l'abondant Amazone.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
A une vingtaine de kilomètres du Cuzco s'entrouvre la verte vallée de l'Urubamba, jadis «rio du Soleil». Et la piste secrète de Manco Inca vers un toujours introuvable et dernier refuge...

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Tandis que le ciel tropical et le Pacifique se fondent au lointain, l'arrière-pays de Nazca n'est, dans le Sud-Pérou, qu'un long désert çà et là hanté de fantomatiques cactus-cierges.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Sur le fond de décor de l'«Enfer vert» amazonien, le petit matin se lève au-dessus de la paisible lagune de Paococha, dont les eaux bercent les pirogues des Indiens Shipibos.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
«Diadème» des Andes centrales, le gigantesque nevado du Huascaran (6768m) - sommet culminant du Pérou et le second d'Amérique -, éclaire de ses neiges éternelles la Cordillera Blanca, longue de 180 kilomètres et qualifiée de «Suisse» péruvienne.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Sous un théâtral ciel d'orage, le Qhapac-Ñan, chemin royal de l'Inca, mène aujourd'hui les touristes intrépides entre 3500 et plus de 4000 mètres d'altitude, de l'entrée de la Vallée sacrée jusqu'aux portes, jadis interdites aux profanes, de Machu Picchu.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Sur les sentiers acrobatiques des Andes, le trafic n'est plus uniquement assuré aujourd'hui par le lama, seule bête de charge des âges précolombiens mais aussi par de longues caravanes d'ânes courageux. - Perú - Ancash - Callejón de Huaylas

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
«Nombril» sacré de l'Empire du Tahuantinsuyo, aujourd'hui capitale archéologique de l'Amérique du Sud, Cuzco est une triple ville inca, coloniale et républicaine, millénaire et mystérieuse. Face à la Plaza de Armas, l'ancienne Huacaypata cérémonielle, s'élève l'église baroque de la Compania de Jésus, là où se dressait l'Amaru Cancha de Huayna Capac.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Dans le doux «Eden » de la Vallée tropicale sacrée des Incas s'étend à 3.100 mètres d'altitude le vaste complexe archéologique de Pisac, l'une des «capitales» impériales. Une trentaine de résidences au style raffiné entourent l'Intihuatana elliptique, voué au culte astral.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Auprès des terres ingrates cultivées au sud du lac Titicaca, de calmes hameaux indiens interrompent la monotonie de l'immense altiplano, «toit» des Andes et «pays de chimère».

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
La neige, en Amérique du Sud, surprend toujours! Mais à 4.000 mètres d'altitude ce troupeau de lamas au repos dans le corral, s'en accommode durant l'hiver austral.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Au pied de la Cordillère, la riche vallée de Pisco, bien que située en bordure des déserts côtiers, nourrit des troupeaux de vaches, et les champs de maïs y prospèrent.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Reliés par des andenes en demi-lune, profonds de 150 mètres, les quatre «cirques» aux sept terrasses de Moray étagées en entonnoir évoquent des colisées. Toutefois, les aqueducs qui les irriguent suggèrent qu'il s'agit plutôt de gradins dédiés à la culture des pommes de terre à déshydrater (moraya) ou de «jardins d'acclimatation» de fleurs magiques.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Dans une vallée transversale partant de la Vallée sacée des Incas, les salines échelonnées de Maras sont toujours exploitées comme au temps des Incas. Selon la tradition, les Maras sont «nés» et partis de la mythologique caverne de Tamputoco avec les quatre Ayars géniteurs de la dynastie impériale.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Chaumières, corrales à lamas et champs cultivés dans la région d'Acomayo sont encadrés de murettes en petites pierres.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
La montagne «sauvage», le nevado Salcantay, le plus haut sommet de la Cordillère de Vilcabamba, qui culmine à 6271 mètres, nous cache Machu Picchu. En bas, d'artistiques «champs-blasons» aux graphiques totémiques du puma et du condor, «se dessinent nettement sur le paysage».

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Absolument invisible depuis le fond du sauvage canyon de l'Urubamba, dressée à 2500 mètres d'altitude dans l'ombre du Huayna Picchu, enchâssée dans un imprenable piédestal granitique, la fantomatique «Cité perdue» de Machu Picchu le demeura au sens réel du mot durant quatre cents ans avant que ne la retrouve miraculeusement, en 1911, l'explorateur américain Hiram Bingham.

In the gentle "Eden" of the sacred tropical Valley of the Incas, at an altitude of 3,100 meters, the vast archaeological complex of Pisac, one of the imperial "capitals", extends. About thirty residences in a refined style surround the elliptical Intihuatana, dedicated to the sun cult. - 1969

Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) - competition for folk groups in the stadium of Cuzco. - 1976

What could be more picturesque than a reed raft floating on Titicaca? For millennia, the Aymara people of the paradisiacal "Mediterranean" of the Andes have been fishing in their elegant reed boats in the sacred lake. The boats are made “by hand” by bundling the reeds with ichu strings. - 1969

A cross on the wayside between Abancay and Cuzco. - 1969

Wheat fields near Andahuaylas in the Apurímac department. - 1969

In autumn, the predominant color of the cultivated fields in the Sierra is brown. Near Huancayo, Junín Department. - 1969

The "Callejón de Huaylas" with the Cordillera Blanca is also called "Peruvian Switzerland". On the left the Huascarán 6780 m, on the right the Nevado Copa, 6188 m. - 1969

"Las Ventanillas de Otuzco" is an archaeological site in the district of Baños del Inca, 8 km northwest of the city of Cajamarca. The individual windows are tombs from the pre-Inca period. - 1976

The Panamericana crosses many desert stretches of the peruvian coast. In places it is blown with sand by the strong winds, as here near San Pedro de Lloc in the province of Pacasmayo in the department of La Libertad. - 1969

In the valley of the Río Jequetepeque, on the way to Cajamarca, the terraces are being prepared for the planting of rice. – 1976

Huanchaco is the beach of Trujillo in the department of La Libertad. As hundreds of years ago, fishermen still go out to sea with their balsa boats. - 1972

The Laguna de Huacachina is located in an oasis a few kilometers west of the city of Ica. Because of the increased water consumption due to tourism, the lake fell dry in 1988. As a result, pipelines were laid to supply additional water from Ica. - 1969

Evening atmosphere in the Amazon rainforest - at Pucallpa on the Río Ucayali. - 1969

The Iguassu Falls are located on the Argentine-Brazilian border, in the midst of a tropical nature with lush vegetation. The imposing Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Gorge) is one of the most beautiful points of these waterfalls. The water roars seventy metres below. - 1973

Argentina's climate varies greatly from season to season. During the southern summer, the temperature sometimes becomes stifling, easily exceeding 30 degrees in the shade. This heat is all the more trying because it is accompanied by very high humidity. The inhabitants of the capital suffer more than those in the countryside from this situation. The result is a mass exodus to the beaches, especially to Mar del Plata, Argentina's famous seaside resort. It is located on the Atlantic coast, some 400 kilometres south of Buenos Aires. Thousands of tourists and holidaymakers frequent Mar del Plata, especially during the months of January to March, when the summer holidays take place. In addition to the pleasures of bathing, water sports and fishing, the city offers its occasional residents everything that an urban centre has to offer in terms of entertainment. Tourists stay in luxurious hotels, can rent houses or flats, thus escaping the heat of the capital and the main cities in the centre of their country. - 1973

National Road 3 between Viedma and San Antonio Oeste (Río Negro province). This important transport connection begins in Buenos Aires and leads to the zones near the south polar. Its total length is 3218 kilometres. At the other end of the road, in Tierra del Fuego, is Ushuaia, the southernmost city on earth. The initially asphalted National Road 3 gradually turns into a sandy track, riddled with deep holes that endanger the traffic. Drivers have to be very careful. Petrol stations and garages are rare. Keep this in mind when you travel to Patagonia. Drivers always carry provisions, enough petrol and tools to repair breakdowns. They also have a sense of solidarity and are always ready to help a motorist in trouble. - 1973

A cistern truck and a car are travelling on National Road 3 in Patagonia. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Patagonia, also known as desierto verde (green desert), is an immense sheep pasture. The sheep are bred only for the wool. The estancieros completely neglect meat production. The sheep meat is therefore of poor quality and plays no role at all in the national budget. On the other hand, the price of wool has been repeatedly driven up on the international market. About ten million sheep are kept in the polar zones, seven million in Patagonia alone. The wool is pressed into bales of 200 to 300 kilos. It is shipped by ship from Río Gallegos (Santa Cruz province) to Buenos Aires and from Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) to Europe. In the last few years, synthetic fibres have increasingly competed with wool. Our picture was taken between Río Gallegos and Río Turbio (Santa Cruz province), on the track leading to the Cordillera. - 1973

The boleadoras were the gaucho's first weapon with which he infallibly forced an ostrich (Ñandú) or a bull to the ground within thirty meters. - 1976

This track leads to the Estancia Killik Aike Norte in the province of Santa Cruz. - 1973

The araucarias (Araucaria araucana) grow in the Andes on both sides of the border between Argentina and Chile. This tree reaches a height of 30 meters. - 1973

Guanacos are the most common wild animals in Patagonia. They belong to the large family of camels. Guanacos live in groups, are extremely shy and flee at any unusual noise. The Tehuelche used guanaco skins to make their clothing. - Cabo dos Bahías - Province of Chubut - 1973

On the estancia “La Margarita” at Lake Viedma, in the province of Santa Cruz, the gauchos set off for the sheep pastures. On horseback, they cover great distances across the steppes of Patagonia. - 1973

On the map, the north of Tierra del Fuego is the natural continuation of the Argentine Patagonia. Here, too, the vast plains can be found, where thousands of domestic animals graze on the thin grasslands. Three million sheep are raised in huge estancias. Suddenly, however, the landscape changes. Hills appear, covered by forests that become denser towards the south. Here, rainfall also increases, allowing lush vegetation to develop. - 1973

The dusty track of National Road 3 between Puerto San Julián and Puerto Santa Cruz - Patagonia - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Low tide on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean at the provincial border south of Comodoro Rivadavia. View towards the northeast - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Barren landscape on the way to Puerto San Julián on the Antlantic coast - Santa Cruz province - 1973

Flock of sheep on the Río Gallegos - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego province) is the southernmost city on earth. It was built on the northern bank of the Beagle Channel. Its foundation dates back to 1862, the work of Reverend Waite Hockin Sterling, who came to this deserted area to protect the Indians against the bad treatment they were subjected to by the whites. Ushuaia is on Argentinean soil. On the other side of the channel, you can see islands that belong to Chile. Cape Horn is not far away. Buenos Aires, on the other hand, lies 3218 kilometres by road to the north ... For about fifty years, Ushuaia served as a penal colony. Today it has about five thousand inhabitants. The port is frequented by ships of small and medium tonnage as well as by sailing boats, whose owners sometimes sail around the world all by themselves. Tourists are rare in Ushuaia. The city's strategic location is important. The Argentine army maintains an air force and naval base here. - 1973

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego province) is the southernmost city on earth. It was built on the northern bank of the Beagle Channel. Its foundation dates back to 1862, the work of Reverend Waite Hockin Sterling, who came to this deserted area to protect the Indians against the bad treatment they were subjected to by the whites. Ushuaia is on Argentinean soil. Cape Horn is not far away. Buenos Aires, on the other hand, lies 3218 kilometres by road to the north ... For about fifty years, Ushuaia served as a penal colony. Today it has about five thousand inhabitants. The port is frequented by ships of small and medium tonnage as well as by sailing boats, whose owners sometimes sail around the world all by themselves. Tourists are rare in Ushuaia. The city's strategic location is important. The Argentine army maintains an air force and naval base here. - 1973

View of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. - 1973

On the way to Estancia Sofía - Río Gallegos Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

At the east end of Lago Fagnano in the region of Hostería Kaiken - Province of Santa Cruz - 1973

At Lago Argentino in the Calafate region. There are indigenous pictograms on the rocks. In the background the Andes. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Disused wheels on the edge of the Río La Leona - in the background Cerro Fortalezza 722m - Calafate Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Río La Leona with Cerro Fortaleza, 722m. - Calafate Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Horse skeleton in the pampas north of Río Turbio on the way to Calafate. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

After a heavy rain on the track from Camarones to Bahia Bustamante - Chubut Province - 1973

A few kilometres outside Ushuaia is the southernmost national park on earth, where nature has retained all its authenticity. It is forbidden to hunt, fish or cut wood. It is teeming with water birds, predators, hares. Still lakes shine in the most glorious colours. A snow mountain, EI Condor, rises from the park and forms the border between Argentina and Chile, to which the western part of Tierra del Fuego belongs. Argentina has many national parks. - 1973

Mountain range in the region around Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego ARG - 1973

On the Río Pipo southwest of Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego ARG - 1973

These iron wheels can be found on the Río Pipo in the Argentinean part of Tierra del Fuego. Monte Susana in the background. - 1973

Lake Brazo Rico near Calafate - in the background you can already see the Perito Moreno glacier. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Rainbow over Lake Brazo Rico near Calafate - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

The northern arm of Lake Brazo Rico near Calafate - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

At the northern arm of the lake Brazo Rico near Calafate with a dead tree and two water birds - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Landscape at the eastern end of Lago Argentino. In the background the Andes. - Calafate Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andes Cordillera, which represents an insurmountable barrier in some sections. The winds blow from the Pacific in an almost unchanging direction. The clouds they bring accumulate above the high mountain peaks and cause abundant precipitation. This explains why, despite their low altitude, glaciers of sometimes enormous dimensions extend along the eastern flank of the Andes. In the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies the Argentino, the Silver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is visited by more and more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen nearby. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. An equally famous one is called Perito Moreno. - On the picture you can recognise the author of these photos: Maximilien Bruggmann. - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andes Cordillera, which represents an insurmountable barrier in some sections. The winds blow from the Pacific in an almost unchanging direction. The clouds they bring accumulate above the high mountain peaks and cause abundant precipitation. This explains why, despite their low altitude, glaciers of sometimes enormous dimensions extend along the eastern flank of the Andes. In the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies the Argentino, the Silver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is visited by more and more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen nearby. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. An equally famous one is called Perito Moreno. Navigation on the Silver Lake is dangerous, if only because of the wind and the storms that are frequent in the Cordillera. Nature, preserved in its authenticity, attracts many scientists who can devote themselves to their studies here. - 1973

The Argentine Antarctic covers an area of 1,230,000 square kilometres, a world of ice and rocks that is still largely unexplored. Only a few have had the courage and endurance to venture into this inhospitable region, where dangers threaten and temperatures are extremely low. Already in certain sections of the Andes Cordillera, especially in the southernmost part, one feels this impression of solitude. You only have to make the trip to the Perito Moreno glacier to convince yourself of this. This magnificent glacier owes its name to an Argentinean naturalist. It is 17 kilometres long and at least three kilometres wide, with a front height of 70 metres. Here at the glacier break-off, blocks of ice are constantly breaking away and plummeting into the depths with a deafening roar. They then float as icebergs through Lake Argentino. The Perito Moreno glacier advances four metres a year - a consequence of the heavy precipitation on the peaks of the southernmost Andes. - 1973

Fitz Roy 3405 m), one of the most beautiful Argentinean Andean peaks, rises in the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz province). Because of the harsh weather that prevails in the mountains, it is dangerous to climb. - 1973

Fitz Roy (3375 m), one of the most beautiful Argentinean Andean peaks, rises in the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz province). Because of the harsh weather that prevails in the mountains, it is dangerous to climb. - 1973

Guanacos grazing on the pampas. The Fitz Roy massif in the background. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

On the Estancia Santa Margarita. In the background the Fitz Roy massif. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

San Carlos de Bariloche in the province of Río Negro is one of the most famous holiday resorts in Argentina, along with Mar del Plata. Even in neighbouring countries, in the United States and in Europe, people talk about it. An 1800-kilometre asphalt road provides the connection to Buenos Aires. The city was built on the shores of the famous Lake Nahuel Huapi. In summer and winter, thousands of tourists from all provinces of the country and from abroad crowd the streets. They have displaced the Araucanians, who were once the unchallenged masters of the whole area. San Carlos de Bariloche is something like a small capital in the mountains. There are picturesque little houses here, but also skyscrapers and ostentatious buildings, which contribute to the fact that the place is getting uglier and uglier. Diversions include fishing, sailing, swimming, golf and, in winter, skiing. Lake Nahuel Huapi lends its name to a huge national park where you can find plant species peculiar to the region and wildlife, including deer. - 1973

62 kilometres away from San Carlos de Bariloche, on the banks of the Limay River, lies Valle Encantado, a place with a special magic. Surrounded by mountains and rock formations that, letting the imagination run wild, come to life in the eyes of the beholder. - Neuquén Province - 1973

62 kilometres away from San Carlos de Bariloche, on the banks of the Limay River, lies Valle Encantado, a place with a special magic. Surrounded by mountains and rock formations that, letting the imagination run wild, come to life in the eyes of the beholder. . Neuquén Province - 1973

Lake Espejo is a lake of glacial tectonic origin located in the department of Los Lagos in the province of Neuquén, Argentina. It is near the town of Villa La Angostura and is part of the Seven Lakes Road. Its name is due to the fact that its calm and clean waters reflect the landscapes of its shores like a mirror. It is fed by the melt water from the surrounding mountains through several streams that flow into it. Its shores alternate volcanic sandy beaches, reed beds and steep rocky areas. - 1973

The famous Andean train connects Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile. It passes over high passes and through wilderness areas. Such is the case of Puente del Inca and Las Cuevas (Mendoza province). In winter, snowfalls are frequent and the train is sometimes blocked for several days. The railway runs along a track once used by the Incas. - 1973

Cemetery on the top of the pass at ‘Puente del Inca’ between Mendoza and Santiago - 1973

The Andes Cordillera is the backbone of the South American continent, forming at certain points an impassable barrier. It establishes the natural border between the eastern, low-lying areas and the Pacific coastline, which extends westwards for thousands of kilometres. The Aconcagua (approx. 7,000 metres), dear to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is the highest peak in the Andes mountain range. It rises majestically between Argentina and Chile. It is usually covered with clouds. Its ascent has tempted many andinists - the name given to mountaineers. However, it presents serious dangers. - 1973

Argentina has a road network which in many provinces is in good condition. It allows for relatively fast travel, which is particularly appreciated as the distances between cities are enormous. Some roads extend as far as the southern regions. Others cross the pampas. Still others run along the Andes or set out to conquer the formidable mountain range. One of the latter links Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile, via passes at an altitude of over 4,000 metres. Very often these roads are not asphalted. Terrible natural obstacles hamper their maintenance. The National Road No. 40 follows the eastern flank of the Andes mountain range. It is the busiest road between Río Gallegos (province of Santa Cruz) and La Quiaca (province of Jujuy). It covers a distance of almost 4,500 kilometres. Avalanches and landslides interrupt this road. The landscape in the Calchaquies valley is desert-like. The rocks are reminiscent of backwash, hence the name of Corte el Ventisquero, given to this area of Salta. - 1973

A mine train brings the ore to the smelting plant in San Antonio de los Cobres - Province of Salta - 1975

The landscape between Cachi and Molinos (province of Salta) is characteristic. There is a plain where vegetation is scarce. The famous candelabra cactus (Saguaro) are among the best-represented species in the area. - 1975

The landscape between Cachi and Molinos (province of Salta) is characteristic. There is a plain where vegetation is scarce. The famous candelabra cactus (Saguaro) are among the best-represented species in the area. - 1973

View of the small village of Catua in the province of Jujuy on the way over the Huaitiquina Pass to Antofagasta. - 1975

Landscape near Tres Cruces in the northwest of the Jujui Province. - 1973

Landscape near Tres Cruces in the northwest of the Jujuy Province. - 1973

Landscape with llamas near Tres Cruces in the northwest of the Jujui Province. - 1973

'Pucará de Tilcara' is one of the most important archaeological sites in Northern Argentina, created from the site of an old Indian defensive village of the Tilcara Indians. It is located at an extremely good strategic point above the 'Quebrada de Humahuaca' canyon, where the Inca Road crosses. It is located at an altitude of 2450 m, one kilometer south of the city of Tilcara on a hill 80 m above the Río Grande in the province of Jujuy. - 1973

Maimara Cemetery ("Star that falls" in the omaguaca language), located in the department of Tilcara in the province of Jujuy. Its geographical environment belongs to the Humahuaca ravine, and its main characteristic is the polychromy of its hills. The Río Grande runs a few meters from there. - 1973

During the conquest of South America, the Spaniards brought with them plant species that the Indians of the continent did not know yet: wheat, rye, barley, etc. The introduction of these plants went hand in hand with the introduction of new working methods. In the large estancias, the machine made its appearance. On the other hand, everywhere else, the farmers still used old techniques, which is why we have some very beautiful scenes, on a human scale. Peasants fanning porrotos (white beans) growing in the Sierra de Zapata (Catamarca). - 1973

The landscape in the north of Argentina exerts a great fascination on all travellers who pass through this area. Here they will also find a natural wonder: the world-famous lguassú Falls in the heart of the jungle, in the extreme north of the province of Misiones. They plunge 70 metres in no less than two hundred and seventy-five waterfalls forming a three-kilometre-long arc. The source of the lguassú is in Brazil. - 1973

The water network in Argentina is widely ramified. Large rivers run through the country. Most of them have their source in the Andes Cordillera. At times they flood, especially during the southern summer, when the rain pours down almost incessantly on the heights of the Sierra. From the eastern foot of the Andes to the coastal strip of the Atlantic Ocean stretches a wide plain with a very slight gradient. Here, the watercourses meander lazily before pouring into the sea. On its banks, humans found a home and could devote himself to agriculture. These conditions apply primarily to the southern provinces. In the north, on the other hand, the climate is characterised by frequent rainfall, which causes rivers and streams to swell. Many waterways are navigable and play a not insignificant role in transport. The vegetation is tropical, with an endless variety of plants, some of which are used industrially. The landscape exerts a great fascination on all travellers who pass through this area. Here they will also find a natural wonder: the world-famous lguassú Falls in the heart of the jungle, in the extreme north of the province of Misiones. They plunge 70 metres in no less than two hundred and seventy-five waterfalls forming a three-kilometre-long arc. The source of the lguassú is in Brazil. - 1973

The province of Corrientes is one of the most agriculturally fertile in Argentina. This is thanks to a climate whose temperatures always remain within pleasant limits and a rainfall that reaches 1800 millimetres in certain years. This zone in the north of the country also includes the province of Misiones. There are many population centres there. The inhabitants plant tobacco, rice, coffee, tropical fruits and hierba mate. But they also engage in cattle breeding. The large rivers allow some of the transport to be done by water. One only has to think of the Uruguay, which is 1812 kilometres long and twelve kilometres wide at its mouth. The abundance of rain has created numerous swamps and marshes, which have become a paradise for countless species of water birds and wild animals, an Eldorado for every nature lover. Horses can also be found here, going out to pasture. - 1973

The Río Paraná near the city of San Ignacio, known for the ruins of the Jesuit reduction of San Ignacio Miní, the remains of which are among the best preserved from this historical period. - Misiones province - 1973

Palm grove between Goya and Esquina - Corrientes province - 1973

The Puente General Manuel Belgrano is a road bridge over the Río Paraná that connects the Argentine cities of Resistencia in the province of Chaco and Corrientes in the province of the same name. Construction of the bridge 1968-1973. - 1973

Night slowly descends on the estancia “La Mimosa” (Entre Ríos province). The moment has come to round up the cows that were separated from their calves a few months earlier. This segregation was done by the cattle farmers to ensure a quiet life for the cows on preferential pastures. The task is difficult, and many gauchos are involved. The same scenes take place on every estancia in the pampas. They show stages in a cycle of important work on which a large part of the national economy depends. - 1973

Aberdeen-Angus cattle, Estancia El Cardal, Ayacucho, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. - 1975

It took hours of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - Province Neuquén. - 1973

It took hours of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - 1973

It takes a lot of patience and tireless attention to drive the young cattle out of the pampas into the corral of the Estancia of Palitué. - Province Neuquén - 1975

Clear, bay or chestnut, Argentinian horses are generally of the "Criolla" breed, descendants of horses of Berber origin, which the first Spanish conquerors brought with them and which pushed into the wild in the vastness of the pampas. “Found” in Patagonia by Emilio Solanet, they are now raised as pure as possible on his Estancia EI Cardal. - Ayacucho, Province Buenos Aires - 1975

Metallic skeletons on the endless pampas, the "mills" tame the wind to pump essential water for the herds, sometimes from considerable depths. - Estancia Las Toscas, Province Santa Cruz, Patagonia - 1976

Metallic skeletons on the endless pampas, the "mills" tame the wind to pump essential water for the herds, sometimes from considerable depths. - At the Ruta 3, Province Santa Cruz, Patagonia - 1975

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - Near Estancia Los Luises, Santa Cruz Province - 1973

On the map, the north of Tierra del Fuego is the natural continuation of the Argentine Patagonia. Here, too, the vast plains can be found, where thousands of domestic animals graze on the thin grasslands. Here, rainfall also increases, allowing lush vegetation to develop. - 1973

Two gauchos on the way to their estancia in the Calafate region. The Andes mountain range in the background. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

A lonely gaucho on his way to his estancia El Zurdo on the border with Chile. - Between Río Gallegos and El Turbio, Santa Cruz Province - 1973

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - Torres del Paine NP, Chile - 1976

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - 1976

Troperos bring a herd intended for sale across the Alumine River in the Andean foothills. - Province Neuquén - 1973

Aberdeen Angus cattle on Estancia El Ombú, Ayacucho, Buenos Aires Province - 1975

At Don Emilio Solanet's Estancia «El Cardal», Ayacucho, Province of Buenos Aires - 1975

Access to the Estancia " Rincón de los Morros", near El Turbio, Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia - 1973

Signpost to the Estancia Carro Roto on route 3 - Province of Santa Cruz - 1973

Road sign at route 3, it takes 120 km to get to Estancia Silvita! - Province of Santa Cruz - 1973

On the estancia “La Margarita” at Lake Viedma, in the province of Santa Cruz, the gauchos set off for the sheep pastures. On horseback, they cover great distances across the steppes of Patagonia. In the background the Fitz Roy massif. - 1973

The Monument to Martín Miguel de Güemes is a 25 m high construction in the city of Salta. - 1973

View of the famous Lake Ilopango in EI Salvador. Some geologists believe that the lake is in an ancient crater. Such formations are not uncommon in Central America. Some of these lakes are very deep. The body of water is fed by seeping water and by rainfall, which is very frequent between May and December. Lake Ilopango is dominated by the Chichantepec or San Vicente volcano, which is 2181 meters high. Its water is rich in fish and a lush and diverse flora thrives on its banks. This makes it the ideal destination for the residents of the noisy and overpopulated capital San Salvador. In this area, which is of overwhelming beauty, the townspeople find peace and relaxation. But various leisure activities are also open to them. You can sail, swim, hunt and hike. - 1977

The Fuego volcano is the site of almost permanent activity. It dominates La Antigua, the former capital of Guatemala, which suffered a tragic fate. In Central America, volcanoes are one of the most characteristic elements of the landscape. They range in altitude from 1,000 to 4,000 metres and form an almost unbroken chain that stretches from northern Panama to the border between Guatemala and Mexico. Most of them are extinct. Others have sporadic revivals of extremely variable duration. Still others, like Fuego, are constantly active. Their eruptions, accompanied by lava flows and explosions, are a threat to the inhabitants of the region that cannot be underestimated. - 1977

From Cerro Verde you can see the lzalco volcano in the western region of EI Salvador, not far from the Pacific coast. It is 1935 metres high and dominates an extensive area with the most fertile coffee plantations in the country. For centuries, the glowing volcano could serve as a lighthouse for sailors. He's been quiet for a few years now - how long? - 1977

The lrazú volcano near San José, the capital of Costa Rica, is 3432 metres high. It has several crater openings, one of which forms a lake that shines in amazing colours. Numerous fissures have opened up at the summit, from which clouds of gas constantly escape, attracting many tourists. A road leads visitors near the summit. - 1977

The volcano Mombacho dominates the Great Lake Nicaragua (or Lake Cocibolca). It is a freshwater lake and with an area of 8264 km² it is the largest in Central America. It has more than 400 islets, three islands and two volcanoes. It is also the only place that hosts freshwater sharks. - 1977

The two locks at Miraflores on the Panama Canal. The manoeuvre from one lock to the other takes about an hour. The process requires about 100 000 tonnes of water. Each lock gate is nine metres high and weighs 750 tonnes. The Panama Canal measures 82 kilometres and covers an area of 250 square kilometres. It usually takes six to eight hours to navigate. This waterway was opened in 1914. Since the opening of the extension, which began in 2007, on 26 June 2016, ships with 14,000 TEU can pass through it. To date, more than one million ships of all types from all over the world have used it. - 1977

Panama, capital of the republic of the same name, knows a gratifying development, which it owes above all to the Panama Canal. It occupies an exceptional position in the world, as it is a crossroads between the northern and southern hemispheres and between the Orient and the Occident. This explains why, in addition to the indigenous people (Indians, blacks, mulattos, mestizos and whites), one encounters representatives of the most diverse peoples of the world in the streets of the city. Over the last few years, Panama has become a commercial centre and tourist destination that has taken on considerable importance. The modern neighbourhoods are dominated by skyscrapers, which serve as homes for the privileged classes and as hotels for wealthy tourists. The climate that prevails in this part of Central America throughout the year is rather unhealthy because of the high temperatures and enormous humidity. Thunderstorms of incredible ferocity follow each other closely, especially in the rainy season. - 1977

The charming little island of Cauwualla belongs to the Panamanian archipelago of San Blas. This archipelago extends over a length of 350 kilo meters at a short distance from the Atlantic coastline. It is made up of three hundred and sixty-five islands and islets of varying sizes that rise only a few metres above sea level. It must be said that the tides are insignificant here. Each island, even the smallest, is covered with rich vegetation. In the shade of the palm and coconut trees there are a few houses where the Cuna Indians live. These natives originate from the nearby continent. They migrated to the islands of the archipelago and gradually occupied them. In the course of time, the Cuna became skilled fishermen, but they continued to practice agriculture, as they have fields of crops on the mainland. As in the past, they also hunt the wild animals that live in the depths of the tropical jungle. - 1977

On the beach of a small island that belongs to the Panamanian archipelago of San Blas. The archipelago stretches over a length of 350 kilometres not far from the Atlantic coast. It consists of 365 islands and islets of various sizes that rise only a few metres above sea level. 48 islands are inhabited. They have curious names like Nalunega, Kortbiski or Cauwualla. The tides are insignificant here. Each island, even the smallest, has rich vegetation. - 1977

On the journey between the small islands of the Panamanian archipelago of San Blas. This extends over a length of 350 kilometres not far from the Atlantic coast. It consists of 365 islands and islets of various sizes that rise only a few metres above sea level. 48 islands are inhabited. They have curious names like Nalunega, Kortbiski or Cauwualla. The tides are insignificant here. Each island, even the smallest, has rich vegetation. - 1977

The great lake of Nicaragua (Cocibolca) has a total length of 170 kilometres. It is dominated by two volcanoes: Momotombo, which has an altitude of 1400 metres, and another much smaller volcanic cone, Momotombito (389 metres), which can be seen in the centre of the picture. In the waters of this beautiful lake, a true wonder of nature, naturalists have found three species of fish, originally from the Pacific Ocean, which have been able to adapt to fresh water thanks to the high urea content in their blood. - 1977

On the beach of Travesía near Puerto Cortés in Honduras, on the Caribbean coast. This is where Christopher Columbus set foot on the continent on his fourth and last voyage in 1502. - 1977

Travesía beach near Puerto Cortés, Honduras, on the Caribbean coast. This is probably the same landscape that Christopher Columbus saw when he landed on the mainland in 1502 during his fourth and final voyage. This coast is exposed to the Atlantic trade winds. The temperature is very high and rainfall is abundant throughout the year. These two factors allow an exuberant and varied vegetation to develop. All the species typical of tropical regions are represented here. The sea is full of fish, and the beach is home to many animals such as turtles, which frequent the area especially when they lay their eggs. In the thick forest nearby, criss-crossed by numerous rivers, wild animals abound, including jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, agoutis, deer, marsupials, reptiles, as well as a multitude of monkeys and birds that are a delight to naturalists. - 1977

View of the famous Lake Ilopango in EI Salvador. Some geologists believe that the lake is in an ancient crater. Such formations are not uncommon in Central America. Some of these lakes are very deep. The body of water is fed by seeping water and by rainfall, which is very frequent between May and December. Lake Ilopango is dominated by the Chichantepec or San Vicente volcano, which is 2181 meters high. Its water is rich in fish and a lush and diverse flora thrives on its banks. This makes it the ideal destination for the residents of the noisy and overpopulated capital San Salvador. In this area, which is of overwhelming beauty, the townspeople find peace and relaxation. But various leisure activities are also open to them. You can sail, swim, hunt and hike. - 1977

The capital of El Salvador at dusk. The city lies on a gentle slope at the foot of a volcano. It is constantly growing and currently has 600,000 inhabitants. This increase in population is due not only to a demographic explosion recorded elsewhere in the continent, but also to the migration of landless peasants to the city. These population movements generally take place in two stages. First, the natives settle in a provincial city. Then they move to the capital of the nation, which exerts an irresistible attraction on them. They are often called by relatives or friends and share their lives with them for a time. Then they become independent, but only if they have found work, which is unfortunately not always the case. Thus, vast shanty towns are created on the outskirts of the towns, forming a veritable belt of misery. - 1977

The Izalco volcano, seen from Cerro Verde, stands in the western region of El Salvador, not far from the Pacific coastline. It has an altitude of 1935 metres and dominates a vast area covered with coffee plantations, which is one of the most fertile in the country. For centuries, this volcano served as a lighthouse for navigators. But for a number of years now, its activity has completely ceased. - 1977

The San Salvador volcano is located in central El Salvador. The prominence currently consists of two masses: one called El Picacho at 1960 m; and the other known as El Boquerón at 1839 m, which includes a 1.5 km wide crater. Other inactive craters are located around these elevations. In the interior of El Boquerón there was a lagoon of unknown origin, which was extinguished by boiling due to eruptive phenomena during the San Salvador earthquake of 1917. Today, a small elevation can be seen at the bottom of the Boquerón crater. - 1977

La Antigua lies at the foot of the Agua volcano. Of Guatemala's first capital, known in history as Ciudad Vieja, only very few remains remain today. The city was destroyed by earthquakes and floods as early as 1541. The Spaniards were forced to build a second capital, called La Antigua, which soon became a brilliant centre of intellectual and religious life in the subcontinent. However, the volcanic nature of the region would once again cause destruction on a massive scale. In 1773, following very strong tremors that had already occurred in the first half of the 18th century, La Antigua suffered desolation and death, forcing the Spaniards to build a new capital. Unfortunately, the latter, like the two previous ones, was not to be spared. The violent earthquake of 4 February 1976 caused the death of twenty-three thousand people. - 1977

Photo taken from the Panamerican Highway which, coming from the Mexican border and crossing the mountainous area, leads to the capital of Guatemala. The well-designed and well-maintained crop fields on the often steep slopes of the volcanoes stretch as far as the eye can see and give the landscape its characteristic appearance. The volcanic ash regularly enriches the land, enabling Indian farmers to successfully grow maize, cereals and a multitude of vegetables, which form the basis of the indigenous population's daily diet. Indeed, the food of the indigenous people is primarily vegetarian. Meat appears on the table on feast days or on the occasion of exceptional circumstances such as a baptism, a wedding or the appointment of a new community leader. The relative altitude of the land, the mild climate and the abundance of rainfall favour the development of agriculture. - 1977

The Cobán region of Guatemala is essentially mountainous. It belongs to the great Cuchumatanes range, the northern branch of the Sierra Madre proper, which crosses the entire country from east to west. It is a well-watered sector of the national territory with abundant rainfall and fertile soil. The inhabitants, Indians and Métis, are engaged in farming and raising domestic animals. They live in modest wooden houses. - 1977

Lake Atitlán, a natural wonder, is located in the heart of the Guatemalan highlands, at an altitude of 1,500 metres. It is dominated by the volcanoes Atitlán and San Pedro, on whose slopes are scattered fields of crops. It is one of the most populated areas of the altiplano. Indeed, countless villages have been built on its banks. They bear the names of saints or apostles: San Jorge, San Lucas, San Pedro, Santa Catarina, San Antonio, Santiago, etc. The inhabitants of each of these localities have their own way of life, customs, crafts, clothing and beliefs. They are engaged in agriculture, which is particularly flourishing due to the moderate altitude of the relief and the mild temperature. They also fish and harvest shellfish, which abound in the very pure waters of Lake Atitlán. - 1972

Lake Atitlán, a natural wonder, is located in the heart of the Guatemalan highlands, at an altitude of 1,500 metres. It is dominated by the volcanoes Atitlán and San Pedro, on whose slopes are scattered fields of crops. It is one of the most populated areas of the altiplano. Indeed, countless villages have been built on its banks. They bear the names of saints or apostles: San Jorge, San Lucas, San Pedro, Santa Catarina, San Antonio, Santiago, etc. The inhabitants of each of these localities have their own way of life, customs, crafts, clothing and beliefs. They are engaged in agriculture, which is particularly flourishing due to the moderate altitude of the relief and the mild temperature. They also fish and harvest shellfish, which abound in the very pure waters of Lake Atitlán. - 1977

Lake Atitlán, a natural wonder, is located in the heart of the Guatemalan highlands, at an altitude of 1,500 metres. It is dominated by the volcanoes Atitlán and San Pedro, on whose slopes are scattered fields of crops. It is one of the most populated areas of the altiplano. Indeed, countless villages have been built on its banks. They bear the names of saints or apostles: San Jorge, San Lucas, San Pedro, Santa Catarina, San Antonio, Santiago, etc. The inhabitants of each of these localities have their own way of life, customs, crafts, clothing and beliefs. They are engaged in agriculture, which is particularly flourishing due to the moderate altitude of the relief and the mild temperature. They also fish and harvest shellfish, which abound in the very pure waters of Lake Atitlán. - 1972

Aerial view of the volcanoes near Lake Atitlán in the direction of Quezaltenango. - 1977

Aerial view of the volcano San Pedro at Lake Atitlán with the villages San Pedro La Laguna and San Juan La Laguna. - 1977

Volcán de Fuego is an active, 3,763 m high stratovolcano in southern Guatemala. It is located about 20 km southwest of the city of Antigua Guatemala. Fuego is one of the most active volcanoes in Guatemala. Major eruptions are rare, but there are often clouds of smoke above the crater. - 1977

Aerial view of Quezaltenango, the second largest city in Guatemala. To the left of the centre of the picture you can see the cathedral. - 1977

Mosaic of fields on approach to the airport of Quezaltenango, Guatemala. - 1977

Wheat fields on the way to Quezaltenango, Guatemala. - 1977

Typical landscape of the central mountainous sierra of Guatemala. Working the land has a sacred meaning for the Indians. Fields of crops are spread wherever the land is fertile and the climatic conditions are favourable. However, the indigenous people have always limited themselves to subsistence farming, because the land is meant to feed people, not to make them rich. Intensive farming would impoverish the soil, which would be in contradiction with the reverence for the land. - 1977

Wheat fields on the way to Quezaltenango, Guatemala. - 1977

Harvest in the wheat fields in the area between Quezaltenango and Chichicastenango. Tilling the soil is of sacred importance to the Indians. Crops extend wherever the earth is fertile and climatic conditions are favourable. Meanwhile, the indigenous people have always restricted themselves to minimal soil use, as the earth is meant to be conducive to nourishment, not enrichment. Intensive cultivation would be contrary to the reverence that should be shown to the earth. - 1977

Harvest in the grain fields near Quezaltenango. This boy carries a sheaf of wheat. - 1977

A farmer crosses the Río San José in central Guatemala with his cows. - 1977

Dusk over Lago Izabal in eastern Guatemala. - 1977

On the way to Tikal, an ancient Mayan city in the rainforests of Petén in northern Guatemala. Today the road is asphalted. - 1977

Temple complex of Tikal (or Tik'al, according to modern Mayan spelling), which is one of the largest urban centres of the pre-Columbian Mayan civilisation. It is located in the municipality of Flores in the department of Petén and is part of the Tikal National Park. - 1977

Characteristic landscape of Belize. This photo was taken in the Orange Walk region, which occupies the northern sector of this small Central American country. The vegetation is predominantly lowland, tropical and swampy. With the exception of a mountainous region near the Guatemalan border, most of Belize is like this. It is a country marked by extremely high temperatures and constant humidity, two factors that make life particularly difficult. This explains, at least to some extent, why British Honduras remains a land that has been only imperfectly exploited up to now. Great surprises await those who explore the almost impenetrable jungle of this part of Central America, where numerous Mayan ruins and rare and valuable plant species have already been reported. - 1978

The real sea, the Atlantic - at Cap Juby, rich in memories of Saint-Exupéry - barely stands out against the sand so familiar to the camels. - Western Sahara - 1966

The dune will make nature lovers dream for a long time to come. The wind has wrinkled it, like the waves wrinkle the sand at the bottom of the sea. But when the sun goes down, it is a delicious feeling to lie on its still warm, blonde surface (Puerto Cansado, Tarfaya, Cap-Juby). - Western Sahara - 1966

The Oued Azougi in Mauritania can also become a raging river. - Mauritania - 1968

Landscape on the plateau of the Amojjar Pass in Mauritania. - Mauritania - 1968

But if the Tassilian landscape owes its appearance to ancient volcanism, in many other regions of the Sahara it is from the complex and obstinate play of a thousand-year-old erosion that the landscape derives its grandiose cut. Not far from the Amojjiar pass, in central Mauritania, one can admire the monumental sedimentary section brought to life by a runoff which, although very rare today, must have been in ancient times of singular power. Sometimes, this enormous work of clearing was carried out in a very short time. In the Immidir, in the Tassilian region, the pottery made by Neolithic man, 3500 years BC, lies under I7 metres of alluvium! - The Saharan landscape is therefore being permanently modified, but this transformation is being singularly slowed down by the current extreme drought. - Mauritania - 1968

Dhar Tichitt is a Neolithic archaeological site in the south-western Saharan region of Mauritania. It is one of several settlement sites along the sandstone cliffs in the area. The cliffs were inhabited by farmers and pastoralists from about 4500 B.C. and lasted until about 2300 B.C. This area is one of the oldest known archaeological settlement sites in the western part of Africa. About 500 stone settlements were scattered throughout the region in the former Saharan savannah. In addition to cattle breeding (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats), the inhabitants hunted, fished, gathered wild cereals and cultivated rush millet. - In the background, the town of Tichitt. - Mauritania - 1970

Akreïjit, like Dhar Tichitt, is a Neolithic site in the south-western Saharan region of Mauritania. - 1970

The Atakor volcanic field ("Atakor" means "swollen part, knot at the end of something" in the Tuareg language) is a volcanic field with spectacular landscapes in southern Algeria and is located in the Hoggar Mountains. The Atakor is one of several large volcanic fields in this mountain range. Volcanism in this region took place in several phases, starting 20 million years ago and lasting until the Holocene. Currently, there is fumarolic activity. The highest elevation is Tahat in the west of the volcanic field, the highest mountain in Algeria at 2908 metres. - Algeria - 1966

The Atakor volcanic field ("Atakor" means "swollen part, knot at the end of something" in the Tuareg language) is a volcanic field with spectacular landscapes in southern Algeria and is located in the Hoggar Mountains. The Atakor is one of several large volcanic fields in this mountain range. Volcanism in this region took place in several phases, starting 20 million years ago and lasting until the Holocene. Currently, there is fumarolic activity. The highest elevation is Tahat in the west of the volcanic field, the highest mountain in Algeria at 2908 metres. - View from the Assekrem to the Atakor. - Algeria - 1966

The Oued Saoura in the region of Béni Abbès on the western edge of the Western Great Ergs. - Algeria - 1971

The Oued Saoura in the region of Béni Abbès on the western edge of the Western Great Ergs. - Algeria - 1966

Béni Abbès is an oasis town in western Algeria inhabited mainly by Berbers. It is located on the Oued Saoura, which only has water in winter and spring and forms the western border of the Western Great Erga, the second largest sand sea in the Sahara. The new town of Béni Abbès is situated on a rocky plateau above the valley floor. The plain is surrounded by sand dunes that rise almost 40 m above the surface of the plateau in the immediate vicinity of the town. Other dunes reach a height of more than 80 m. - Algeria - 1971

Béni Abbès is an oasis town in western Algeria inhabited mainly by Berbers. It is located on the Oued Saoura, which only has water in winter and spring and forms the western border of the Western Great Erga, the second largest sand sea in the Sahara. The new town of Béni Abbès is situated on a rocky plateau above the valley floor. The plain is surrounded by sand dunes that rise almost 40 m above the surface of the plateau in the immediate vicinity of the town. Other dunes reach a height of more than 80 m. - Algeria - 1966

Béni Abbès, in the north-western Algerian Sahara, is the prototype of a Saharan oasis. Here, the roots of the palm trees are bathed by the waters of the Wadi Saoura, but the immense dunes of the western Great Ergs loom menacingly in the background. In a country where the sand is 75 degrees Celsius in summer, the main architectural problem is to create shady and cool zones. - Algeria - 1971

Sand dunes in the Western Great Erg near the small oasis town of Taghit on the - only in winter and spring water-bearing - Oued Zousfana. - Whirlwind on the sand dune. - Algeria - 1971

Sand dunes in the Western Great Erg near the small oasis town of Taghit on the - only in winter and spring water-bearing - Oued Zousfana. - Note the swirl of sand above the dune. - Algeria - 1971

Sand dunes in the Western Great Erg near the small oasis town of Taghit on the - only in winter and spring water-bearing - Oued Zousfana. - Algeria - 1971

Flock of sheep by the water near Mécheria, in north-west Algeria, on the northern edge of the Sahara. - Algeria - 1966

Moghar and Taghtani (Algeria). - The famous slabs, which have been known since 1847 and were first published in 1849, are situated in front of a landscape that already hints at a desert. It has been said that the real difference between the north and the south is the palm tree: it gives dates in the north, hard nuts in the south. You can see the engravings on the slabs opposite the meagre gardens of the oasis. The deep and mysterious engraving at the bottom right is of Neolithic age. Perhaps it shows a man? But nothing is certain. This engraving is a first indication of an affirmed spirituality: it encloses an idea in a symbol whose meaning escapes us. Height: 0.97 m. - Algeria - 1971

Ghardaïa is an oasis town in Algeria. The city is located in the M'zab in the northern central Sahara at an altitude of 526 m and forms the pentapolis of the M'zab together with the southeastern cities of Beni Isguen, Melika (both in this picture), Bou Noura (Has Bunur) and El Atteuf (Tadjnint). Together with the other oases of the M'Zab valley, Ghardaïa has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1982 because of its exemplary urban design. - The name Ghardaïa comes from a saint named Daïa who lived in a cave (ghar) in the area. Later, Kharijite Muslims fleeing persecution by Orthodox Muslims in the north built a city there. - Algeria - 1961

El-Oued, the city of a thousand domes, capital of the Souf, seen from the Sidi Salem mosque. Situated in the middle of the high dunes of the Great Eastern Erg, El-Oued is distinguished from the other oases by its houses with their differently shaped domed roofs. - Algeria - 1966

Dunes of the Great Eastern Erg near El Oued. - Algeria - 1966

A lone palm tree peeks out from among the dunes of the Great Eastern Erg. - Algeria - 1966

Geographers have found that erosion in the Sahara was not subject to the rules that apply to temperate zones. In Europe, for example, there is mechanical degradation resulting from the intensive sprinkling caused by the multitude of steep slopes. Even a single waterfall in the Alps transports a considerable amount of earth and rock every year. Here, nothing of the sort. Everything seems to be frozen in perpetual motionlessness. In reality, however, one has to reckon above all with the sand. With infinite patience, in interaction with the wind, it gnaws away at the rocky reefs from whose debris it feeds. The softer materials it transforms into peaks before destroying them completely; and the others only seem to resist it, for its ally, the wind, blows, as it were, without ceasing. But it is not only the sand that changes the landscape. In an area where the temperature difference between 1pm and 1am can exceed 50°, even the most solid minerals are put to the test, and it is not uncommon to feel as if you are under artillery fire at night: this is due to the rocks shattering with a roar as they cool. We see a consequence of this "thermal destruction" here, on the slope of the Tinterhert plateau, not far from Port Flatters, today's Bordj Omar Driss (Algeria). - Algeria - 1966

Dunes of Erg Issaouane in the vicinity of Fort Polignac, today's Illizi. - Algeria - 1969

On this track you drive south from Illizi through the Tassili. - Algeria - 1969

Foothills of the Tassili, washed out and torn by river and wind erosion. This is the kingdom of the nomads who pitch their tents in the wadis, the dried-up rivers, not far from a watering hole where sprouts a meagre vegetation indispensable for the camels and goats. - Algeria - 1969

Tassili promontory not far from Fort Polignac. - Algeria - 1966

The Oued Djerat is a wadi located south of Illizi. It leads through a remote rock valley in the Tassili n'Ajjer National Park, which has thousands of rock paintings, mostly rock paintings, but also petroglyphs. The picture gallery stretches for many kilometres. What is unusual in this region is that the pictures are particularly large. Giraffes alone are depicted on an area of 100 m², the largest of which measures eight metres. The discovery for the public dates back to 1934, when the French officer Brenans stopped at this place with his troop and came across the drawings of rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, elephants and giraffes. The French explorer Henri Lhote picked up the thread and discovered thousands of other drawings, which he studied scientifically. The petroglyphs date back to the Neolithic period and show similarities to those in the provinces of Oran (Algeria) and Fessan (Libya). According to Henri Lhote, they date back more than 7000 years. - Algeria - 1966

On the Fadnoun plateau in the "Parc National du Tassili", you come across a large rock slab full of engravings: giraffes, antelopes, ostriches as well as human figures, but above all the famous, five-metre-long cow that people carved into this rock slab thousands of years ago. – Tin-Terhert - Oued Djerat - Algeria - 1962

In the Sahara, water is more abundant than you think, but it is hidden, underground. In the valley of Iherir (Tassili N' Ajjer), however, it flows freely, bouncing off the rocks in waterfalls. Iherir is one of the areas of the Sahara where there is the most water. The rocky bottom prevents the precious wet from seeping into the ground. - Algeria - 1962

There is water in the valley of Iherir in Tassili N'Ajjer. That is the only reason why these palm trees can grow here. - Algeria - 1966

Since there is enough water in the valley of Iherir in Tassili N'Ajjer, the sedentary people can cultivate their fields. - Algeria - 1966

The construction of this hut of a sedentary Targui is only found in Idaren in the valley of Iherir in the Tassili N'Ajjer. - Algeria - 1966

Landscape with tufts of grass in Maader de Dider in Tassili N'Ajjer. - Algeria - 1966

Pre-Islamic tomb, facing east, in the surroundings of Idriss-Gardel. The tomb consists of a low stone mound in the centre, surrounded by two concentric circles with an entrance running through them. The Central Sahara is rich in such funerary monuments, which are most often found on the slopes of stony hills. - Algeria - 1966

Meharists on a reconnaissance ride at Fort Gardel, Tassili n'Ajjer. - Algeria - 1966

Dunes of Tahort in the area of Djanet, Tassili n'Ajjer. - Algeria - 1966

On the edge of the Erg Admer, with the Tassili Mountains to the west of Djanet in the background. - Algeria - 1966

Pre-Islamic tomb, facing east, in the surroundings of Djanet. The tomb consists of a low stone mound in the centre, surrounded by two concentric circles with an entrance running through them. The Central Sahara is rich in such funerary monuments, which are most often found on the slopes of stony hills. - Algeria - 1966

Pre-Islamic tomb, facing east, in the surroundings of Djanet. The Central Sahara is rich in such funerary monuments, which are most often found on the slopes of stony hills. - Algeria - 1964

A watering hole in the Djanet region. - Algeria - 1962

Arrival at the oasis of Djanet in the south of the Tassili n'Ajjer. - Algeria - 1969

Djanet is an oasis and the most important city in the southeast of the Algerian Sahara. The original city consists of three quarters (ksour), built in the 16th century: El Mihan, Adjahil and Azzelouaz (pictured), which lie on either side of the Wadi Idjeriou. During French colonial rule, the town was called Fort Charlet. - Algeria - 1962

Overview of Wadi Idjeriou and the oasis of Djanet from Tin Beur mountain. Djanet is the most important city in the southeast of the Algerian Sahara. The original city consists of three quarters (ksour), which were built in the 16th century: El Mihan, Adjahil and Azzelouaz, located on either side of the Wadi Idjeriou. During French colonial rule, the town was called Fort Charlet. - Algeria - 1962

The Tassili n'Ajjer is a mountain range in the Sahara in south-eastern Algeria and forms the north-western border of the Chad Basin. It is about 500 km long and consists mostly of sandstone. Erosion has formed almost 300 stone arches in the area, among other forms worth seeing. The inhabitants of the mountainous region and the surrounding desert areas belong to the Tuareg confederation of the Kel Ajjer (People of Ajjer). - Algeria - 1964

After crossing the Tafilalet pass, the trail descends again through a gorge to Tamrit. - Algeria - 1966

At the foot of these bizarre erosional forms in the Séfar area, you will come across shelters where you can admire countless rock paintings. - Algeria - 1966

At the foot of these bizarre erosional forms in the Séfar area, one encounters shelters where one can admire countless rock paintings. The Targui Hosseinie gives us a size comparison. - Algeria - 1966

The Targui Hosseinie stands at the entrance to a cave created by wind erosion near Séfar. - Algeria - 1966

At the Guelta of Séfar, Targui Hosseinie is busy raising water. - Algeria - 1966

At Jabbaren, Targui Hosseini kneels in deep prayer. - Algeria - 1966

This picture of the site of Jabbaren in the Tassili n' Ajjer (Algerian Sahara) shows the extensive abris where Neolithic people lived. On their walls they painted with consummate skill the familiar scenes from their daily lives. - Algeria - 1966

The Tin Tazarift area also has bizarre erosional forms. - Algeria - 1966

Targui Hosseinie with his donkeys in front of a large rock gate near Tin Tazarift. - Algeria - 1966

The stone forest of Tin Alkoum, Tassili n' Ajjer (Algeria), is a sight to behold in the Sahara. It is the result of erosion, which is not unusual in itself. Here, however, the factors determining the attack on the minerals are quite peculiar. First of all, there is the abrasion caused by the Saharan storms, which hurl the sand against every obstacle in a manner comparable to a sandblaster. Then there is the difference between the daily temperature maxima and the nightly minima of such magnitude that it causes veritable rock explosions. And finally, although this has practically ceased, the attack by water at a time when the rains fell mainly in the form of thundery and heavy downpours. Witnesses to the violent thunderstorms are the numerous fulgurites or thunderbolts that formed in the sand as a result of lightning strikes by melting it around the impact hole. These hardened tubes were then exposed by erosion. - Algeria - 1969

The members of mission T4 (Tassili - Ténéré - Tibesti - Tchad - 1966/67 - led by Maximilien Bruggmann) on the march in the Tissouar area of Tassili n'Ajjer. - Algeria - 1966

Rocky landscape, shaped by erosion into strange sculptures, in the highlands of the Tassili Mountains. Hidden amidst these stone citadels are the numerous rock art sites. - Tamrit - Algeria - 1966

Rocky landscape in the Tissouar area, shaped by erosion into strange sculptures, in the highlands of the Tassili Mountains. Hidden amidst these stone citadels are the numerous rock art sites. - Algeria - 1966

A Torha plant at Terarart in the south of Tassili n'Ajjer. - Algeria - 1975

At Tin-Amali on the southern edge of the Tassili, near Djanet, these rocks rise out of the sandy desert. - Algeria - 1969

Years have passed since the last rain. Only in the evening, when the shadows of a rare plant finally lengthen on the pale-multicoloured carpet of soil, does the immense panorama show its true face. The rock, lost on the edge of the Adrar Tin-Amali somewhere southeast of Djanet, is reminiscent of an island. Don't we also have an ocean in mind when we call the camel a "desert ship"? - Algeria - 1969

Mont Gautier south of Djanet, on the southern edge of the Tassili. - Algeria - 1975

Stone and sand desert between Ghat and Serdeles, today's Al Awaynat - Libya - 1964

The Tadrart Acacous Mountains are a desert landscape in Libya. The desert itself is characterised by mountains, rocks, sand and dunes. Rock monuments can be found, comparable to those in Arches National Park in the United States. In caves there are early historical engravings of elephants and water buffaloes dating from around 4000 BC. They are similar to those in the Algerian Tassili Mountains. The paintings document periods when the region was much wetter and thus offered a much more fertile landscape. - Libya - 1969

The finger - Mont Equilibre - in the Wadi Atoulla in the Tadrart Acacus in Libya. The desert itself is characterised by mountains, rocks, sand and dunes. Rock monuments can be found, comparable to those in Arches National Park in the United States. In caves there are early historical engravings of elephants and water buffaloes dating from around 4000 BC. They are similar to those in the Algerian Tassili Mountains. The paintings document periods when the region was much wetter and thus offered a much more fertile landscape. - Libya - 1969

In the Acacous Mountains, on the way to Teshouinat. In caves there are early historical engravings of elephants and water buffaloes from around 4000 BC. They are similar to those in the Algerian Tassili Mountains. The paintings document periods when the region was much wetter and thus offered a much more fertile landscape. - Libya - 1969

This landscape in the area of Teshuinat, in the Tadrart Acacous (Libya), shows us, a little to the left of centre, the entrance to the Uan Amil I cave. No more water, no more life, a heavy silence. And yet people lived and thought here. Game was abundant, the spring was near, herbs crowded the shores of the lakes ... And then nothing: the all too thorough victory of the desert. - Libya - 1969

View from a cave in Wadi Kessan in Tadrart Acacous. - Libya - 1969

Large sand dunes of Iguidi oua-n-Kasa in the east of Acacous. - Libya - 1969

A lonely tree in a small oued near Wadi Mathendous ... and in between, the empty desert of Fezzan in southern Libya. - 1969

The Wadi Mathendous has carved its bed into the rugged landscape of the Messak noir, in the Fezzan in southern Libya. Following the dead course of the former river, now blocked by boulders, one reaches the famous site of the elephant of In Galjeïen: It is located on the rock that closes off the farthest part of the horizon. - Libya - 1969

Our journey has taken us to the sandy deserts and to Djebel, through the gorges of Tassili and into the tall grass of the steppe. Everywhere we met people who were able to build their lives and even laugh and sing. But it is to the sand that our minds and, why not, our hearts are drawn. This single man leading his camel across the hot, soft sand represents the triumph of the will over the most hostile matter. Sure, at the end of the journey, palm trees await him again, similar to those here in the valley of Adjahl; but even these exist only thanks to the will of other people, if the sand is not ultimately to win the day. - Libya - 1964

Full moon over the fertile Adjal Valley interspersed with rich oases - Libya - 1969

The Edeyen or dune massif of Oubari with Lake Gabr' Aoun in the foreground, one of the seven lakes around which live the Daouda, people of dark complexion whose existence is one of the most miserable in the whole Sahara. Eight ridges of high, hard-to-walk dunes, some 50 kilometres, separate them from the fertile Adjal valley, which is dotted with rich oases. - Libya - 1964

A herd of dromedaries at Al-Qatrun, an oasis in southern Libya, on the main route to Niger and Tchad. - Libya - 1969

If the American Indians were renowned trackers, the Saharan nomads are not inferior to them in this difficult art. The track of a camel is almost like news, and any self-respecting Saharan can tell with unfailing accuracy the freshness of the track, the age, sex, load and degree of fatigue of the animal. - Libya - 1969

Dunes in the Edeyen of Murzuk, a Saharan sand desert (erg) in the southern Libyan province of Murzuk and has an almost circular shape with a diameter of about 250 km. - Libya - 1969

Dunes in the Eyden of Murzuk, a Saharan sand desert (erg) in the southern Libyan province of Murzuk and has an almost circular shape with a diameter of about 250 km. - Libya - 1969

There is no need for roads on the vast plains of the Edeyen of Murzuk. Every truck, every off-road vehicle leaves its own track in the sand. - Libya - 1969

In reality, the Sahara can be crossed like a sea. In the true sense of the word, it is "ocean sailing". The immense expanses of sand wrinkled by a perpetual wind, as well as the dreary plateaus strewn endlessly with burnt rocks, offer no landmarks safe enough to go from one oasis to another without the risk of getting lost. It is therefore with a compass and a map that one must advance. Moreover, in this almost perfect desert, where parsimonious wells deliver only a rare and not always drinkable water, a surprise awaits the traveller; in innumerable places, he sees, scattered on the ground, the testimonies of an intense lacustrine life: bones of hippopotamuses or crocodiles, bones of enormous fishes, shells of molluscs. And if it were necessary to confirm the reality of the facts, we would have to reflect on the significance of the gigantic diatomite deposits, such as those of the Chadian Djourab (8), formed by the microscopic siliceous skeletons of infinitesimally small people who lived in large lakes that were drying up two or three thousand years ago, but which were still in high water four or five thousand years earlier. - Chad - 1967

Grandiose rock formation in the Zouar region of Tibesti. To compare the size, look at the two people. - Chad - 1967

Bardaï in 1967. It remains the main town in Tibesti. - Chad - 1967

The Enneri Alli between Soborum and Bardaï. "Enneri" means "river". Like a wadi, it is characterised by the fact that it is almost always dry. - Tibesti- Chad - 1967

A small caravan in the Enneri Bessama between Bardaï and Soborum. "Enneri" means something like "river". Like a wadi, it is characterised by the fact that it is almost always dry. - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

View of the Enneri Bessama (Tibesti). Note the small figure: it serves as a scale for the landscape. "Enneri" means something like "river". Like a wadi, it is characterised by the fact that it is almost always dry. The road that connects Bardaï with Soboroum runs through the bed of the Enneri Bessama. The volcanic tuff seems to have been cut with a gigantic sword stroke; soft, very fine sand, which makes walking difficult, fills the bottom of the Enneri. - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

View of the Enneri Bessama (Tibesti). Note the two men: they serve as a scale for the landscape. "Enneri" means something like "river". Like a wadi, it is characterised by the fact that it is almost always dry. The road that connects Bardaï with Soboroum runs through the bed of the Enneri Bessama. The volcanic tuff seems to have been cut with a gigantic sword stroke; soft, very fine sand, which makes walking difficult, fills the bottom of the Enneri. - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

About 60 km southeast of Bardaï is Soborom, the "spa" of Tibesti. The place is also called the underground workshop of the devils of Tibesti. -Chad - 1967

Witnesses of the Second World War : near Zouar is the "Garage Leclerc", a rocky cleft where the wrecks of the Bedford vehicles of the Leclerc column are hidden, as if petrified by time that has stopped in this endless desert.- Zouar - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

Witnesses of the Second World War : At the airfield of Zouar, one finds this French plane - Zouar - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

Wind vortex in the Enneri Bardague. In the background the siluette of Pic Toussidé - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

Landscape in the Enneri Bardague. In the background the siluette of Ehi Mousue - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

Characteristic Tibesti landscape in the surroundings of Zouar, a military post. In the background, the silhouette of Pic Botoum stands out against the sky. - Chad - 1967

Behind this fissured lava field rises the majestic, 2416 m high Pic Botoum - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

Neolithic ceramic pot from the valley Barh El Gazal near the village Kouba Olanga in the region Borkou - Chad - 1967

One of the most magnificent sights in the Sahara: the large «Natron Hole» in Tibesti (Chad). This former crater has a diameter of 6 kilometres and a depth of 600 metres. The Toubou, nomads of the Tibesti, extract the sodium bicarbonate there, which is intended for the camels, and load it onto the donkeys, the only animals that can walk the very narrow and very steep path. – Tibesti - Chad - 1967

The Saharan atmosphere is so strange, so out of keeping with the one that has shaped our minds, that it is not difficult to forget what we know about geography when we come into contact with it. In reality, we are only in front of another aspect of the planet and it is in the presence of a dormant volcano, and not a dead one like the one shown here, that we find our sense of the Universal. The "Natron hole" is, as its name suggests, a salt reserve in a country where salt is scarce. The Tubu who exploit it reserve it for their animals. - Chad - 1967

A disturbing vision of a mountain in the Yeï Lulu Loga region (Niger), when the south wind blows. At first it is a light breeze, then the force of the wind increases and becomes frighteningly strong. Then the shapes of things become blurred, the profile of the mountains evokes some lunar landscape. The dust mixed with the sand rises to an altitude of 3000 metres. - Chad - 1967

At the entrance to Enneri Blaka, a dry wadi in the Djado plateau in north-eastern Niger. It is located in the northern extension of the Kaouar Valley, which is known for its salt flats and oases such as Bilma. In its surroundings are numerous rock paintings and prehistoric relics, as well as a rock formation known as the "submarine". The Enneri Blaka ends in the large sand desert of Ténéré. About 50 km to the southwest is the well-known oasis of Chirfa. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1975

In the Enneri Blaka on the way to the submarine. - Niger - 1968

The "submarine" in the Enneri Blaka owes its name to the shape it resembles. In reality, the Enneri is a wadi, a river. In the picture you can see the four Landrovers of the 18th journey, which was led by Maximilien Bruggmann. On this trip, 3 new sites were documented. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1975

You might think you were seeing the mighty conning tower of a submarine emerging from an ocean of sand. In reality, the Enneri Blaka is a wadi, a river. But instead of water, today there is only sand. - Niger - 1975

Tracks in the sand on the way to the submarine. Two Land Rovers were involved in the 1968/1969 expedition "Mission Blaka". Seven prehistoric sites were discovered. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

The "submarine" at Enneri Blaka owes its name to the shape it resembles. Wouldn't you think you were seeing the mighty conning tower of a submarine emerging from an ocean of sand? In reality, the Enneri is a wadi, a river, but here, in the barren bed in the middle of which the strange rock rises, nothing has flowed for a very long time, and the "submarine" is fossilised forever. Seldom has a region been more severely beaten with barrenness than that in which the Blaka lies. For not the smallest shrub grows there, and the camel riders who have visited it speak of it as a hell without water and without the slightest hope of life . . . And yet shepherds once grazed their flocks here. In the camp, their peaceful life took place without clashes, and local artists decorated the walls of the abris and the smooth rock surfaces with beautiful engravings and fine paintings. The fact that one also finds depictions of hippos suggests that a lake existed nearby ... But so far there is no irrefutable evidence, such as a vertebra of a large fish found in the sand, for the correctness of this assumption. In the large abri of the "submarine", one has discovered the outstanding depiction of a hind in white and ochre, which bears an astonishing resemblance to works from the wall art of South Africa. Convergence or influence? It is impossible to answer this question with the current state of our knowledge. - Niger - 1968

Evening mood over the Enneri Blaka. View from the base camp at the submarine. - Niger - 1968

The sky in this landscape is the sky of which the poet dreams. The multicoloured palette of this still life is of incredible richness. The rock emerges from a sea of sand and although lost in the northeast of Niger, the austere beauty of the Enneri Blaka is one of those that one does not forget. - Niger - 1968

Virgin sand - view from the base camp at the submarine. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1975

View from the base camp at the submarine. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1975

"Le gran cirque" - A section of the Enneri Blaka resembles a large circle in which there are large rock formations, like islands in the sea. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

There is no more water flowing in the Wadi Enneri Blaka. Instead, the steady wind has shaped the sand into waves. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1969

The Sahara is a desert in the true sense of the word only for those who have never seen it. The slightest rain, the poorest humidity and the smallest water hole already allow for a vegetation that never ceases to amaze the traveller. And how much life then develops around the freshly sprouted plant .... Even the wind compels the weak stems of the "gazelle grass" to mark its all too constant direction, using them instead of a compass. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1975

Sand dunes and rocks in Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

Sand dunes and rocks in Enneri Blaka - Site 1 - Niger - 1968

Two line-engraved rhinoceroses. From right horn to left tail: 0.84 m. - Site 1 in the "Submarine" rock shelter. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

Sand dunes and rocks in Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

View from the site 4th - Giraffes in a stiff, decadent style were carved into the rock. The largest giraffe measures 1.05 m in height. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

Sun-dried shrub found at site 4 - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

At "site 5 " in the Enneri Blaka area, discovered in 1968 by the Blaka expedition (led by Maximilien Bruggmann), we have preserved intact an abri, a rock niche under which Neolithic people had lived around 5000 BC. In the foreground you can see a rubbing stone left in the middle of a rubbing ground into the rock bench itself. On the other side of the valley, another reef, dry, burnt, barren. But one can easily imagine that green banks lined the river at the time when people lived in the Blaka. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

On the opposite side of the valley is site 7. It is found in the left third, to the right of the stone illuminated by the sun. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

The "West Island" in the big ring. Site 8 is located in a shelter of these rocks. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

Another view of the "West Island" in the big ring. Here the site 8 is in a shelter of these rocks. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

Sand dunes with waves and rocks in Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

Pre-Islamic tomb in the north of Enneri Blaka. Note the Landrover of the 1975 expedition.

As here in Enneri Blaka, Niger, the sand is constantly abrading the sandstone against which it is violently hurled by the wind. Swollen by the material it has loosened, it enriches the dunes of the great erg. Over time, however, the sand from which the dunes are formed begins to solidify and become sandstone again! This is an unexpected form of self-regeneration.

Landscape between the Enneri Blaka and the Djado - Niger - 1968

At the small oasis of Chirfa, which lies on the road from Bilma to Djanet in Algeria or on the historic Bornu Road. It is a starting point for exploring the Djado plateau with the ruined city of the same name. To the east is the Enneri Blaka, a valley incision of the plateau. - Niger - 1968

The former settlement of Djado is an oasis town in the north-east of the Ténéré Desert, which is part of the Sahara, on the south-western edge of the Djado plateau. It is the north-easternmost municipality of Niger. The settlements in the municipal area are the three villages of Chirfa, Séguédine and Yaba. Almost all around the rocky hill of Djado, which ends in steep cliffs to the west, there are pools fed by underground springs, ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Heading south from Djado, you reach the Kaouar valley. To the west, the gravel desert of the Ténéré leads to the Aïr Mountains. - Niger - 1975

Djado, standing on a peak in front of the threatening immensity of the Ténéré. The "Mont-Saint-Michel of the Sands"... This is one of the strangest sites in Niger. If you look at the walls of this medieval fortress, surrounded by rotting water, you will realise that salt is the main material. The Tibbous still come to camp on the site at the time of the date harvest, but the town itself is abandoned to the spirits, and nothing is more moving than the journey through these deserted streets in which the walls of this ancient metropolis are crumbling, one by one. Archaeologically, the site deserves serious excavation and work, but it is located in an area with very difficult access. Moreover, its former occupants were victims of its geographical situation, at the limit of the plain and the mountain, at a time when the latter was the safest refuge against the permanent threat of looters. – Niger - 1968

Almost all around the rocky hill of Djado, which ends in steep cliffs to the west, there are pools fed by underground springs, ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Heading south from Djado, you reach the Kaouar valley. To the west, the gravel desert of the Ténéré leads to the Aïr Mountains. - Niger - 1968

View from the ruins of the old Ksar onto the wide plain of the Ténéré - Niger - 1968

Almost all around the rocky hill of Djado, which ends in steep cliffs to the west, there are pools fed by underground springs, ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Heading south from Djado, you reach the Kaouar valley. To the west, the gravel desert of the Ténéré leads to the Aïr Mountains. - Niger - 1968

Near the ruins of the residential castle or "Ksar" Djaba, we reach the overwhelming rocky landscape of Orida. Large witness mountains rise everywhere from the light sand. The rock pinnacles and towers, up to 400 metres high, rising steeply from the sand, make a grandiose impression. - Djado - Niger - 1975

Near the ruins of the residential castle or "Ksar" Djaba, we reach the overwhelming rocky landscape of Orida. Large witness mountains rise everywhere from the light sand. The rock pinnacles and towers, up to 400 metres high, rising steeply from the sand, make a grandiose impression. - Djado - Niger - 1968

Near the ruins of the residential castle or "Ksar" Djaba, we reach the overwhelming rocky landscape of Orida. Large witness mountains rise everywhere from the light sand. The rock pinnacles and towers, up to 400 metres high, rising steeply from the sand, make a grandiose impression. - Djado - Niger - 1975

The Kaouar valley runs in a north-south direction and is about 160 kilometres long. The oasis villages of Séguédine (salt production), Anney, Dirkou and Bilma (salt production) are located in the Kaouar valley, which is cut up to 100 metres deep. In the northern extension of the Kaouar valley is Enneri Blaka, known for its prehistoric rock paintings. - In the background of the picture, the Pic Zoumri near Séguédine. - Kaouar - Niger - 1968

Near Séguédine, in the middle of the desert, rises the Pic Zoumri, about 150 m high. It is a mountain of witnesses. - Kaouar - Niger - 1968

In November 1960, this signpost number 13 was erected near Séguédine by the Berliet Mission - Kaouar - Niger - 1975

Packing the blocks requires a special skill and is done while the traders discuss the terms of the trade. Once an agreement is reached, the salt blocks are loaded onto the camels. - Bilma - Kaouar - Ténéré - Niger - 1968

The Azalaï or salt caravan is the event of the year for the nomads. It always follows the same route because of the rarity of water points. The drivers believe that the trik el-meleh has existed since time immemorial ... In the past, the big caravans included up to 3000 camels. In our days, they number 500 to 1000. The stages stretch over almost 40 kilometres per day, and the load of an animal rarely weighs more than 80 to 100 kilograms. - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

And the caravan moves on, untouched, it seems, by fatigue, thirst and sandy winds. Never does the leader lose his way, of which he knows every dune, every bend. But sometimes, consumed by his too great efforts, a camel falls as if struck by lightning. It will not rise again. Often, not only must the animal be abandoned, but also its burden left behind if no replacement camels follow the convoy. And all along the track, white skeletons, slowly buried by the sand, mark the harsh ordeal of the peaceful "desert ships". - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

The Arbre du Ténéré from a distance! This tree was an umbrella thorn acacia (Acacia tortilis) that was considered the most isolated tree on earth - supposedly the only one within a radius of 400 kilometres, other data mention 150 km. It was probably the last surviving tree of a group of trees that grew up when the desert was less dry than at present. The tree stood alone for several decades. - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

The acacia was knocked down in 1973 by an - allegedly drunken - truck driver. The then lieutenant and later state president Ali Saibou brought the remains of the Arbre du Ténéré in a military van to Niamey to the Niger National Museum on 8 November 1973, where they have been exhibited in their own pavilion since 1977. A tree-like structure made of metal pipes was erected at the site of the acacia, and chrome-plated hubcaps were later attached to its "branches" as reflectors for the night drivers. In 1998, Katsuyuki Shinohara erected the metal sculpture "Lighthouse of the Desert", with glass elements as optical and wind harps as acoustic orientation signs. - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

The salt caravan moves on. The 600 km distance between Bilma and Agadez is covered in 16 to 20 days. - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

Tufts of grass in the desert in the southern Ténéré - Niger - 1975

Balise number 1 of the Berliet expedition in the area of today's Djanet airport. The Berliet-Ténéré mission of 1959-1960 was a two-phase expedition across the Sahara organised by the truck manufacturer Berliet. It began in November 1959 and led from Djanet in Algeria via the Ténéré tree and the Termit massif to Lake Chad and Fort-Lamy (today N'Djaména in Chad) through the Sahara. The return route was via Bilma and the Djado Plateau back to Djanet. - Algeria - 1975

Balise 19 of Mission Berliet can be found in the north of Niger, on the Gara Toubeau hill in the Agadez region. Its coordinates are 21°38'9" N 9°57'4" E. - Niger - 1975

Point 5 is located in the Oued Toubeau Tafassasset, south of Balise 19 of the Berliet mission. - Ténéré - Niger - 1975

Balise 17 of Mission Berliet is located in the north of Niger, south of Adrar Bous in the Agadez region. The coordinates are 20°14'3" N 8°57'6" E. - Niger - 1975

Landscape photo from the Adrar Bous area - West Ténéré - Niger - 1975

Témet is a dry valley in the Agadez region. It runs from Mont Gréboun in the high mountains of Aïr to the Ténéré desert to the east. In rainy years, a lake can form in the desert. But the extreme temperatures soon cause it to dry up. - Témet - Ténéré - Niger - 1975

Témet is a dry valley in the Agadez region. It runs from Mont Gréboun (1944 m) in the high mountains of Aïr to the Ténéré desert to the east. In Témet are the highest sand dunes of the Ténéré, which can reach a height of 300 metres. - Témet - Ténéré - Niger - 1975

Témet is a dry valley in the Agadez region. The only water source in the valley, which often dries up in the dry season, is located in the upper part at Mont Gréboun. In rainy years, a diverse flora with a Mediterranean flavour can develop. - Témet - Ténéré - Niger - 1975

At sunset, the shadow of a rare stone points north-east. - Niger - Ténéré - 1975

Erosion form from the Adrar Bous area - West Ténéré - Niger - 1975

The "Rocher Toubeau" is a rock in the middle of the desert in the north of Niger, near the border with Algeria. A lone bird has perched on it to rest. - North Ténéré - Niger - 1975

Dead tree in the dry valley of Témet in the Agadez region. - Témet - Ténéré - Niger - 1975

The village of Noudache is located next to the site of Aoudaghost, which was uncovered by archaeological missions in the 1960s. It is a rather unusual site, as it is thought that it may have been the capital of the Ghana Empire in the 8th century, an oasis of great wealth, only a small part of which has been revealed. The village of Noudache is very new, the first settlements having been built in the 1970s by settled nomads, and lies at the foot of a rocky basin. - Mauritania - 1970

Tamchekett is a town in the Hodh El Gharbi region of south-central Mauritania. Temporary lakes form here during the rainy season. - Mauritania - 1969

The baobab is one of the best known and most characteristic trees of tropical Africa. It is characterised by a relatively short, extremely thick trunk, which can reach a diameter of more than 10 m. The tree can grow up to 800 years old. - Cattle seek the shade of the tree - Mansara - Mali - 1969

Near Mopti - Boats on the Niger River - Mali - 1969

The port of Mopti on the Niger River. Mopti is particularly characterised by trade and crafts. The city is a trading centre for fish, cattle and grain. Important crafts are weaving, iron and leather processing, pottery and boat building (pinasses up to 50 tons). - Mali - 1969

The Hand of Fatima is the name of a rock massif in Mali near Hombori on the road from Mopti to Gao. The rock needles made of sandstone are named according to the symbol of the Hand of Fatima, which serves as a defensive charm in Islamic folklore. They are a popular destination for mountaineers. - Mali - 1969

A herd of goats rests by a pool formed during the rainy season. 46 km north-east of Tahoua - Niger - 1970

Arrival at the oasis of Djanet in the south of the Tassili n'Ajjer. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

On the way in the Wadi Taligit, which leads from Djanet to the high plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

The caravan descending from a pass on the high plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

High plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Pebble desert on the high plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Plateau of the Tassili - Guelta Allagagaaven Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Plateau of the Tassili - Guelta Allagagaaven Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

High plateau of the Tassili - Two Touareg playing checkers. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Evening atmosphere on the high plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Evening atmosphere with full moon on the high plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

High plateau of the Tassili - dromedaries in the morning sun. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

View towards the east on a mountain on the high plateau of the Tassili. On the horizon you can see the Acacus Mountains in Libya. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

The landscape on the way to Ouan Bender, another place where you can find beautiful rock art. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Evening atmosphere in Ouan Bender. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Landscape near Titeras-n-Elias. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

In the Séfar region - three Touaregs are on the road with their fully packed donkeys. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Tin-Kani is an archaeological site in the Tassili N'Ajjer region in southeastern Algeria, home to impressive geological formations as well as numerous rock paintings. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

A Targui leads his dromedaries through the labyrinth of Tin-Kani. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

In the Tin-Messeous area, there are many stone forests with shelters where rock paintings can be found. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Dunes in the morning light at Jabbaren. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Rock arch in Jabbaren. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

A shelter on the edge of a river, the floor of which consists of a soft slab of rock eroded by water and wind. Most of the rock paintings are preserved in the man-sized, blanket-like rock pieces. Detail in the following picture. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - Jabbaren - 1993

Landscape image from the Oued Amazzar. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Rock formations between In-Aouanrhet and the Edjefané pass. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Landscape between In-Aouanrhet and the Edjefané pass. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

After the descent from the Edjefané pass, south-east of Djanet. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Such cliffs were in prehistory, and are even today, preferred places for people looking for a place to live. A settlement at El Beridij is located at the end of the cliff on the right. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Impressive landscape with the dunes of Moul n'Aga. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

In the dunes of Moul n'Aga... Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Impressive landscape with the dunes of Moul n'Aga. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

The mysterious island mountain of Moul n'Aga. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Impressive landscape with the dunes of Moul n'Aga. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

The cathedral of Tamesguida in Tadrart. The rocks were formed by the constant wind. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Animals have left traces in the red sand. Region between Bou Ediane and the Grotto of the Viper. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Region between Bou Ediane and the Grotto of the Viper. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Landscape near Tin-Merzouga. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

In the midday heat. Rocks and landscape with a camel skeleton of which only the skull remains. Algeria - Tadrart - Tin-Merzouga - 1993

Weathered rocks and dunes in the Tin-Merzouga region. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Rock sculpture in Wadi Tin-Tehak. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Landscape between Tin-Tehak and Ouan Zouaten. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Tufts of grass, sand and rocks at Tan-Ekli. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Desert landscape near Tan-Ekli. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Pyramid of sand. How lonely this tree must feel in this mineral universe. Algeria - Tadrart - In-Djaren - 1993

Dune in the Ouan Zouaten region. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

Tufts of grass, sand and rocks at Tin-Inabaden. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

To the east of the Aïr Mountains lies the Ténéré Desert. One part of this desert is the Erg Brousset with the Adrar Madet, a small mountain range. On the way there, you may encounter the lorries that connect Bilma to Agadez. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

To the east of the Aïr Mountains lies the Ténéré Desert. One part of this desert is the Erg Brousset with the Adrar Madet, a small mountain range. On the way there, you may encounter the lorries that connect Bilma to Agadez. The lorries are packed with goods and a large number of passengers on top. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

A group of Tuareg nomads have completed their barter transactions near Adrar Madet and are getting ready to return to the Aïr Mountains. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

Departure of the caravan. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

The caravan forms up for departure. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

The caravan leaves the Adrar Madet in a westerly direction. About 70 kilometres lead through the Erg Brousset to the foothills of the Aïr Mountains. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2000

Late afternoon in Erg Brousset. - Niger - 2000

In the desert, it is always the man of knowledge and experience who chooses the best way to obtain the caravan's resources. - End of the crossing of Erg Brousset. Abakaoua, the Tuareg chief, leads the caravan to the sand dunes of Tagueït. - Niger - 2001

This boulder is located in the Oued Tâfidet in the transition zone between the Aïr Mountains and the Ténéré Desert - Niger - 1992

This boulder is located in the Oued Ibil in the transition zone between the Aïr Mountains and the Ténéré Desert - Niger - 1992

These rock needles were put there by human hands. However, it is not known what they mean. - Oued Ibill - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The sand dunes at the entrance to Wadi Tagueït. - Niger - 1992

In the region of Tagueït - Aïr - Niger - 1999

On the way to the Tagueït waterhole - Niger - 2000

Landscape with tree, bushes and dune near Tagueït. See next photo. - Niger - 1992

10 years later! Landscape with tree, bushes and dune near Tagueït - Niger - 2002

Landscape near Tagueït - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Site of the rock engraving on the edge of the Ténéré desert - The man of Tagueït - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Landscape near Anakom - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Descent over the dunes of Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Descent to the Oued Tanakom - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Travelling between Anakom and Agamgam - Descent over the dunes of Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Still life in the dunes of Tanakom - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan en route to Agamgam - The dunes of Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan on the Takolokouzet plateau - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A herd of goats in the upper part of the Oued Agamgam, descending from the high plateau of Takolokouzet - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan descending from the Takolokouzet plateau - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A herd of goats descending from the high plateau of Takolokouzet - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent to the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

The caravan stops at Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The dromedaries quench their thirst at the Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Passage through the Agamgam Gorge - Aïr - Niger - 2001

In the evening light the caravan reaches the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

An acacia tree in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The same acacia tree in the Oued Agamgam, seven years later - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Landscape in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The Guelta Agamgam between rock faces - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Dromedary camels fetch water in Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Passage through the Agamgam Gorge - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Landscape in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

The caravan reaches the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2001

In the valley of Tafajrit near Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

The caravan between Agamgam and Tafajrit - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Camp Tafajrit - The dromedaries eat the greenery from the sparse trees - Aïr - Niger - 1999

The caravan passes through the exit of a canyon into the Arakao. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Balance - The sculpting god has chosen an immense open-air space for the exhibition of his works. Admission is free for all who make the effort to come here. - Tideloukoumt between Aïr and Ténéré - Niger - 1999

There are many rock engraving sites in the Oued Arakao. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Dunes in Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Arakao region is part of the Aïr mountain range, which is one of the most heavily forested areas in the Sahara. But on the border with the Ténéré and its dunes, the already sparse vegetation disappears abruptly. - Aïr - Niger - 1992

A Moulay Moulay bird sits on a dead tree stump in the middle of the Arakao. - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Arakao dunes and the remains of a dead tree - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Light and shadow - Day breaks in Arakao. Nothing will disturb the silence of the shadow and the oppressive rigidity of the light - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Afternoon in the Arakao. The shadows trace the majesty of the dunes on the sand - Tideloukoumt - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Dunes at Tideloukoumt - On the border between Ténéré and Aïr, the Arakao mountains mark the horizon and are the destination of a long day's march for the caravan. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Near Tideloukoumt in the Arakao region - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Shadows of life, shadows of death in the solitude of the desert. - Near Tideloukoumt in the Arakao region - Aïr - Niger - 1999

As a scout, the guide Abakaoua explores the narrow passage that leads to the top of the Ifiniyane dunes. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Landscape with tree and dunes in Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 1992

In the Arakao dunes, the approaching darkness drives the gold of the sand into the arms of a cobalt-coloured sky. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

At the edge of the Ténéré, at the end of the Oued Arakao, there is a natural, circular mountain range: the Crab Claw. The caravan crosses this area, which is dotted with sand dunes. - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Crossing the Crab Claw on the edge of the Ténéré - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Sand wind in the Crab Claw at the edge of the Ténéré - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan crosses the Crab Claw at the edge of the Ténéré - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The dunes of Tchi-n-Taboûrak rise on the north side of the Crab Claw - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Dune ascent at Tchi-n-Taboûrak - The dromedaries took the route around the outside of the dunes - Aïr - Niger - 2002

After the crab claw, you follow the Oued Takarit before reaching the large Erg Izane. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The last large waterhole is in the Oued Takarit. Here you "fill up" with as much water as possible before entering the large sea of dunes of Erg Izane. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The last large waterhole is in the Oued Takarit. As much water as possible is "refuelled" here before heading into the large sea of dunes of Erg Izane. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

On the threshold of the entrance to Erg Izane, a large sea of sand dunes. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Camp in the dunes of Lérouanan - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Sand-blown marble on the edge of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Still life at the edge of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Before crossing a desert, one must stock up on firewood. - At the camp of Elik-Ouan-Aggan - Air - Niger - 2001

Setting off to cross the Erg Izane - Issouane - Air - Niger - 2002

Setting off to cross the Erg Izane - To the right, at the back, is the area of Tchi-n-Taboûrak, from where we departed. - Issouane - Air - Niger - 2002

Abakaoua indicates the direction to cross the Erg Izane - Issouane - Air - Niger - 2000

On the way in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2001

On the way in the Erg Izane - Abakaoua is lost in silent prayer - Air - Niger - 2001

Tracks in the sand of the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2000

On the way in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2001

The caravan on the way in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

The traces of the caravan in the Erg Izane will soon be erased by the wind - Air - Niger - 2002

On the way in the Erg Izane to the camp of Elik-Ouan-Aggan. In the background, the Taghmert Mountain. - Air - Niger - 2001

On the way in the Erg Izane to the camp of Elik-Ouan-Aggan. - Air - Niger - 2001

On the way in the Erg Izane to the camp of Elik-Ouan-Aggan. In the background, the Taghmert Mountain. - Air - Niger - 2001

Crossing the sand sea Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2001

Crossing the sand sea Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

On the way in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

On the way in the Erg Izane - A dromedary needs to be reloaded - Air - Niger - 2000

On the way in the sand sea of the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

Crossing the sand sea Erg Izane - In the background, on the left the mountain Adrar Chiriet, on the right in the distance a marble hill - Air - Niger - 2002

Immersing into another world - The caravan enters another universe that is no longer the world of humans. In this untouched nature, only the nomads can survive. - On the left, the Adrar Chiriet - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the late afternoon in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

In the late afternoon in the Erg Izane - The hour of prayer - Air - Niger - 2002

In the late afternoon in the Erg Izane - In the background, the mountain Adrar Chiriet - Air - Niger - 2002

The march continues through the dunes of the Erg Izan - In the back left the Adrar Chiriet - Air - Niger - 2002

The wind is the sculptor of the desert - Air - Niger - 2000

The caravan on the march through the sand sea of the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2000

The scout always goes ahead, looking for the best way through the dunes - Aïr - Niger - 2000

This tree can no longer live without water. Now it still serves as firewood - Aïr - Niger - 1992

When the vital water of a well dries up, only death remains - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The caravan leaves the Adrar Chiriet area - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan travelling through Erg Izane towards Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A tent is quickly erected for the kitchen - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Under the full moon shining in the sky, the caravan marches through the endless dunes of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A dromedary carries the tarahuit, the traditional women's saddle - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan on its way towards Taghmert - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan on the way to Taghmert - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan on the way to Taghmert - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The dromedaries come back from grazing - In the background the Tamgak Mountains - Near Adrar Chiriet - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Travelling from Adrar Chiriet to Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The march continues in the direction of Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the Tebet area, the dunes gradually give way to wind-polished boulders - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Landscape at Camp Tanao - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Landscape at Camp Tanao - On the left the Tamgak Mountains, in the background the Adrar Chiriet - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

On the other side in the background the Taghmert, in the middle ground Tebet - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The camp of Tanao against the backdrop of the Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Tanao camp against the backdrop of the Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Adrar Bous is a 1123-metre-high mountain on the north-eastern edge of the Aïr high mountains in Niger. It is surrounded by the Ténéré desert and is part of the Aïr and Ténéré UNESCO World Heritage Nature Reserve. The mountain has an elliptical shape covering an area of 16 by 10 kilometres. The Adrar Bous is a refuge for Palaearctic migratory birds in the middle of the desert. Typical woody plants for the mountain are Acacia ehrenbergiana and Acacia raddiana (pictured). The isolated mountain was inhabited in the Neolithic period, as evidenced by sites with 10,000-year-old human remains. Arrowheads and tools have been found, as well as Sahara rock paintings, 9500-year-old pottery and a 6000-year-old cattle burial. - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan has left Adrar Bous and is on its way south - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan continues southwards - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Dune spectacle in the Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan before arriving in Bous - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

View of the caravan from the Bous barrier - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan moves in the morning light in Wadi Temet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Dunes at Temet - In the dry season, the Wadi Temet consists only of a scorching hot riverbed, at the edge of which a lone tree struggles to survive - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan travelling in the dry riverbed of the Wadi Temet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan in a dry valley with sparse vegetation in the Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Citrullus Colocynthis: In the Wadis or valleys, you can easily find large fields of small pumpkins or watermelons. They are round balls scattered on the ground. Some are fresh, others are dried. You are not allowed to eat them, but they are used for medicinal purposes. For rheumatism, as a laxative, for gonorrhoea, for urinary tract infections, for diabetes... - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan follows the Oued Temet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan follows the Oued Temet, which is lined with imposing sand dunes - In the background the mountain Ti-n-Galene - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The camp site for the night is soon reached - Temet region - Mount Tazoubit in the background - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The next morning, the caravan resumes its journey - Temet region - Mount Tazoubit in the background - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Soon the camp of Tezirzek is reached - In the background the Tamgak massif - Niger - Aïr - 2003

At the time of the horse (around 1000 BC), the aborigines liked to represent themselves in such a way that one could draw up an inventory of their various representations, which were often accompanied by one or more horses. - Well of Tezirzek- Niger - Aïr - 1992

In the late afternoon, the Targis bring their dromedaries back from the pasture to the camp - Well of Tezirzek- Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan continues south towards Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Cutting the drinn on the way, fodder for the dromedaries - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Camp in the dunes - Between Tezirzek and the Oued Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Travelling in the dunes between Tezirzek and the Oued Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan travelling through the dunes on the edge of Erg Izane - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan travelling through the dunes on the edge of Erg Izane, between Tezirzek and Oued Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

On the way home to the camp in the Oued Tiétak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

Nature in detail - Dunes near Tebet - Niger - Aïr - 1992

This dead tree still serves as firewood - Tebet region between Adrar Chiriet and Tamgak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The well of Tchou-m-Adegdeg - Tebet region between Adrar Chiriet and Tamgak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

From the edge of the Erg Izane, we head towards the mountains of the Tamgak massif - Niger - Aïr - 2003

On the way through a dry valley leading to the Guelta Iffazane - Niger - Aïr - 2003

On the way through a dry valley leading to the Guelta Iffazane - In the far background the Adrar Chiriet, in the middle ground the area of Tebet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The Guelta Eloukouloukan has water all year round - Niger - Aïr - 2003

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. Fresh greenery can be found here all year round - Niger - Aïr - 2003

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. Fresh greenery can be found here all year round - A guerba is filled with water - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Oued with the Tamgak Mountains in the background - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Dune in the Oued Aouï - Niger - Aïr - 2003

In the Oued Aouï – The Tamgak Mountains in the background on the left - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan sets off again early in the morning - Tachaouit - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The dum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) is a multi-stemmed palm species with oval, edible fruits. In ancient Egypt, this palm was used for its fruit, fibres and leaves, but the date palm was not native to Egypt and only produced dates when it could be pollinated. - Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Camp on the edge of the Tamgak massif - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan on its way to the western exit of the gorge that cuts across the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan approaches the end of the gorge that runs through the Tamgak massif. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Camp at the end of the gorge that runs right through the Tamgak massif. The tent made of mats is for visitors to the area. The camel saddles are parked in front of the tent - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The dromedaries are loaded again in the camp at the exit of the gorge - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan leaves the Oued Tamgak. Behind the mountains on the right is the town of Iferouâne - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Last obstacles before the caravan arrives in the city of Iferouâne - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Travelling through a wide wadi in the late afternoon - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The Kogo region is located on the edge of Erg Izane. It is known for its deposits of white marble - Kogo - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Departure to the west - Kogo region - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Morning atmosphere at the edge of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Departure in the morning sun - Camp Tebet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The area changes from sand dunes to stony terrain - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent to Guelta Eloukan before heading into the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan begins its journey through the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The oued (valley) on the way to the Guelta Iffazane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Ascent to Guelta Iffazane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Where there is water, life germinates - The Iffazane waterhole offers a rare treasure: water that provides fresh greenery all year round. - Aïr - Niger - 2000

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. Fresh greenery can be found here all year round - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Where there is water, life germinates - The Iffazane waterhole offers a rare treasure: water that provides fresh greenery all year round. - Aïr - Niger - 2000

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. The dromedaries take up a lot of water, they will certainly need it - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Early morning in the camp at Guelta Iffazane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Ascent to the pass from Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The landscape at the pass of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Descent from the pass of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan in the Oued of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan in the Oued of Tagerdet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

In the Oued Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Adrar Tamgak is located in the north-east of the Aïr and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve. The mountain massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep, arching gorge running in a west-east direction. - The caravan crosses the Teliaouet - Aïr - Niger - 2000 pass

Descent from the Teliaouet Pass - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan moves on through the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Landscape in the gorge that runs through the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Ascent to the pass from Tagerdet - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan continues on the heights of the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A waterhole in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - The water supply needs to be replenished - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A waterhole in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

There were lions in the Tamgak Mountains until around 1920. This cairn is a lion trap in which a goat was tied to a stone slab that could close the trap. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The guelta "An Rhone n'Ajad", where there is very good water - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Pre-Islamic tomb in the northern Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan moves through the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Detail of a rock in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A tomb in the northern Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - The watershed between the Oued Tamgak and the Oued Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

On the heights in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan in the Oued Tai Rei Iben, a side valley of the Oued Zakkat - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Descent in the Oued Tai Rei Iben, a side valley of the Oued Zakkat - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains. The big tree is called Aborak by the Tuaregs - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains. The trail of the dromedaries in the evening light - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

An oued in the valley of the gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan follows an oued in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also known as Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A dromedary drinking water in the valley of the gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan passes a waterhole. In the valley of the gueltas (waterholes) in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also known as Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Guelta Bilal in the valley of the Gueltas (water holes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Guelta Bilal in the valley of the Gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Guelta Mirroir in the valley of the Gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan travelling in the valley of the Gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the gorge between the two parts of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Adrar Tamgak is located in the north-east of the Aïr and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve. The mountain massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep, arching gorge running in a west-east direction. - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Adrar Tamgak is located in the north-east of the Aïr and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve. The mountain massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep, arching gorge running in a west-east direction. - A canister fell down during a difficult passage - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Adrar Tamgak massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep gorge running in an arc in a west-east direction. The caravan on its way through this gorge - Aïr - Niger - 2000

In a side valley in the south-western part of the Adrar Tamgak - The caravan on the way to Abri Ilem - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Abri Ilem - A shelter with rock art - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan in the gorge that crosses the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The clan chief Boubakar - He wears sandals like the Europeans - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent from a pass. The Oued Tamgak in the background. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent from a pass in the direction of Oued Tamgak. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Dum palms (Hyphaene thebaica) in the background - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The guerbas are filled with water at a guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Well in the gardens of Iferouâne. According to old custom, the water is drawn up in a leather bag and distributed into the irrigation channels - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

About 40 kilometres from Agadez, we meet a salt caravan marching from Bilma to Agadez - Niger - Aïr - 1999

The rock engravings of Dabous are located on the western edge of the Aïr Mountains in Niger, around 110 km north of Agadez and just a few kilometres off the Trans-Saharan route. In 2000, the rock engravings of Dabous were included in the World Monuments Watch list of the 100 most endangered cultural monuments. - Niger - Aïr - 1999

The giraffes of Dabous are life-size rock engravings of two giraffes in the Sahara from the Neolithic period. They are located on the sloping top of a sandstone block about 15 metres high and cannot be seen from the ground. The larger, male giraffe is 5.8 metres high from horns to hooves and is one of the largest rock engravings of its kind in the world. The female giraffe, which also carries a rope from its nostrils, measures 3.02 metres from head to tail tip. It is estimated to be between 7,000 and 10,000 years old. The giraffes are characterized by their great attention to detail and the preservation of proportions. - Niger - Aïr - 1999

Landscape in the Agalal region, on the way to Iferouâne - Niger - Aïr - 1999

Returning from the well - The donkeys are tired, the water hoses are full, the sun is approaching its zenith: a common sight on the track between Iferouâne and Arlit. - Niger - Aïr - 2002

Two Targias lead their goats to a new feeding place in the Oued Timia - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The search for firewood has paid off - Oued Timia - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The Timia oasis lies on the eastern flank of the Adrar Egalah mountain (1874 m) at an altitude of almost 1000 m in the Kel-Ewey-Tuareg region and stretches along a dry riverbed that carries water in the summer months, provided it has rained in the upper reaches. The picture shows the Guelta Timia - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The Timia oasis lies on the eastern flank of the Adrar Egalah mountain (1874 m) at an altitude of almost 1000 m in the Kel-Ewey-Tuareg region and stretches along a dry riverbed that carries water in the summer months, provided it has rained in the upper reaches - Niger - Aïr - 1992

To the north of Timia, Mount Takabar rises from the plain, looking like a volcano but made of pure granite - Niger - Aïr - 1992

A nomadic mosque in the Oued Adjirigoudou - Ekadi Emoulène - Niger - Aïr - 1992

On the track to Iferouâne, Mount Aguao in the background - Niger - Aïr - 1999

On the track to Iferouâne, Mount Agalal in the background - The first Europeans entered this region around 1900 - Niger - Aïr - 1999A

Chemma has set up camp on the edge of the Tamgak Mountains - The goats are taken from the pasture in the evening - Niger - Aïr - 2001

On the way to Guelta Enghar. It lies in the gorge that cuts right through the Tamgak Mountains - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The caravan is on its way to the Toufouchi camp. On the way, they stop at a guelta to replenish their water reserves - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The Enghar guelta - undoubtedly the coldest water in the whole of Aïr! The sun never reaches the depths of this rocky gorge on the track leading to Toufouchi. - Niger - Aïr - 2001

This gnarled tree can be found by the wayside between the Guelta Enghar and the Toufouchi camp - Niger - Aïr - 2001

On the descent from the Essalagh Pass, on the way back from Toufouchi - Niger - Aïr - 2001

In the evening, the dromedaries are taken from the pasture at the Boubakar camp - Niger - Aïr - 2001

Nomad tents in Boubakar camp - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The wealth of a Tuareg clan is reflected in the number of goats - Boubakar camp - Niger - Aïr - 2001

In the background the well of Afis with a large number of animals - Niger - Aïr - 2001

Landscape at the well of Afis - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The well Tanet Mellet (= small beautiful well) at the camp of Bachar - Niger - Aïr - 2001

In the Irham camp near the Tanet Mellet well - This tent has a protective fence against the goats - Niger - Aïr - 2001

It sprouts in the gardens of Ibrahim near Iferouâne - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The well of Eghaghar or Erarar - Aïr - Niger - 2001

At the well of Eghaghar or Erarar - Aïr - Niger - 2001

About 5 kilometres from Iferouâne is the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers, which flow down from the Tamgak massif. The Tuaregs have set up camp here. - Preparations for a march into the Tamgak massif - Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Targia with children in the camp at the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Landscape at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Landscape at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - The goat herd is led to pasture - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Landscape at the camp in the area of the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - The goat herd is led to pasture - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Irrigation of the maize field at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Traditional well at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - The dromedary pulls the goatskin water container out of the well to irrigate the maize field - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Sedentary Tuareg build a hut surrounded by cultivable land - Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Where will the next ride take us? - Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Ruins of an old village near Agalal - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Chapter 1: AÏR - Niger The Aïr Mountains in Niger are characterised by a varied landscape. There are high mountains, deep gorges, extensive plateaus and rock formations. Some plant species that are relatively rare in the Sahara grow at higher altitudes. There are also rocks and cavities that harbour historical rock paintings and engravings, which are evidence of earlier human life and activities in the region. - In the picture: ‘The dead tree’, which is located in front of the large Arakao dunes on the eastern slope of the Aïr Mountains.

18 - Oued Tafidet (Aïr). - A typical view of this region (landscape veiled by suspended sand in the air).

106 - Enneri Blaka. Site 5. - Typical view of a Neolithic habitat overlooking the valley and its river. This is a rock shelter with dormant grinding stones and traces of sharpening. Ceramic shards are scattered around the shelter. The shelter is 19 m wide, 7 m deep, and the ceiling is 3 m high.

Chapter 3: FEZZAN - Libya The Fezzan is located in south-west Libya. Important archaeological sites can be found in Wadi Mathendous on the edge of Erg Murzurk and in the Tadrart Acacous Mountains. The picture shows a typical desert landscape from this region. The desert itself is characterised by mountains, rocks, sand and dunes. There are rock monuments comparable to those in the Arches National Park in the United States.

In the Tadrart Acacous Mountains there are caves in which you can find prehistoric engravings of elephants and water buffaloes from around 4000 BC. They are similar to those in the Algerian Tassili Mountains. The paintings document periods in which the region was considerably wetter and therefore offered a much more fertile landscape. In the Messak Plateau in south-west Libya, close to the borders with Algeria and Niger, some of the oldest rock paintings in the world can be found in the Wadi Mathendous. A veritable prehistoric menagerie is carved into the rock faces of the dried-up riverbed, including life-size elephants, giraffes and crocodiles. Some figures are depicted alone, others in intricate compositions fighting with other animals or humans. One of the more famous scenes from the Wadi Mathendous petroglyphs are the fighting cats.

205 - Tadrart Acacous. Ouan Amil. - Typical landscape of Acacous with two large, deep shelters. One must imagine the flowing water, grass, trees, people, and their cattle to bring this place to life. We will travel through this impressive landscape over the next few photos.

Chapter 5: TADRART - Algeria This rock formation, the so-called ‘Cathedral’ of Tamesguida, is located in the Algerian Tadrart. The rocks were formed by the constant wind.

The Tassili Tadrart (also known as the Red Tadrart) is the southern extension of the Tadrart Acacus. It is located in the south-east of Algeria, bordering Libya to the east and the Niger to the south. The mountain range is criss-crossed by west-east orientated, gorge-like wadis, of which In Djaren is the largest. The Tassili Tadrart has magnificent rock paintings that cover a long chronological span from the early Neolithic to modern times. Walls and overhangs at the bottom of the wadis are littered with rock paintings and rock engravings that document the climate change of the area from a savannah 10,000 years ago to a desert 5,000 years ago. The rock art changed over time from wild fauna such as elephants, rhinos, giraffes, antelopes, wild cattle to domesticated animals such as sheep, horses and finally camels.

286 - El Beridj (Tadrart). - The cliffs have been, in prehistory and even up to today, favored places by humans seeking a habitat. One site of El Beridj is located at the end of the rocky spur to the right. Photos 287 and 288.

306 - ln Djaren. - The shelter of the painted giraffe. Photo 305.

436 - Jabbaren (Tassili-n'Ajjer). – On the edge of a reg, a shelter whose background is formed by the edge of a soft rock attacked by water and wind erosion. It is the rock portions that form a ceiling at head height that have preserved the most rock paintings.

441 - Jabbaren (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - This excellent photo, taken by the competent and sharp eye of Maximilien Bruggmann, shows us where the people whose masterpieces we are detailing lived. Of course, one must also add the life provided by water: humans, as well as animals and plants. This is how Jabbaren was at the time.

527 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). – On the edge of the Ouad Séfar, the shelter "of the Amazons" (H. Lhote).

528 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). – Here we see goats or sheep attached "to a rope". This gives them an astonishing sense of order. Below, there is a red structure extended downward by V-shaped lines. We also see archers sketched with painted lines, as well as figures in a red structure, bovids, and later archers treated in dark gray. Diameter of the circle: 0.25 m.

Chapter 7: TIBESTI – Chad The Tibesti is a volcanic mountain range in Chad and is also the highest mountain range in the Sahara. Its northern foothills extend several hundred kilometres into the territory of Libya. It rises on the northern edge of the Chad Basin and emerges from the flat desert landscape with several strata. The high mountains are very rugged in places and feature numerous volcanic craters and cinder cones. The Tibesti is one of the most isolated regions on earth and is populated by the Tubu. The regional administrative centre is the town of Bardaï with around 1500 inhabitants. Here we can see an old lava field with the Oudingueur volcano in the background.

Garlic plantation near Tawangmangu – A special type of garlic is also grown on Java. It is Java Solo garlic (also known as pearl garlic or monobulb), a rare, mild variety of garlic that consists of a single large round clove instead of the usual cluster of cloves. It is ideal for Asian dishes and easy to peel and prepare. – 1990

Onion fields in Central Java, in the area between the town of Magetan and the village of Sarangan on the slopes of the 3,265-metre-high Mount Lawu. The volcanic soil is extremely fertile, especially as the terraced fields are artificially irrigated. - 1990

Two fishermen carry their boat into the water. Fishing boats on Sulawesi are characterised by traditional wooden outrigger canoes (jukung), which are used for daily fishing. These boats are essential for the coastal economy and transport. – Near Ujung Pandang (Makassar) – 1990

The region around Malino, a cool mountain resort at an altitude of 1,500 metres in South Sulawesi, is known for its picturesque terraced rice fields, green hills and waterfalls. In addition to rice cultivation, the region offers tea plantations, strawberry picking and great opportunities for hiking or mountain biking. – 1990

The rice fields in the Sinjai administrative district in South Sulawesi are part of a hilly coastal landscape that stretches along the east coast of the southern peninsula. These agricultural areas are characteristic of the region and an integral part of the local culture and economy in this part of South Sulawesi. – 1990

This is probably the image that the Spice Islands presented to the first European sailors... Tidore is the southern sister island of Ternate, located west of the large Moluccan island of Halmahera. The beach, towered over by coconut palms, is littered with blackish basalt debris, evidence of the volcanic origin of most of these islands. – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... - Togolo Beach on the island of Tidore – Moluccas – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... – Latuhalat Beach – Ambon – Moluccas – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... – Waitomu – Ambon – Moluccas – 1990

The island of Ternate is dominated by Gunung Gamalama, or Gamalama Volcano, which rises more than 1,700 metres above sea level. It is considered one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. The lava flow in the foreground is from an eruption in 1936 – Photo from 1990

Terraced rice fields in the mountainous district of Nuwara Eliya in central Sri Lanka. They are artificially irrigated, and in some of them the fresh light green of the young rice plants is visible. These plants are then pricked out by hand and planted in the remaining fields, where the rice grows to harvest maturity. – 1990

The rice fields of Kotmale in the Central Province of Sri Lanka are considered some of the most picturesque and historically significant in the country. They are nestled in a mountainous region that has traditionally been farmed in such a way that rainfall in the valleys could be optimally utilised for rice cultivation. – 1990

Ploughing a flooded rice field for planting the pricked seedlings. In the foreground, a second field has already been cultivated. - Sri Lanka – 1990

Evening scene on Weligama Beach in the Galle district on the south coast of Sri Lanka. A cormorant dives for prey while stilt fishermen fish from their high seats rammed into the seabed. This method is an unusual form of fishing that originated during the Second World War. Balancing on this frame, the fishermen often hold a fishing rod in one hand for hours while storing their catch in a bag attached to their waist. The poles are often passed down from generation to generation within families. – 1990

Dalawella Beach in the south of the country. The region is known for its wide sandy beaches, coconut groves and excellent conditions for travellers. – 1990

The Kappad Reef on the Malabar Coast, four kilometres north of Calicut (now Kozhikode). It was here that Vasco da Gama became the first Portuguese man to set foot on Indian soil on 20 May 1498. In the years that followed, in their quest for spices and other treasures of the Orient, the Portuguese would extend their conquests as far as Indonesia and also gain a foothold in southern China. – 1990

The Malabar Coast at Vizhinjam Beach, twenty kilometres south of Trivandrum, the capital of the south-western Indian state of Kerala. On the beach, overlooked by a lighthouse, fishermen lay out their nets to dry. – 1990

Cannanore (now officially known as Kannur) in northern Kerala, India, is famous for this type of landscape. Here, there is a very special, traditional form of rice cultivation known as Kaipad. This involves integrated organic farming in the brackish coastal marshes. Typically, during the monsoon season, rice is grown on small mounds of earth, whilst during the drier months, aquaculture (fish and prawn farming) is often practised in the same fields. The dense groves of coconut palms lining the water-filled paddies are the hallmark of this region and make it a popular subject for landscape photography in Kerala. – 1990

Kumbhalgarh Fort is situated north of Udaipur on a 1,100-metre-high rocky outcrop near Nathdwara and is one of Rajasthan’s most significant fortifications. The fort walls, with their imposing bastion and semi-circular, strangely bulbous towers, were built in 1548. It was conquered only by the troops of the Indian Great Mughal Akbar, and even then only because he had the wells poisoned. Within the 36-kilometre-long fortress walls of this immense complex lie several temples, palaces and more modest dwellings. - 1990

Colombia is the only country in South America that borders two oceans. However, the strategic importance of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts differs greatly. The hard-to-reach Pacific alluvial plain, lined with mangrove forests, contrasts with the rocky Caribbean coast, which is dotted with bays (picture). The major longitudinal valleys that separate Colombia’s Eastern, Central and Western Cordilleras also open out onto this coastline. The Magdalena Valley was one of the main gateways for the Spanish conquerors. To the east, the river delta is bounded by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, whose northern flank—indented by bays, peninsulas and islands—is constantly eroded by the surf. - Book: Picture 13 – Colombia - 1977

Colombia is the only country in South America that borders two oceans. However, the strategic importance of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts differs greatly. The hard-to-reach Pacific alluvial plain, lined with mangrove forests, contrasts with the rocky Caribbean coast, which is dotted with bays (picture). The major longitudinal valleys that separate Colombia’s Eastern, Central and Western Cordilleras also open out onto this coastline. The Magdalena Valley was one of the main gateways for the Spanish conquerors. To the east, the river delta is bounded by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, whose northern flank—indented by bays, peninsulas and islands—is constantly eroded by the surf. - Colombia - 1977

The Magdalena Valley rift lies in the lee of the Colombian Eastern and Central Cordilleras and is therefore relatively dry. Open grassland, interspersed here and there with thorny shrubs and cacti, as seen here in the Neiva area, covers the broad valley floor. - Book: Picture 25 - Colombia - 1977

The Río Patía is the longest river in Colombia’s Pacific region and forms part of one of the most impressive landscapes along the famous Pan-American Highway between Popayán and Pasto. – Colombia – 1977

At the Pasta junction (Nudo), the three Colombian mountain ranges converge to form a high-mountain landscape that is difficult to classify. The rugged, deeply incised mountain flanks contrast with basins filled with volcanic ash and gently sloping foothills, which support the maize fields of the indigenous farmers. - Book: Picture 24 - Colombia - 1977

The Sierra Nevada de Mérida, approximately 500 kilometres long, forms the continuation of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera into Venezuelan territory. In its central sections, it consists of gneiss and granite, with young sedimentary rocks overlying both flanks. As a result of significant Tertiary uplift, the central mountain block reaches extraordinary heights. It culminates in the 5,003-metre-high Pico Bolívar, but the peaks of Pico Humboldt (4,942 m) and Pico Bonpland (4,883 m), visible on the right of the picture, are only slightly lower. - Book: Picture 9 - Venezuela - 1977

Separated from the Central Cordillera by the alluvial plains of the Rio Magdalena and the Rio Cauca, the isolated mountain range of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rises in the far north of Colombia. It reaches a height of 5,776 metres at Pico Cristóbal Colón. Dense tropical mountain and cloud forest covers the slopes up to over 3,000 metres; the snow line lies between 4,700 and 5,100 metres. - Book: Picture 14 - Colombia - 1977

The Kogi Indians live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. In the picture, the elongated building on the right is the men’s house, where the men live whilst they are in the village. The round houses, which are also thatched, serve as accommodation for the women and children. The Kogi meet only at certain times, about twice a month, for ceremonial celebrations in the villages; the rest of the time they spend – living separately by gender in two huts – in their fields, where they grow maize, cassava, bananas, pumpkins, sugar cane and beans. Whatever they cannot produce themselves, they exchange for chickens, pigs and other produce. - Book: Picture 15 - Colombia - 1977

The floor of the Cauca Rift Valley, situated at an altitude of 800 to 1,100 metres, rises gradually towards the south, reaching an altitude of 1,760 metres at Popayán and continuing through the increasingly narrow Paria Rift Valley as far as the border with Ecuador. The picture shows the rift zone south-west of Popayán. - Book: Picture 34 - Colombia - 1977

Landscape near Cuesta Boba, a well-known, striking stretch of mountain terrain in the Colombian department of Santander. The area is situated in the High Andes within the municipal boundaries of Tona, near the village of Berlín and on the major road between Bucaramanga and Cúcuta. Altitude 3,200 m – 1977

Agricultural area near Pasto, Colombia. - 1977

Landscape near Cuesta Boba, a well-known, striking stretch of mountain terrain in the Colombian department of Santander. The area is situated in the High Andes within the municipal boundaries of Tona, near the village of Berlín and on the major road between Bucaramanga and Cúcuta. Altitude 3,200 m – 1977

The natural regrowth of the slopes of the Eastern Cordillera in northern Colombia, which have been devastated by overexploitation, is hampered by the dry season, which lasts several months each year. The ravaged mountainous region, through which the Río Sube flows into the Río Sogamoso, is largely of no economic value and almost completely uninhabited. - Book: Picture 22 - Colombia - 1977

The impressive ‘Cascada La Candelaria’ is a spectacular waterfall over 150 metres high, which plunges down a steep rock face densely covered in moss and jungle vegetation. It is situated very close to the small village of Santa Leticia in the department of Cauca in Colombia. – 1977

In pre-Columbian times, the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia was densely forested up to altitudes of at least 3,000 metres. Spanish colonists and land-hungry mestizos cleared the forests and cultivated the steep slopes with maize and cassava. Rain washed the fertile humus layer down into the valleys until the bare gneiss was exposed over a wide area. Today, vast masses of scree fill the valleys, where rivers meander between gravel banks, as is the case here with the Rio Chicamocha in the department of Santander. - Book: Picture 20 - Colombia - 1977

The photograph shows the picturesque ‘Salto del Bedón’ (Cascada del Río Bedón), a mighty waterfall in the ‘Parque Nacional Natural Puracé’ in the Department of Cauca in the Colombian Andes. It is surrounded by typical páramo vegetation, including the striking large leaves of Asteropeia plants (also known as ‘giant frailjones’) and sparse grasses. – 1977

The photograph shows a section of the Río Magdalena in the department of Huila in Colombia. In this area, the still-young river emerges from the narrow rocky gorges near its source at San Agustín and flows through a deeper valley flanked by the foothills of the Andes. The photograph captures the landscape in the region between Pitalito and Garzón. – 1977

The Río Cauca in the Caramanta region (in the south-west of the department of Antioquia) forms one of Colombia’s most impressive river landscapes. Here, the country’s second-longest river winds its way through a deep canyon between the Central and Western Andean Cordilleras. Typical of this altitude are the striking palm trees that rise sporadically from the grass-covered slopes. – Colombia – 1972

Like the volcanoes Huila (5,750 m), Ruiz (5,400 m) and Tolima (5,215 m), the ice-capped Santa Isabel (5,100 m) also towers over the vast, moraine-covered plateaus of the Colombian Central Cordillera. - Book: Picture 23 - Colombia - 1977

Children and teenagers washing pans and clay pots on the Río Galíndez. The river is situated in the department of Cauca in south-western Colombia. – 1977

A Sunday outing by lorry in the Colombian province of Huila. In the Andes, lorries largely replace buses. - Book: Picture 40 - Colombia - 1977

Chimborazo rises as a mighty landmark, 6,272 metres high, on the western edge of the Ecuadorian basin range. Alexander von Humboldt had climbed the heavily glaciated volcano – which was considered the highest mountain on Earth in the 19th century – almost to the summit on 23 June 1802. He had not yet seen the eucalyptus forests in the foreground. This Australian tree was not introduced until around 1850. - Book: Picture 28 - Ecuador - 1977

At 5,790 metres, the Cayambe volcano is the third-highest mountain in Ecuador. On its slopes, at 4,690 metres, lies the highest point on Earth crossed by the equator. However, due to glacial retreat in recent decades, there is no longer an icy point on the equator. During the rainy season, however, the southern slope is often covered in snow, making it the only point along the entire equator where snow falls regularly. The photograph shows the volcano from a south-westerly direction. In the foreground, one can see the characteristic agricultural hills and farmland of Pichincha Province surrounding the town of Cayambe. – Ecuador – 1972

Another view of the 5,790-metre-high Cayambe volcano from the surrounding agricultural highlands of Pichincha Province, where the indigenous people (the Kayambi) have traditionally practised agriculture and livestock farming. – Ecuador – 1972

Cotopaxi (5,897 m) in Ecuador’s Eastern Cordillera is the highest active volcano on Earth. Although it has not erupted since 1928, the column of smoke rising above its smooth summit on cool days proves that it is by no means extinct. - Book: Picture 33 - Ecuador - 1973

The Tungurahua volcano rises to a height of 5,016 metres, 140 kilometres south of Quito. Its most recent eruptions took place in the last century. The Los Baños thermal spa, situated at its foot, is Ecuador’s most visited health resort. - Book: Picture 32 - Ecuador - 1977

The alpine meadows above the tree line have their counterpart in the humid tropical Northern Andes in the páramos: vast grasslands dotted with tussocks of stem-forming composite plants. The silvery-grey, downy leaves and the stems of the espeletias (frailejones), scorched by willow fires, present a ghostly sight, particularly when the mist rolls in (Páramo de Purace, Central Cordillera of Colombia). - Book: Picture 35 - Ecuador - 1977

These cone-shaped huts are made entirely of páramo straw (ichu grass). They are a direct legacy of the Puruhá culture. They are actively maintained in communities around Cajabamba in the canton of Colta (Chimborazo province). The people wear traditional dress, which includes felt hats with short brims and thick woollen ponchos. These provide protection against the extreme cold of the Ecuadorian Andes. – Ecuador – 1977

The Chota Valley is an inter-Andean valley in northern Ecuador, stretching along the border between the provinces of Imbabura and Carchi. In contrast to Ecuador’s generally humid and lush Andean highlands, the Chota Valley has a semi-arid microclimate. It is hot and dry all year round. The valley is one of the most important settlement areas for the Afro-Ecuadorian community in the Andes. The inhabitants are descendants of African slaves who were brought to the region by Jesuits during the colonial era to work on sugar cane plantations. – 1977

The Jequetepeque Valley is one of the most important and historically significant agricultural regions on the Peruvian Pacific coast. This area is regarded as one of Peru’s largest rice-growing regions. As the coastal climate there is extremely dry (desert climate), intensive wet rice cultivation is made possible by a sophisticated, millennia-old system of canals and by water from the river. Peru – 1969

The photograph shows the typical landscape of the fertile Jequetepeque Valley, which is one of the most important centres for wet rice cultivation in Peru. – Peru – 1976

The rivers flowing down from the Western Cordillera cross the Peruvian coastal desert on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Around forty box-shaped valleys with broad floors and steep sides are carved into the desert plateau, which slopes gently down towards the sea. With their vineyards, lucerne fields and vegetable plots lined with rows of trees, they form green oases in a barren landscape. The rice fields recently established along the Río Jequetepeque, where indigenous people plough with teams of oxen, are reminiscent of their Asian counterparts. - Book: Picture 89 - Peru - 1976

The Panamericana crosses many desert stretches of the peruvian coast. In places it is blown with sand by the strong winds, as here near San Pedro de Lloc in the province of Pacasmayo in the department of La Libertad. - 1969

Huanchaco is the beach of Trujillo in the department of La Libertad. As hundreds of years ago, fishermen still go out to sea with their balsa boats. - 1972

High above the small town of Yungay, which was buried by an ice avalanche in 1970, the Llanganuco high valley opens up in the Cordillera Blanca, featuring a lake dammed by a wall of rock and moraine. Towards the outside – towards the Callejón de Huaylas or Santatal – it transitions into a vast trough-shaped valley. - Book: Picture 99 - Peru - 1976

The area around Patarcocha, in the Chacas district (Ancash region), within the famous Huascarán National Park, is world-renowned for having the densest populations of Puya raimondii. This rare plant belongs to the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae) and is native to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia; it is also known as the Queen of the Andes. It grows at extreme altitudes of between 3,500 and 4,500 metres in barren, sunny mountain steppes. The plant often lives for over 80 to 100 years, flowers only once in its lifetime with a gigantic inflorescence up to 10 metres high, and then dies. – Peru – 1977

The most striking plant of the humid Puna regions of Peru and Bolivia is the Puya raimondii, a giant bromeliad. This plant, which flowers only once before dying, develops a spike of bright green flowers up to eight metres high, pollinated by hummingbirds. This photograph of the plant, which has now become rare, was taken at an altitude of 4,200 metres in the area of Laguna de Patarccocha, Ancash Department, Peru. - Book: Picture 98 - Peru - 1976

Although the Shaqsha, at 5703 metres, is more than a thousand metres lower than Huascarán, it is nevertheless one of the most striking peaks of the ‘White Cordillera’ and poses the greatest challenges for mountaineers. - Book: Picture 97 - Peru - 1976

As you drive from the coast towards Huaraz, this view of Caullaraju (5,682 m) rising above the vast pampa is the first major picture-postcard view of the Cordillera Blanca, a high mountain range in the Andes. Further to the right lies Laguna Conococha (from the Quechua words quñuq, meaning ‘warm’, and qucha, meaning ‘lake’ or ‘lagoon’, hence ‘warm lake’), which is considered the official source of the Río Santa. This river is one of the most water-rich and important rivers on the Peruvian Pacific coast. – Peru – 1969

The Paracas Candelabra (El Candelabro). The figure is around 180 metres high and was carved about half a metre into the hard sandy ground. Alongside the Candelabra, other, smaller lines have also been carved into the ground. It can be seen from the sea at a distance of around 20 km. Radiocarbon dating has placed its creation around 200 BC. Who created this mysterious symbol from the pre-Inca period and what purpose it served remains unclear to this day. – Peru – 1977

In autumn, the predominant color of the cultivated fields in the Sierra is brown. Near Huancayo, Junín Department. - 1969

Nothing illustrates the economic and social diversity as well as farming methods. Whilst tractors are used in some areas, indigenous people on their smallholdings still cultivate their fields in a way that has not changed since Inca times. - Book: Picture 91 - Peru - 1969

The Río Mantaro, seen here near Izcuchaca in the Huancavelica region. At this point, the river has carved its way deep into the Andes, forming imposing, steep gorges (canyons). – Peru – 1969

Potato harvest near the village of Jerónimo in the department of Apurímac, Peru. The tradition of communal farming dates back to pre-Inca times, creating a solid foundation for agricultural collectives and cooperatives. - Book: Picture 177 - Peru - 1969

Although the scene in the photograph is visually very reminiscent of the Mongolian steppe, the terraced slopes used for farming in the background, as well as the rider’s clothing (a typical Andean hat and poncho), clearly point to the highland Pampas regions of the Peruvian Andes. The photograph was taken 20 km from Andahuaylas. – Peru – 1969

The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) in flight. It has dark plumage with a distinctive white ruff and pale stripes on its wings. It belongs to the family of New World vultures and, with a wingspan of up to three metres, is considered one of the largest flight-capable bird species in the world. Although the Andean condor is mostly associated with the high peaks of the Andes (such as the famous Colca Canyon), it actually descends regularly to the Peruvian Pacific coast. This photograph was taken on the Paracas Peninsula. In the Paracas National Reserve and along the nearby cliff-lined coast, the condors make use of the strong sea winds and updrafts along the steep cliffs to glide for kilometres without expending much energy. They are drawn there for one reason above all: the availability of food. On the coast, they feed on the carrion of beached marine mammals (such as sea lions) or the remains of seabird colonies. – 1977

The river valley of the Río Pisco forms a lush, green strip in the midst of one of the driest coastal deserts on Earth. Thanks to meltwater and rainwater from the Andes, oasis farming has been practised here successfully for thousands of years. Whilst the river’s course in its upper reaches carves deep, narrow gorges into the barren Andes mountains, the valley widens towards the coast into a broad, fertile plain before the river flows into the Pacific Ocean north of the port city of Pisco. At the various altitudes within the valley, maize, pulses, fodder crops (such as alfalfa) and fruit are grown, and livestock is reared. – 1977

The city of Arequipa, founded by the Spanish as early as 1540 at an altitude of 2,370 metres, now has a population of around two hundred thousand and lies in a narrow high-altitude basin where agriculture is only possible thanks to artificial irrigation. It owes its nickname, ‘the White City’, to the white tuff used as a building material. Arequipa is dominated by the 5,842-metre-high Misti, one of Peru’s few active volcanoes. Only during the summer rainy season is its smooth cone covered by a cap of snow. - Book: Picture 7 - Peru - 1976

The green agricultural landscape, with its traditional terraced fields (campiña) in the foreground, is dominated by the striking, snow-capped volcano El Misti. The stratovolcanic cone of El Misti rises majestically to over 5,820 metres in southern Peru and dominates the panorama of Arequipa. – Peru – 1976

The valley of the Río Vitor near Arequipa in southern Peru. The river feeds the agricultural oases and fields in the midst of this extremely arid landscape of deserts and canyons. On the horizon towers the imposing, snow-capped Chachani volcanic complex. At an altitude of approximately 6,057 metres, it is one of the defining mountains that frame the basin around Arequipa. This panorama illustrates the stark contrast between the barren Andean plateau, the snow-capped volcanic giants and the fertile river valleys on Peru’s Pacific coast. – 1976

The rivers flowing down from the Western Cordillera cross the Peruvian coastal desert on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Around forty box-shaped valleys with broad floors and steep sides are carved into the desert plateau, which slopes gently down towards the sea. With their vineyards, lucerne fields and vegetable plots lined with rows of trees, they form green oases in a barren landscape. When travelling along the Carretera Panamericana and passing through these valleys, such as that of the Rio Vítor, one is constantly surprised by the sight of the fertile strips of cultivated land that criss-cross the desert. - Book: Picture 88 - Peru - 1976

A herd of alpacas and llamas grazing at Laguna de Salinas in the “Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca”, at an altitude of over 4,200 metres in the Arequipa region. The volcano in the background is Mount Ubinas. It stands at 5,672 metres and is considered Peru’s most active volcano. – Peru – 1969

The Peruvian Puna is a land of tranquillity and solitude. Behind this herd of grazing llamas, the Ubinas volcano rises to a height of 5,632 metres on the border between the departments of Moquegua and Arequipa. - Book: Picture 102 - Peru - 1976

The photograph shows a herd of llamas and alpacas, led by a herder pushing a bicycle. The vast, bright plain in the background is the Laguna de Salinas (also known as the Salar de Salinas), and the striking, snow-capped peak in the background is the highly active stratovolcano Ubinas (5,672 m). This landscape forms part of the southern section of the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, which stretches across the regions of Arequipa and Moquegua in southern Peru. – 1976

Sunset on the road from Nazca to Puquio, Abancay and Cusco. These giant candelabra cacti are a common sight on the arid slopes of this region. – 1972

These majestic vicuñas graze on the vast plateaus of the ‘Reserva Nacional Pampa Galeras Bárbara D’Achille’ in the Ayacucho region of Peru. The road from Nazca to Abancay runs straight through the reserve, which lies at an extreme altitude of over 4,100 metres. It was established in 1967 and successfully saved the species from extinction caused by poaching. Today, an estimated 17,000 animals live in the wild across the plateau. – Vicuña wool is considered the most expensive and exclusive legal wool in the world. The Incas reverently called the animals’ fine fleece ‘the gold of the gods’. The fibre has a diameter of 8 to 13 micrometres. This makes it significantly finer than cashmere (approx. 15–19 micrometres) and about eight times thinner than a human hair. – Peru – 1972

This wayside cross, decorated with flowers and cloths, stands on the scenic main road between Abancay and Cusco in the Peruvian Andes. The crosses often mark sites that were already regarded as sacred places (huacas) or dedicated to the guardian spirits of the mountains (apus) in Inca times. The placement of Christian crosses led to the fusion of Spanish Catholic traditions with Andean animism. The elaborate decoration with bright strips of fabric and floral arrangements is typical of regional festivals such as the widespread ‘Cruz Velacuy’ (Festival of the Veneration of the Cross) in May, during which the crosses are carried down from the hills into the villages, festively decorated and blessed. – Peru – 1969

A traditional Andean farm in a barren Puna landscape at an altitude of over 4,000 metres, on the road between Puquio and Chalhuanca. The stone walls are used to keep alpacas and llamas together overnight and to protect them from predators and the wind. The small stone structures with conical roofs made of local ichu grass serve as temporary accommodation or camps for the herders during the grazing season. – Peru – 1972

A farmstead in the Limatambo Valley, surrounded by farmland and typical eucalyptus trees against a backdrop of massive, barren mountains. Although these trees were originally introduced from Australia, they now characterise the landscape throughout the valleys near human settlements. The farmstead lies at an altitude of around 2,500 metres, between the Anta plateau and the deep canyon of the Río Apurímac. – Peru – 1972

Vicuñas grazing at 4,200 metres above sea level. Alongside the guanaco, the vicuña is the second and smaller wild species of the genus Lama. Its range is now restricted to the Andean highlands between 4,000 and 5,500 metres in altitude, where it grazes on barely visible low-growing vegetation. In adaptation to this diet, it is the only ungulate to have constantly regrowing lower incisors. Because of its wool, which is considered the finest and most precious in the world, it was almost wiped out during the colonial era. Bolívar had already enacted protective laws for this reason, similar to those that had existed under the Incas, who herded the animals into pens for shearing and then released them again. - Book: Picture 94 - Peru - 1976

A shepherdess with llamas and alpacas on the Altiplano, on the road from Abancay to Puquio. - Book: Picture 96 - Peru - 1976

Photo taken in the Peruvian Altiplano in winter. A herd of llamas near Pampamarca on the road from Abancay to Puquio. Ayacucho Department. - Book: Picture 92 - Peru - 1976

The route between Puquio and Abancay crosses several mountain passes reaching altitudes of over 4,000 metres. In these areas, the weather changes rapidly, so that even outside the winter months, sudden cold snaps and heavy snowfall can blanket the entire Puna vegetation in white. – Peru – 1976

The Apurímac is a water-rich river in southern and central Peru, known for having the most distant source of the Amazon. It rises on the slopes of the snow-capped Mismi at 5,597 m in the department of Arequipa and flows through deep gorges (pictured) until it joins the Mantaro to form the Ene. The name is derived from the Quechua words ‘Apu’ (god or lord) and ‘Rimaq’ (the one who speaks), which, due to the loud roar of its rapids, can be translated as ‘the speaking god’ or ‘the great oracle’. – 1972

A panoramic view of the city of Cusco, taken from the hills near the Sacsayhuamán fortress. The name Cusco means ‘Navel of the World’. According to Inca mythology, the sun god Inti sent his children, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, down to Earth. They were to found a city wherever a golden staff sank effortlessly into the ground – this happened in the fertile valley of Cusco. In the 15th century, the ninth Inca ruler, Pachacútec Yupanqui, radically transformed the city. He expanded Cusco in the monumental stone style and arranged the city plan in the shape of a puma – the symbol of power and strength. The head of the puma was the zigzag fortress of Sacsayhuamán. – 1969

Cuzco, situated at 3,500 metres above sea level and known as the ‘Navel of the World’, was founded by the Incas around 1100 AD. In 1536, the conquistadors destroyed the city and rebuilt it in the Spanish style, making use of many Inca foundations. Thus, the buildings themselves clearly illustrate the coexistence and simultaneity of two peoples and cultures, as is evident in the colourful street scene. The vast majority of the 120,000 inhabitants, however, are still indigenous people. Cuzco is the starting point for visits to most of the major Inca sites such as Pisac, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo and Sacsayhuamán, but it also boasts magnificent examples of Spanish colonial architecture: the cathedral, the Jesuit church of La Merced, the churches of Santo Domingo – built on the site of the ancient Inca sun temple – and Belén de los Reyes. During the reconstruction following the 1950 earthquake, efforts were made to restore the churches to their original appearance from before 1650. - Book: Picture 80 - Peru - 1969

Cereal harvest near Tiobamba in the Cusco region. In the background rises Nevado Chicón, a glaciated peak in the Urubamba Cordillera, some 5,530 metres high. – Peru – 1969

The picture shows the impressive archaeological site of Moray, a historic Inca terraced complex in Peru. It is situated on a high plateau in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, around 50 kilometres north-west of Cusco. The funnel-shaped design creates a temperature difference of up to 15 °C between the top and bottom terraces. The Incas used these zones to gradually acclimatise and cultivate crops from other parts of the empire (such as the coast or the tropical lowlands) to the harsh high-altitude climate of the Andes. – Peru – 1969

Completely hidden from view from the bottom of the wild Urubamba Valley, the ‘lost city’ of Machu Picchu stands enthroned on an impregnable granite pedestal at a dizzying altitude of 2,500 metres, in the shadow of Huayna Picchu. It remained hidden for 400 years until the American explorer Hiram Bingham miraculously rediscovered it in 1911. – 1976

The Inca mountain fortress of Machu Picchu, situated at an altitude of 2,690 metres, set against the cone of Huayna Picchu. None of the Spanish conquistadors mention this city on the edge of the jungle, overlooking the River Urubamba (on the right), one of the headwaters of the Amazon. Like other pucaras (fortified settlements), Machu Picchu was self-sufficient in an emergency, but the terraced fields could feed no more than 500 people. This late Inca complex contains buildings of various styles, foremost among them the Royal Palace, constructed from beautifully hewn granite blocks with trapezoidal gateways and window openings. But there are also densely packed, simple stone huts and barrack-like quarters for the soldiers. An oval tower – the only one of its kind – has led to speculation that Machu Picchu was further expanded even after the arrival of the Spaniards. The city was not discovered until 1911 by an expedition searching for the legendary last Inca fortress, Vilcabamba. - Book: Picture 81 - Peru - 1976

The imposing, snow-capped peak of Nevado Salcantay (6,271 m) lies directly to the south of the Inca citadel. It forms the geographical and spiritual centre of the region. For the Incas, Salcantay was one of the most important deities (apus), controlling the weather, the rain and the fertility of the region. Viewed from the central sundial rock (Intihuatana) in Machu Picchu, the Southern Cross stands directly above the summit of Salcantay at its highest point during the rainy season. On a clear day, the mountain’s white, ice-capped pyramid rises high in the south, towering far beyond the green ridges and ruins, lending the site a deeper sacred dimension. – Peru – 1976

In a widening of the deeply incised Urubamba Valley, which links Cuzco with Machu Picchu, lies the small town of Pisac, famous for its Sunday market. On the slopes above the town, artfully laid out agricultural terraces have stretched upwards since Inca times, transforming even the steepest mountain flanks into gigantic staircases that were used for growing potatoes, maize, oca and quinoa. - Book: Picture 126 - Peru - 1976

In the idyllic ‘Eden’ of the tropical sacred valley of the Incas, the great ruined city of Pisac, one of the ‘capitals’ of the empire, stands at an altitude of 3,100 metres. Around thirty residences of the finest architecture surround the elliptical Intihuatana, dedicated to the worship of the sun. – 1969

The impressive Inca ruins of Písac, situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the Cusco region of Peru. The archaeological site lies on a mountain ridge high above the village of Písac and the River Urubamba. It is famous for its sophisticated architecture, the extensive agricultural terraces (andenes) and its strategic and religious significance during the Inca Empire. In the foreground is the Q’alla Q’asa sector, which, according to researchers, probably served as a residential quarter for guards, soldiers or priests. The buildings are precisely constructed from stone and nestle perfectly against the steep terrain. In the centre lies a sacred rock – the ‘place where the sun is tied’ – which served as an astronomical calendar for the Incas to determine the solstices. – 1976

On the way from Acomayo to Urcos in the Cusco region, you pass this waterfall. – Peru – 1976

The striking, rugged peak in the background is Cerro Antapunco in the province of Acomayo in the department of Cusco (4,824 m). The name comes from Quechua (anta meaning ‘copper’ and puncu meaning ‘gate’), which roughly translates as ‘Copper Gate’. In contrast to the heavily touristed Sacred Valley to the north of Cusco, this photograph shows the rugged, equally historic landscape to the south of the regional capital. The slopes in the foreground bear witness to the deeply rooted, traditional Andean farming practices that have adapted to the extreme high-altitude conditions. – 1976

Llamas have traditionally served as important pack animals for transporting goods in the Andes. – A plateau in the Acomayo region, south of Cusco. The striking, (still!) snow-capped peak in the background is Nevado Accoyac. – Peru – 1976

The church of San Juan de Chuquibambilla near Ayaviri, in the department of Puno, at an altitude of approximately 3,900 metres. - Book: Picture 95 - Peru - 1976

On the shores of the deep-blue Lake Titicaca, small piles of straw or grain (quinoa or barley harvest) are stacked up. Beyond them, on the horizon, rise the mighty, ice-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real. – Peru – 1969

A view of Lake Titicaca, the highest commercially navigable lake on Earth, situated at an altitude of 3,812 metres. Behind a traditional dry-stone wall in the foreground, traditional Andean farming with small plots of land can be seen along the shore. In the background, the Cordillera Real can only be glimpsed behind the low-hanging clouds. – Puno – Peru – 1972

The photograph shows a rural dwelling and farmland on the shores of Lake Titicaca in the Peruvian Altiplano. Small, simple stone houses with thatched roofs and fenced-in courtyards characterise the barren landscape. – Juli region – Peru – 1969

An indigenous couple return with their llamas from the market in Sicuani in the department of Cuzco. - Book: Picture 103 - Peru - 1973

Lake Titicaca, situated at an altitude of 3,812 metres and straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, is fifteen times the size of Lake Constance. It fills a tectonically formed highland depression, is divided into several sub-basins by peninsulas and dotted with islands (Amantani, Moon Island, Sun Island, etc.). Two species of rush thrive on its shores, from which the indigenous people build their boats as well as floating dwellings. - Book: Picture 3 - Peru - 1969

What could be more picturesque than a reed raft floating on Titicaca? For millennia, the Aymara people of the paradisiacal "Mediterranean" of the Andes have been fishing in their elegant reed boats in the sacred lake. The boats are made “by hand” by bundling the reeds with ichu strings. - 1969

Traditional reed boats (made from totora reeds) of the indigenous Uros people on Lake Titicaca. The reeds, which grow in abundance on the lake’s shores, have served as their main building material for centuries, used to construct islands, houses and boats. – Puno – Peru – 1976

The hilly, terraced landscape of Isla del Sol, which is the largest island in Lake Titicaca. Some of the stone terraces date back to Inca times and are still used for farming today. Lake Titicaca has deep blue water and is the highest commercially navigable lake on Earth, at an altitude of around 3,812 metres. In the background, you can see the snow-capped Cordillera Real mountain range in Bolivia. Among the most striking mountains in this region, visible from the island, is the Ancohuma (Cerro Jankhouma), which rises to over 6,400 metres. - In Inca mythology, the island is regarded as a sacred place and the origin of the sun, as well as the birthplace of the founders of the Inca Empire (Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo). Today, it is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers, with no motorised vehicles permitted on the island. – Bolivia – 1976

The simple houses scattered across the picture, with their typical corrugated iron roofs, are characteristic of the rural communities in Bolivia’s Lake Titicaca region. The slopes reveal the millennia-old Inca and pre-Inca terraced structures for which the Incas’ sacred island is known throughout the world. – Presumably the area around Yumani on the ‘Island of the Sun’. – 1976

On the boat trip from Moon Island back to the mainland. In the background, you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real. In Inca religion, Moon Island is regarded as a sacred place where, according to legend, the creator god Viracocha commanded the moon to rise into the sky. The island is home to the ruins of the Inca temple of Iñakuyu (Palace of the Sun Maidens), where selected women performed ritual duties. Bolivia – 1976

The Altiplano between the ruins of Tiahuanaco and La Paz, with the Cordillera Real and the 6,500-metre-high Huayana Potosí in the background. The indigenous woman in the foreground is tending sheep and pigs. - Book: Picture 0 - Bolivia - 1976

Against the backdrop of the majestic Nevado Illimani (6,438 metres), a shepherdess walks past with her sheep. – 1976

From the La Paz basin, the road climbs over 1,000 metres to the La Cumbre pass (picture) at an altitude of 4,643 metres, before descending into the Yungas via countless hairpin bends through a deeply incised U-shaped valley, with the Cordillera Real towering in the background. The treeless scrub and grassy vegetation of the Puna still covers the saddle here, where indigenous people are resting with a herd of llamas. A little further down the valley, scrub begins to appear, until finally a dense forest takes over. - Book: Picture 2 - Bolivia - 1976

The famous La Cumbre Pass in Bolivia links the city of La Paz with the tropical Yungas lowlands. Travellers traditionally leave offerings at this strategic and windswept spot. These offerings – often bottles of alcohol and coca leaves – are frequently addressed to the Andean guardian goddess Pachamama and to Christian saints, in order to pray for a safe journey along the notorious mountain roads. – Bolivia – 1976

A panoramic view of La Paz, the seat of government in Bolivia. The photograph was taken from the surrounding mountains and captures the city’s unique topography, which stretches across a vast valley basin in the Andes at an altitude of over 3,600 metres. The dense urban development, which extends from the valley floor up the steep slopes, is clearly visible. In the background lies the snow-capped Cordillera Real. The striking, towering peak on the right is the majestic Illimani (6,438 m), the city’s local mountain and its landmark. In the foreground are steep, rugged rock formations typical of the geological features surrounding the La Paz basin. – 1976

With an elevation ranging from 3,630 to 3,770 meters, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world. It lies in a basin on the edge of the Altiplano, which shields the city from the high-altitude winds; the more affluent neighborhoods are therefore located as low as possible in the valley. Originally an Aymara settlement, the town was expanded by the Incas and conquered by the Spanish in 1535. With 800,000 residents, La Paz is home to about 14 percent of the country’s population, and 60 percent of Bolivia’s industrial production is concentrated in the greater La Paz area. - Book: Picture 149 - Bolivia - 1976

A panoramic view of La Paz, the seat of government in Bolivia, nestled in a deep canyon on the Altiplano. In the foreground, two local people sit in traditional Andean dress, looking out over the city. The dense urban landscape stretches across the steep slopes of the gorge. At the top left, the city merges seamlessly into the rapidly growing neighbouring city of El Alto, which lies on the flat plateau. In the background, the snow-capped Cordillera Real mountain range towers above. The most striking, gleaming white peak on the right is the majestic Illimani (6,439 metres), the unmistakable landmark and ‘guardian’ of La Paz. – 1976

The Cañón de Palca, about 25 kilometres south-east of La Paz. The photograph shows the striking view of the huge, eroded clay and sandstone walls that open up at the end of the gorge towards the small mountain village of Palca. They are made up of mud, clay and gravel left behind by prehistoric glaciers and shaped by the wind. – Bolivia – 1976

Surreal-looking, jagged rock formations and gorges, created by years of weathering of earth and clay. These striking clay towers and rock spires can be found in the Valle de las Ánimas (Valley of Souls) near La Paz. – Bolivia – 1976

In the Bolivian Altiplano, between the towns of Toledo and Corque in the department of Oruro, there are numerous shallow, salt-rich waterholes scattered across this barren high-altitude desert landscape. They lie at an altitude of around 3,700 metres on the western side of the Lake Poopó basin, where shallow salt lakes and lagoons form periodically during the rainy season. This is an ideal habitat for the endangered Andean flamingos (Phoenicoparrus andinus) and James’s flamingos (Phoenicoparrus jamesi). – Bolivia – 1976

On the way from La Paz to the Takesi Inca Trail, you pass this historic cemetery chapel with its distinctive, slightly leaning adobe bell tower and the small, chapel-like burial structures in front of it. – Bolivia – 1976

Three prospectors in the Bolivian Cordillera Real at an altitude of 4,640 metres. Together, these three treasure hunters mine easily accessible deposits of tungsten, tin and gold; they call their method ‘makipura’. - Book: Picture 175 - Bolivia - 1976

In southern Bolivia, in the transitional region between the barren foothills of the Andes and the wetter valleys of the Tariquía National Flora and Fauna Reserve. Smallholders on the slopes and in the valleys mainly grow maize, wheat and barley. The picture shows the traditional method of winnowing (separating the chaff from the wheat or grain) by hand. The farmers toss the threshed grain high into the air using pitchforks or shovels. The wind blows the light chaff (husk and straw remnants) to one side. The heavier grains fall straight down to the ground and are thus collected cleanly. This method has been used for thousands of years. It requires no machinery and relies solely on the power of the wind. – Bolivia – 1976

Arable farming in the high-altitude Andean region of the municipality of Yunchará in the department of Tarija, in southern Bolivia. In the higher elevations of the Altiplano, frost-resistant crops such as field beans (haba), barley and camomile are primarily grown. In this remote highland region of Bolivia, the use of draught animals to plough the small plots enclosed by dry stone walls remains the most important method of preparing the soil before sowing. – Bolivia – 1976

Winding its way along the slopes in long hairpin bends, mostly without any engineering structures, this Andean road runs through the department of Tarija in Bolivia. - Book: Picture 182 - Bolivia - 1976

Workers engaged in traditional salt extraction on the bright salt crust of the Salar de Coipasa. They break off and stack blocks of salt from the crust using simple tools such as poles and shovels. Historically, these blocks were used as a durable building material for the famous salt hotels and other accommodation, as well as salt licks for livestock (llamas and alpacas). The people are wearing warm, protective clothing and hats, as the climate at these high altitudes is windy and cool. – Bolivia – 1976

The two large salt pans of the Bolivian Altiplano, the Salares of Coipasa (picture) and Uyuni, are the remnants of a vast Ice Age freshwater lake, Lago Minchin. Due to low rainfall, the absence of tributaries and the extreme dryness of the air, the former freshwater lakes have evaporated into shallow lagoons and salt pans, their shores lined with deposits of common salt. Cut into blocks, the snow-white salt – considered to be of exceptional purity – is transported by lorry to the areas where it is consumed. - Book: Picture 158 - Bolivia - 1976

Traditional salt mining in the Salar de Coipasa in the Bolivian Andean highlands. Workers use simple tools such as axes or poles to chisel solid blocks of salt from the crust. The scene is set against the glistening white salt crust, with a mountainous backdrop in the Altiplano at an altitude of around 3,600 to 3,800 metres. – Bolivia – 1976

The two large salt flats of the Bolivian Altiplano, the Salares of Coipasa (pictured) and Uyuni, are the remnants of a vast Ice Age freshwater lake, Lago Minchin. Due to low rainfall, the absence of tributaries and the extreme dryness of the air, the former freshwater lakes have evaporated into shallow lagoons and salt flats, their shores lined with deposits of common salt. Cut into blocks, the snow-white salt – considered to be of exceptional purity – is transported by lorry to the areas where it is used. - Book: Picture 159 - Chile - 1976

Penitential snow is a phenomenon associated with the high mountains of the subtropical and tropical dry zones of the Old and New Worlds. Snow cover that has formed during the wet season is subject to selective melting processes during sunny summer and autumn weather; these are governed by irregularities on the original snow surface and sculpt out closely spaced yet completely isolated firn spikes, which resemble a procession of figures in white penitential robes (penitentes). The photograph was taken at an altitude of 4,900 metres on the Huaitiquina Pass, which leads from Salta (Argentina) to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile). - Book: Picture 8 - Chile - 1975

The Chilean Puna de Atacama, situated between San Pedro de Atacama and the Tatio geysers, is a monotonous high plateau formed from rhyolitic lava. The bitter cold of the night covers the small streams of the Puna with a thin layer of ice, which had not yet melted in the early morning when the photograph was taken. - Book: Picture 160 - Chile - 1976

As a high-altitude, cold desert, the Puna de Atacama is one of the most inhospitable regions on Earth. Bare rock and sand, lava flows and volcanoes characterise this forbidding yet impressive landscape. - Book: Picture 161 - Chile - 1976

The photograph shows a section of the old, unpaved tracks on the plateau east of Calama, between the famous oasis of San Pedro de Atacama and the historic Atacameño village of San Francisco de Chiu Chiu, which was a strategically important stop on the Inca Trail (Camino del Inca), as the river, with its flowing water, represents one of the few lifelines in the midst of the utterly inhospitable, grey Atacama Desert. – Chile – 1976

The Río San Pedro de Inacaliri (often simply called the Río San Pedro) has carved this canyon into the high plateau of the Chilean Puna. The striking, block-like cliffs consist of thick ignimbrite deposits (volcanic pyroclastic flow sediments). In the background rises the Palpana volcano. It is a massive stratovolcano, approximately 6,040 metres high, in the Chilean Andes near the border with Bolivia. – Chile – 1976

Typical landscape along the unpaved gravel road linking the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama with the El Tatio geysers in northern Chile. This route takes you to an extreme altitude of over 4,000 metres. Vegetation is almost entirely non-existent due to the extreme aridity of the Atacama Desert and the cold. In the background, you can see the volcanic Andean Cordillera, which stretches along the Chilean-Bolivian border, including the striking, partly still active Putana volcano (5,890 m), which rises directly behind the El Tatio geyser field. Cerro Tatio (5,208 m) gives the region its name. In the ancient Kunza language, the word means ‘The Weeping Grandfather’. Or the mighty Tocorpuri volcanic complex (5,808 m) right on the border, whose slopes you pass by whilst driving. – Chile – 1976

In the vicinity of the world-famous El Tatio geyser field in the Chilean Andes. The typical mineral crusts and outflows resulting from geothermal activity can be seen, set against the backdrop of the cold, barren Altiplano plateau, which is surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. – Chile – 1976

The El Tatio geyser field in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, situated at an altitude of around 4,200 metres. It is one of the highest geyser fields in the world. Activity is at its peak in the early morning (between 6.00 and 8.00 am), as this is when the temperature differences are greatest and the steam from the geysers rises most vigorously. The volcano in the background is the dormant stratovolcano Tatio (5,198 m). It lies directly on the border between Chile and Bolivia and forms part of the larger Tocorpuri volcanic complex. The name Tatio comes from the ancient Kunza language (Tata-iu) and translates as ‘the weeping grandfather’. It refers to the shape of the mountain range, which, from a distance, resembles the profile of an elderly man lying down. – Chile – 1976

An active geyser with a large fountain of steam in the El Tatio geothermal area in the Chilean Andes, at an altitude of around 4,280 metres in the Antofagasta Region. The best time to visit is early in the morning, when the fountains and steam are particularly impressive in the cold early-morning temperatures. – Chile – 1976

The rhyolite lava flows in the Chilean Puna de Atacama are associated with major tectonic fault lines striking in a north-south direction. The Tatio geysers, whose hot water vapour condenses in the cold high-altitude air, provide evidence that magmatic flow is present at shallow depths. It is rainwater that has seeped into the ground, heated up at depth and, due to the resulting pressure, is ejected either continuously or at regular intervals. - Book: Picture 162 - Chile - 1976

The impressive El Tatio geyser field is one of the highest and largest in the world, featuring numerous hot springs, fumaroles and rising columns of steam. Due to the extreme altitude (4,280 m) and the cold mountain air, the temperature difference between the hot water and the surrounding environment is particularly evident in the large clouds of steam in the morning. – Chile – 1976

The photograph shows the El Tatio geothermal field in the Andes in northern Chile, which lies at an altitude of around 4,280 metres and is one of the highest in the world. It is situated approximately 80 km north of San Pedro de Atacama. Over 80 active geysers spout large clouds of steam into the cold desert air, particularly in the early hours of the morning. – Chile – 1976

Chuquicamata is the world’s largest open-cast copper mine and is situated in the heart of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. The mine’s enormous pit is more than 4 kilometres long, 3 kilometres wide and over 1,000 metres deep. – The photograph shows the extracted ore being smelted at extremely high temperatures and processed into pure copper at the adjacent Chuquicamata copper smelter (Fundición). – Chile – 1976

The photograph shows a vast, arid plain with sparse desert vegetation and a barren mountain range in the background, across which a freight train is travelling in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. – South of Copiapó – Chile – 1975

The 2,661-metre-high volcanic cone of Osorno rises above the clear waters of Lake Llanquihue in ‘Chilean Switzerland’. In terms of its shape and location, this most beautiful of the Andean volcanoes is reminiscent of Mount Fuji. Ancient lava flows have separated Lake Llanquihue from Lake Todos los Santos, which is also known as Lake Esmeralda due to its emerald-green colour. - Book: Picture 199 - Chile - 1975

From the Argentine city of Salta, an old mule track – now a poorly maintained track – leads over the Huaitiquina Pass to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. In the past, herds of cattle were driven over this pass to supply the Chilean port city of Antofagasta with Argentine beef. When the dreaded Viento Blanco – the ‘white wind’ – blows, the plateau, situated at an altitude of 5,000 metres, is covered within a few hours by a metre-thick blanket of snow, and it was not uncommon for people and animals to perish in such ‘blizzards’. This is evidenced by the sun-bleached cattle skeletons in this desolate wasteland with its salt lakes, dominated by the towering cone of the Lascar volcano. - Book: Picture 157 - Argentina - 1975

A historic photograph! It shows a historic train in the barren high desert of the Argentine Puna in the province of Jujuy. This narrow-gauge line once ran through the spectacular Quebrada de Humahuaca, up onto the plateau and on to the Bolivian border at La Quiaca. The tracks around the high-altitude station of Tres Cruces lie at an altitude of over 3,600 metres and are largely a historical relic of the former link between Argentina and Bolivia. – Argentina – 1973

Landscape near Tres Cruces in the northwest of the Jujuy Province. - 1973

The photograph shows the impressive Cuesta de Lipán in the province of Jujuy in north-western Argentina, on the road from Purmamarca up to the Salinas Grandes. The barren, spectacular high-mountain landscape is characterised by hairpin bends, eroded mountain ranges and distinctive candelabra cacti (cardones) lining the roadside. – Argentina – 1975

The archaeological site of Santa Rosa de Tastil in the province of Salta, Argentina, features the well-preserved, pre-Inca stone foundations of one of the country’s largest pre-Hispanic settlements. The complex consists of compact stone houses without windows and narrow alleys. The ruins cover 17 hectares in the Quebrada del Toro gorge at an altitude of around 3,200 metres and form part of the Qhapaq Ñan (Inca road system), which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The settlement is thought to have been inhabited between the 14th and 15th centuries, prior to the full-scale Inca expansion, and could have accommodated up to 3,000 inhabitants. – Argentina – 1975

A striking eroded landscape with the moon along the Quebrada de Humahuaca in the region between Purmamarca and Tilcara in the province of Jujuy in north-western Argentina. These gullies, known as cárcavas (badlands), form in arid climates when infrequent but heavy rainfall deeply cuts into the unprotected, soft sedimentary layers. – Argentina – 1973

Aconcagua, situated in the Argentine Andes in the province of Mendoza, is the highest mountain on the American continent at 6,961 metres. The mountain is a popular destination for mountaineers from all over the world; it was first climbed in 1897 by Matthias Zurbriggen. – Argentina – 1975

Aconcagua, the highest mountain on the American double continent, is not among the most impressive mountain formations in South America, despite its height of 6,959 metres. It is not a volcano and therefore lacks the elegant curves of its slopes. Extreme dryness and strong winds prevent the formation of an ice cap on the summit, though small slope glaciers flow down from five cirques. The mountain, situated in the Argentine-Chilean border region of the High Cordillera, was first climbed in 1897 by the Swiss mountaineer M. Zurbriggen. - Book: Picture 201 - Argentina - 1975

The Andes Cordillera is the backbone of the South American continent, forming at certain points an impassable barrier. It establishes the natural border between the eastern, low-lying areas and the Pacific coastline, which extends westwards for thousands of kilometres. The Aconcagua (approx. 7,000 metres), dear to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is the highest peak in the Andes mountain range. It rises majestically between Argentina and Chile. It is usually covered with clouds. Its ascent has tempted many andinists - the name given to mountaineers. However, it presents serious dangers. - 1973

The photograph shows the Argentine side of the famous ‘Los Caracoles’ mountain pass at the Paso Internacional Los Libertadores in the Andes, on the border between Chile and Argentina. The winding mountain pass snakes through the barren high-mountain landscape of the Andes and leads up to the old border tunnel and the statue of Christ, Cristo Redentor de los Andes, at an altitude of over 3,800 metres. – Argentina – 1975

A view of Lake Nahuel Huapi in the Patagonian region of Argentina, surrounded by dense forest and snow-capped Andean peaks in the background. The landscape is situated within Nahuel Huapi National Park, near the towns of San Carlos de Bariloche and Villa La Angostura. Typical of this region are the lush forests of southern beech (coihues) and myrtle trees (arrayanes). The lake is of glacial-tectonic origin and is fed by the surrounding glaciers and mountains. – Argentina – 1975

Lake Nahuel Huapi (Araucanian for ‘Lake of Tiger Island’), which is comparable in size (529 km²) to Lake Constance, is a vast glacial trough into which several glacial streams converged. This explains its intricate network of fjord-like branches. It is known as the ‘Lake Lucerne’ of Argentina, whilst the surrounding mountain landscape, including the skiing paradise at Cerro Catedral (2,388 m), is referred to as the ‘Argentine Switzerland’. - Book: Picture 196 - Argentina - 1973

62 kilometres away from San Carlos de Bariloche, on the banks of the Limay River, lies Valle Encantado, a place with a special magic. Surrounded by mountains and rock formations that, letting the imagination run wild, come to life in the eyes of the beholder. - Neuquén Province - 1973

View from the 1,314-metre-high Paso Puyehue on the Argentine-Chilean border towards the isolated, towering peak of Pico Pantojo. - Book: Picture 197 - Argentina - 1975

Alongside the various species of southern beech (Nothofagus), the mighty araucaria trees (Araucaria imbricata) make up a significant proportion of the Southern Cordillera’s forests. The oil-rich seeds of these conifers once formed an essential part of the subsistence diet of the Pehuénche, who practised a foraging economy. Their name means ‘people of the araucaria forests’ (pehuén = the araucaria). - Book: Picture 198 - Argentina - 1975

The photograph shows the majestic Lanín volcano (3,776 m), a stratovolcano in the Andes on the border between Argentina and Chile. The snow-capped volcano rises from the Andean Cordillera and lies within the Lanín National Park (Argentina) and the Villarrica National Park (Chile). In the foreground and on the slopes, one can see the typical forest of Chilean araucarias (also known as pehuén) and sub-Antarctic grass and shrub vegetation. – Argentina – 1975

The Chilean araucaria (Araucaria araucana), also known as the Andean fir or monkey tree, in its natural South American Andean or volcanic landscape. These distinctive conifers have a straight, columnar trunk and an umbrella-shaped crown with stiff, scaly branches. They often grow on barren, volcanic soils in the mountains of Chile and Argentina and are extremely hardy. The species is regarded as a living fossil and is protected due to habitat loss and past deforestation. – Lanín National Park – Argentina – 1975

Mount Fitz Roy (3,375 m) was named in honour of the captain of the Beagle. It was under his command in 1834, following a sixteen-day boat journey on the Río Santa Cruz – in which Charles Darwin also took part – that this peak was first sighted. Towering some 1,600 metres above the surrounding plateau, it resembles a cluster of pillars and spires, whose vertical walls are separated by gorges a thousand metres deep. The Fitz Roy is rightly regarded as the most beautiful peak in the Andes. - Book: Picture 200 - Argentina - 1973

On the Estancia Santa Margarita. In the background the Fitz Roy massif. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Disused wheels on the edge of the Río La Leona - in the background Cerro Fortalezza 722m - Calafate Region - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

These traditional windmills are essential for supplying water to livestock farms in the extremely remote and arid regions of Patagonia. As surface water is scarce, these windmills pump groundwater directly into water tanks or livestock troughs. The vast farms (estancias) are not connected to the electricity grid as they are often located far from the nearest town. Patagonia is one of the windiest regions on earth. The design of these windmills, with their many rotor blades, allows them to start turning even in a very light breeze, whilst protecting themselves from destruction during the notorious Patagonian storms thanks to an automatic flag control system. – Estancia “Las Toscas” in the province of Santa Cruz – Argentina – 1975

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andean Cordillera, which in certain sections presents an insurmountable barrier. The winds blow in from the Pacific in an almost constant direction. The clouds they carry gather over the high mountain peaks and bring heavy rainfall. This explains why, despite the relatively low altitude, glaciers – some of which are of immense proportions – stretch across the eastern flank of the Andes. In Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies Lago Argentino, the ‘Silver Lake’, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is attracting ever more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen in the immediate vicinity. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. Pictured here is the equally famous Perito Moreno. – Argentina – 1973

As the eastern tongue of the great Patagonian ice field, the 17-kilometre-long Moreno Glacier stretches down to the southern arm of Lago Argentino, where it ends in a 70-metre-high ice wall. Its scientific discoverer, R. Hauthal, had named it the ‘Bismarck Glacier’ in 1899; it was given its current name in honour of the Argentine naturalist F. P. Moreno. Even in Hauthal’s day, clear signs of irregular advances were evident, whilst the other Southern Andes glaciers were already retreating. Since then, the Canal de los Témpanos has been completely blocked on several occasions, leading to a build-up of water in the southern part of the lake and catastrophic flooding, prompting attempts – in vain – to blast the ice wall with bombs. It was only after a transverse crevasse had formed in the 2 to 2.5-kilometre-wide glacier tongue that the floodwaters drained away. Today, the ‘Canal de los Témpanos’ is open again. - Book: Picture 205 - Argentina - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andes Cordillera, which represents an insurmountable barrier in some sections. The winds blow from the Pacific in an almost unchanging direction. The clouds they bring accumulate above the high mountain peaks and cause abundant precipitation. This explains why, despite their low altitude, glaciers of sometimes enormous dimensions extend along the eastern flank of the Andes. In the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies the Argentino, the Silver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is visited by more and more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen nearby. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. An equally famous one is called Perito Moreno. Navigation on the Silver Lake is dangerous, if only because of the wind and the storms that are frequent in the Cordillera. Nature, preserved in its authenticity, attracts many scientists who can devote themselves to their studies here. - 1973

As the eastern tongue of the great Patagonian ice field, the 17-kilometre-long Moreno Glacier stretches down to the southern arm of Lago Argentino, where it ends in a 70-metre-high ice wall. Its scientific discoverer, R. Hauthal, had named it the ‘Bismarck Glacier’ in 1899; it was given its current name in honour of the Argentine naturalist F. P. Moreno. Even in Hauthal’s day, clear signs of irregular advances were evident, whilst the other Southern Andes glaciers were already retreating. Since then, the Canal de los Témpanos has been completely blocked on several occasions, leading to a build-up of water in the southern part of the lake and catastrophic flooding, prompting attempts – in vain – to blast the ice wall with bombs. It was only after a transverse crevasse had formed in the 2 to 2.5-kilometre-wide glacier tongue that the floodwaters drained away. Today, the ‘Canal de los Témpanos’ is open again. - Book: Picture 204 - Argentina - 1973

The western part of Patagonia is formed by the Andes Cordillera, which represents an insurmountable barrier in some sections. The winds blow from the Pacific in an almost unchanging direction. The clouds they bring accumulate above the high mountain peaks and cause abundant precipitation. This explains why, despite their low altitude, glaciers of sometimes enormous dimensions extend along the eastern flank of the Andes. In the Los Glaciares National Park (Santa Cruz Province) lies the Argentino, the Silver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this southern region. The town of Calafate on its southern shore is visited by more and more tourists. Several glaciers can be seen nearby. One is called Uppsala and is 40 kilometres long. An equally famous one is called Perito Moreno. Navigation on the Silver Lake is dangerous, if only because of the wind and the storms that are frequent in the Cordillera. Nature, preserved in its authenticity, attracts many scientists who can devote themselves to their studies here. - 1973

As the eastern tongue of the great Patagonian ice field, the 17-kilometre-long Moreno Glacier stretches down to the southern arm of Lago Argentino, where it ends in a 70-metre-high ice wall. Its scientific discoverer, R. Hauthal, had named it the ‘Bismarck Glacier’ in 1899; it was given its current name in honour of the Argentine naturalist F. P. Moreno. Even in Hauthal’s day, clear signs of irregular advances were evident, whilst the other Southern Andes glaciers were already retreating. Since then, the Canal de los Témpanos has been completely blocked on several occasions, leading to a build-up of water in the southern part of the lake and catastrophic flooding, prompting attempts – in vain – to blast the ice wall with bombs. It was only after a transverse crevasse had formed in the 2 to 2.5-kilometre-wide glacier tongue that the floodwaters drained away. Today, the ‘Canal de los Témpanos’ is open again. - Book: Picture 203 - Argentina - 1973

The Perito Moreno Glacier (Spanish: Glaciar Perito Moreno) is one of the best-known and most spectacular glaciers on Earth. It is situated in Los Glaciares National Park in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz, in south-western Patagonia. The glacier stretches for around 30 kilometres and is 5 kilometres wide. The impressive ice front rises, on average, 55 to 75 metres above the surface of Lago Argentino. Underwater, the ice extends a further 100 metres or so into the depths. Unlike most glaciers worldwide, which are shrinking due to global warming, the Perito Moreno Glacier is in a relatively stable equilibrium. It advances by up to 2 metres every day. As a result of this continuous movement, chunks of ice as tall as houses regularly break off from the front. This phenomenon is accompanied by a thunderous crash and a deep rumble that can be heard for kilometres. As it advances, the glacier periodically blocks a side arm of Lago Argentino (Brazo Rico). The dammed-up water builds up enormous pressure until the barrier finally collapses in a spectacular process lasting several days. – Argentina – 1973

As the eastern tongue of the great Patagonian ice field, the 17-kilometre-long Moreno Glacier stretches down to the southern arm of Lago Argentino, where it ends in a 70-metre-high ice wall. Its scientific discoverer, R. Hauthal, had named it the ‘Bismarck Glacier’ in 1899; it was given its current name in honour of the Argentine naturalist F. P. Moreno. Even in Hauthal’s day, clear signs of irregular advances were evident, whilst the other Southern Andes glaciers were already retreating. Since then, the Canal de los Témpanos has been completely blocked on several occasions, leading to a build-up of water in the southern part of the lake and catastrophic flooding, prompting attempts – in vain – to blast the ice wall with bombs. It was only after a transverse crevasse had formed in the 2 to 2.5-kilometre-wide glacier tongue that the floodwaters drained away. Today, the ‘Canal de los Témpanos’ is open again. - Book: Picture 202 - Argentina - 1973

Spring in Patagonia! A vast meadow dotted with white wildflowers. In the background rise the snow-capped peaks and striking granite cliffs of the Cuernos del Paine in Torres del Paine National Park. – Chile – 1975

Laguna Amarga (meaning ‘Bitter Lagoon’ in English), surrounded by the typical Patagonian steppe landscape with reddish ground cover and low shrubs in the foreground. The name derives from the bitter taste of the water. As it is a landlocked body of water, the water evaporates continuously. As a result, the dissolved salts and minerals from the subsoil become extremely concentrated, giving the water a very high pH value. The lake is one of the most famous vantage points in Torres del Paine National Park, as on clear, windless days the three famous granite spires are perfectly reflected on the water’s surface. – Chile – 1975

The massive granodiorite batholith of the Southern Andes is dominated in the Chilean province of Magallanes by the Cordillera del Paine (2,460 m), which extends into Argentine territory. The towering rock spires, the Torres del Paine, consist of remnants of Cretaceous overlying strata that once covered the intrusive body that had risen from the depths. Contact metamorphism has greatly hardened the rock, making it particularly resistant to erosion. In the foreground is Laguna Amarga. The photograph was taken during the southern summer, on 10 January at 11 pm. - Book: Picture 5 - Argentina - 1975

The area surrounding the magnificent massifs, pinnacles and towers of the Cordillera del Paine has been a protected nature reserve for some time. The national park is one of the last refuges for guanacos still living in the wild. - Book: Picture 208 - Argentina - 1975

The area surrounding the magnificent massifs, pinnacles and towers of the Cordillera del Paine has been a protected nature reserve for some time. The small mountain lakes in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, such as Lago Nordenskjöld, owe their formation to the erosive action of Ice Age glaciers. - Book: Picture 207 - Argentina - 1975

A vast steppe with low vegetation (such as matahambre shrubs) tinged with autumnal red in the foreground, and the striking Cordillera del Paine mountain range with its snow-capped peaks in the background. We are in the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. The turquoise lake is Lago Nordenskjöld, named after the Swedish geologist and polar explorer Otto Nordenskjöld, who conducted scientific research in the region at the end of the 19th century. – Chile – 1975

In southern Patagonia, and particularly in Tierra del Fuego and southern Chile, the climate and vegetation allow only sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered across thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are rounded up for just three occasions: disinfection baths, shearing and the slaughterhouse. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days on end with their powerful dogs, keeping in contact with one another via bonfires and smoke signals. – Torres del Paine National Park – Chile – 1975

A typical landscape of the Tierra del Fuego region near Ushuaia in Argentina, set amongst the rugged, unspoilt peat and grassland terrain characteristic of the valleys outside Ushuaia. – Argentina – 1973

The town of Ushuaia, situated in a sheltered bay on the northern shore of the Beagle Channel, grew out of a Protestant mission station in 1868. In 1884, when it had a population of just under 150, it became the capital of the Argentine territory of Tierra del Fuego; two years later, it became a penal colony. The prisoners were put to work in forestry, and for a long time timber shipping formed the economic basis of the settlement. Since the Second World War, Ushuaia – which now has a population of around 4,000 – has served as a base for Argentina’s Antarctic expeditions. One- and two-storey wooden houses still characterise the town as an unfinished pioneer settlement. In 1953, Ushuaia had to cede the title of ‘the southernmost city in the world’ to the Chilean military base of Puerto Williams on Navarino Island. - Book: Picture 209 - Argentina - 1973

The photograph shows a historic panoramic view (1973) of the Argentine city of Ushuaia, the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego (Fireland). The town is picturesquely situated on a sheltered bay on the northern shore of the Beagle Channel. The image captures the town’s former, still predominantly rural character, with simple wooden houses and tin roofs. On the right-hand edge of the picture, near the coast, the historic Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (the old parish church) stands out with its striking tower. – Argentina – 1973

A view of the Argentine city of Ushuaia on the island of Tierra del Fuego, framed by the coastline of the Beagle Channel and the striking, snow-capped mountain range, with the distinctive Monte Olivia in the background. The port of Ushuaia is a major hub for trade and fishing, as well as a starting point for Antarctic expedition cruises. – Argentina – 1973

The Tierra del Fuego National Park is the southernmost national park on Earth. Winter storms have washed up bleached driftwood on the shores of the lakes. The gentle slopes of the peaks towering above them – such as Montaña El Cóndor here – with their forests and heathland, represent a slice of Tierra del Fuego’s unspoilt natural landscape, which has already been largely altered by sheep farmers in other parts of this southernmost region of Argentina. - Book: Picture 211 - Argentina - 1973

The Parque Nacional de Tierra del Fuego is the southernmost national park on Earth. Although the lakes situated in complete isolation, such as Lago Roca – on whose shores winter storms have washed up bleached driftwood – lack the magnificent mountainous backdrop of the Southern Andes lakes, with their forests and heathland they represent a slice of Tierra del Fuego’s unspoilt natural landscape. - Book: Picture 210 - Argentina - 1973

The picture shows Monte San Valentín in the Chilean Southern Andes from a bird’s-eye view. At a height of approximately 4,058 metres, it is the highest mountain in the Patagonia region. On the left-hand side of the picture, one can see the extensive fjord and seawater area of the Pacific catchment, which is typical of the rugged coastal landscape of southern Chile. – Chile – 1975

Set against the backdrop of the Darwin Range in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, which rises to a height of 2,300 metres, a large valley glacier flows into the Admiralty Fjord. Two central moraines, formed by the confluence of tributary glaciers, appear as dark stripes. Icebergs drift from the pack ice field in front of the calving glacier tongue into the fjord, which flows into the Strait of Magellan. - Book: Picture 10 - Argentina - 1975

At Cape Horn, at 56° S and 67° 15' W, South America reaches its southernmost point. The cape lies on the 8-kilometre-long Horn Island, which belongs to Chile; the island consists of igneous rock and drops away into the sea on its western side as a 425-metre-high cliff. The island and the cape were discovered on 29 January 1616 by the Dutch navigators W. C. Schouten and Le Maire and named after Schouten’s birthplace, Hoorn in Holland. The name commonly used in Spanish, Cabo de Hornos (horno = oven), is a phonetic adaptation that makes little sense. Cape Hoorn, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, was feared in the age of sailing ships because of its cliffs and severe winter storms. Since the opening of the Panama Canal (1914), it has played only a modest role in local coastal and tourist shipping. - Book: Picture 212 - Argentina - 1975

Photo Gallery