Numerous aquifers located under Sahara By Mohand Ouali for
Magharebia in Algiers – 07/02/06 Studies show that the Sahara
aquifer basin is one of the largest in the world. It stretches
across territory belonging to Algeria, Tunisia and Libya and is
made up of two main deposits, the Terminal Complex and the
Continental Intercalary. The two aquifer systems contain enough
water to satisfy the needs of Algeria for 120 centuries at the
current rate of consumption. The groundwater deposits are
already being tapped to satisfy the needs of agriculture, the
oil industry and the general population. The most spectacular
exploitation has been undertaken by the Libyans, who have built
their famous artificial river pumping water from beneath the
Sahara before sending it through pipelines to the land being
irrigated. As part of its land management policy, Algeria
expects to develop the Saharan regions. The scarceness of the
water supply is hampering its objectives, so it is now turning
its attention to more intensive exploit