Grand Erg Occidental Grand Erg Occidental The Grand Erg Occidental (, al-ʿIrq al-Gharbī al-Kabīr), (also known as the Western Sand Sea) is the second largest erg in northern Algeria after the Grand Erg Oriental. It covers an area of approximately . The sand dunes in the erg are formed by the wind, and can be up to high. Certain crescent-shaped dunes, known as barchans, are actually mobile; the wind can push these dunes as much as 20 to 30 m (65-100 ft) in one year. It is a desert natural region that receives less than 50 mm (1,96 in) of rainfall per year.
Erg Chigaga access – it is only accessible by 4x4, camel or on foot – Erg Chigaga remains significantly less visited then Erg Chebbi. Erg Chigaga Erg Chegaga (or Chigaga) is one of two major Saharan ergs of the Sahara in Morocco, the other being the Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. This dunes are located in the Drâa-Tafilalet area about 50 km west of the rural town of M'Hamid El Ghizlane, itself located about 98 km south of the town of Zagora. With a length of approximately 40 km to 15 km width, some dunes are around 60m high (significantly less than the