Grotte karstique de Ghar Boumâaza

visite par le public
cascades de la grotte

Grotte karstique de Ghar Boumâaza

  • Country: 
    Algeria
  • Site number: 
    1297
  • Area: 
    20,000 ha
  • Designation date: 
    06-04-2003
  • Coordinates: 
    34°40'N 01°22'W
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

The Site is a representative example of a continental wetland including a karstic subterranean hydrological system, a wetland type which is rare and under-represented in the Ramsar List. The Ghar Boumâaza caverns, the largest known underground cave network in Algeria and Africa, follow the river Tafna under the Tlemcen Mountains; some 15.5 km have been explored so far. The caverns boast spectacular corridors, high chambers, basins, stalactites and stalagmites. The Site hosts the endangered Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus and the peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus. The permanent presence of water has favoured the establishment of small villages and enabled irrigation and grazing despite the semi-arid climate. However, overgrazing and the uncontrolled uprooting of esparto grass Stipa tenacissima for plaiting into handicraft items have denuded the soil.

Administrative region: 
Tlemcen

  • Last publication date: 
    06-04-2018

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)