Spontaneous Video of Children in an Algerian Salt Flat Goes Viral

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A short video clip showing a group of children running spontaneously on an Algerian salt flat has turned into a "trend" on social media, as its scenes captivated attention with the beauty of the nature that embraced the shot.

The video was captured by photographer Adel Bouchaoua in the Zemoul salt flat in the Um El Bouaki region, eastern Algeria, and it features young children running with their dog amidst the stunning natural scenery.

The salt flat is a saline lake and a natural reserve, one of the most prominent environmental sites in the area. The falling rain and sunset colors have increased the allure of the scene and gave the shots a magical character.

The spread of the video comes after a series of clips and portraits in which the photographer documented the lives of children in the area, including the girl Yaqin, who caught attention with her innocence in one of the clips when she said: "Don't take my picture so they don't think we are homeless."

This human dimension, along with the beauty of the natural scenes, contributed to the video achieving wide dissemination and being shared extensively within Algeria and beyond.

In this context, tourism and environment specialist Rabah Alilsh explained that a sebkha is a low, flat land with high salinity and water drainage, which transforms into a muddy lake in winter, while layers of salt cover it during the summer.

Alilsh also added to "Al Arabiya.net/Al Hadath.net" that Algeria is rich in many sebkhas and salt flats that create unique landscapes and attract photography enthusiasts and nature explorers.

He also pointed out that the Zemoul sebkha is one of the most important wetland areas in Algeria, and it has been listed in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands since 2009. It receives large numbers of migratory and resident birds annually, including the pink flamingo.

He also noted the existence of similar sites in different parts of the country, such as the Great Sebkha in Oran, Chott Melghigh, Chott El Hodna, and Sebkha El Malih in Béchar.

Despite the environmental and aesthetic value of these sites, tourism activity remains limited, as authorities impose measures to protect wildlife and maintain ecological balance, including designating specific paths for visitors and prohibiting random wandering in sensitive areas, according to Alilish.