The mountains of Hodna

The mountains of Hodna
Located northeast of Algeria, the mountains of Hodna form a line parallel to the coast and rising to 1900 m altitude. This area is mainly dedicated to agriculture and sheep farming. Gardening, fruit trees, wheat, grapes and olives punctuate small plots. The forests of olive trees, cedars and oaks that once occupied these slopes are now scattered, leaving a soil worn by erosion and overgrazing. In 150 years, Algeria has lost nearly 40% of its forests. The semi-arid continental climate of the mountains unfolds dry, hot summers and cold winters. The rainfall of 700 mm to 1000 mm per year on the reliefs. Rare, heavy snow fell on the region in early 2005. According to residents, it was the biggest snowfall in 60 years - a paradox at a time when global warming is at the forefront of global issues. But meteorologists say that these extremes do not belie warming. In the long term, they provide a very early melting of snow in the mountains and a drastic reduction in snowfall in mountain.