The Algerian town of Ain Sefra, known as the "Gateway to the Saharan Desert," was hit by freak snowfall on Tuesday, making for some very confused Algerians and a few gorgeous photographs.
Photographer Karim Bouchetata snapped unreal views of the red dunes and surrounding Atlas Mountains topped with a light dusting of frost, which reportedly stuck around for about a day before eventually melting.
"Everyone was stunned to see snow falling in the desert—it is such a rare occurrence," Bouchetata told The Independent. "It looked amazing as the snow settled on the sand and made a great set of photos."
The last time snow was spotted in Ain Sefra was back in 1979, when a half-hour snowstorm was said to have stopped traffic in town. The region is one of the hottest and driest on the planet, with temperatures ticking upwards of 122 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, temperatures usually only drop to 50 degrees, so this truly is an anomaly. Like snow in Hawaii.
So, for a change, check out the photos below of this snow-covered Sahara landscape:
