Chelif

Chelif, sometimes known as the Chlef River, ranks first among the longest rivers in Algeria with a length of 435 miles. Its source is near the city of Aflou in the Saharan Atlas Mountains, and it flows through the Tell Atlas Mountains to reach its eventual destination, the Mediterranean Sea. The Chelif river is extremely important since it is frequently used for irrigation, causing the water level to fluctuate all the time. However, this is mostly done in the lower section of the flow. During the winter, water levels are always high, followed by a period of very low water, during which the flow rate may plummet to several hundred or even tens of cubic meters per second.

There are numerous tributaries that pour into this massive river, with the Sebgag river being the farthest. Ksar el-Boukhari, built in 1932, Ech-Cheliff, formerly known as El-Asnam, erected in 1932, and El-Khemis, completed in 1939, is the three main dams on the Chelif system, all of which are operated by the Algerian Agence Nationale des Barrages.

The Chelif River is not navigable due to its uneven flow, but with its irrigation, cereals, oranges, and grapes are the main crops that thrive along the route to the Mediterranean, providing a beautiful backdrop in an almost deserted setting for people who want to see Algeria's incredible beauty.

Length: 435 miles