The Sahara Desert Has Flooded For The First Time In 50 Years After Heavy Rainfall And It Looks Unreal
Videos showed lakes forming among the sand dunes after heavy rainfall.
Parts of the Sahara desert in Morocco experienced flooding for the first time in decades due to heavy rainfall.
Heavy rain fell in dry and arid regions in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya between Sept. 7 and 8 after an “extratropical cyclone” traveled across the northwestern Sahara, according to NASA.
In Morocco, authorities said 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) of rain fell in a 24-hour period in Tagounite, a village south of the capital, Rabat.
Some areas reported rainfall surpassing their annual average of 25 centimeters 10 inches of rain within just two days, according to AP.
“It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve had this much rain in such a short space of time,” Morocco’s meteorology director said.
Videos showed lakes forming among the sand dunes and palm trees partially submerged.
Normally dry lakes in the Sahara also began filling due to the rainfall.
Images show lake Iriqi, located between Zagora and Tata in Morocco, had been flooded after remaining dry for the last 50 years.
The heavy rain also caused property damage and left more than 20 people reported dead in Morocco and Algeria.
Authorities say they hope the recent heavy rainfall will help refill reservoirs and groundwater aquifers that provide water to communities in the desert and alleviate the drought that Morocco has been experiencing for the last six years.
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