The famous Baño de la Ñusta, the bath of the princess - Ollantaytambo

Well
Each well is a privileged point where the nomads meet. In the immensity of the great desert, it is also the secret of the initiates: Find it if you can! The unfortunate who has embarked on an adventure with a rope too short is likely to die of thirst at its side.
Algeria - Immidir - Hassi Meniet - 1965

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
A 3.700 mètres d'altitude s'étagent les quatre terrasses de Tampu Machay, «Balneario del Inca». Des loges en trapèze ornent le plus élégant «temple de l'Eau» consacré aux ablutions lustrales du dynaste et de la Coya son épouse lors de leur union rituelle.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Ollantaytambo: le fameux ‘Baño de la Ñusta’, le bain de la princesse ‘Etoile joyeuse’, qui venait ici pour recevoir l'eau purificatrice descendue des glaciers andins.

Street photographer on the Plaza de Armas in Lima. Wherever the Spaniards founded a city, they also created an ‘armoury’ around which the most important public buildings were grouped. - Peru - Lima - 1969

Children fetch water at the well in the village of Izalco in El Salvador. The Nawat name Itzalku is composed of the word elements itz, "obsidian", (k)al, "house" and the locative ending -ku and can be roughly translated as "place of obsidian houses". - 1977

The well! Like any well in the desert, the one at Hassi Meniet (Immidir, Algeria) is a favourite spot where all the nomads gather to camp. But in the immensity of the great desert, the well is also the secret of the initiated: Find it if you can! Depending on the location, it reaches 10, 20, 50, even 100 metres deep. The unlucky person who has set out on an adventure with a rope that is too short runs the risk of dying of thirst at its edge if he does not summon up the courage to descend by taking advantage of the alternating steps installed by the daring well builders. Incidentally, the reward for so much effort is often very meagre, for clear and pure water is rare, and often the bucket raises only a greenish, stinking, salty, undrinkable broth! ... Note that the wreath of the well is replaced by four crossed pieces of branch laid on the bare ground. - Algeria - 1966

At the Tarat well in Illizi province, Algeria, on the border with Libya. - Algeria - 1962

At the well of Tarat - Tarat is a village in the municipality of Illizi in the province of Illizi in Algeria. It is located near the border with Libya next to a wadi on the eastern edge of the Tassili n'Ajjer mountains. - Algeria – 1962

Drinking water is fetched from the well by lever arm. - Gabr Aoun - Edeyen of Oubari - Libya - 1964

120 kilometres from Zouar, near the Enneri (Wadi) Maro, things are very busy. For the water, so indispensable for life, comes up fresh and cool from the bottom of the well here. - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

The Arbre du Ténéré from a distance! This tree was an umbrella thorn acacia (Acacia tortilis) that was considered the most isolated tree on earth - supposedly the only one within a radius of 400 kilometres, other data mention 150 km. It was probably the last surviving tree of a group of trees that grew up when the desert was less dry than at present. The tree stood alone for several decades. - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

During the winter of 1938/39, a shaft was dug near the "Arbre du Ténéré", it turned out that the tree had reached the water table at a depth of 33 to 36 metres. In 1939, the officer Michel Lesourd, stationed in French West Africa, wrote about the solitary tree: "One must have seen the tree to believe its existence. What is its secret? How can it still remain undeserted, despite the multitude of dromedaries near it? How come no camel eats its leaves and buds? Why don't the many Tuareg salt caravans cut its branches and use them as firewood for making tea? The only answer is that this tree is taboo and so respected by caravans." - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

The acacia was knocked down in 1973 by an - allegedly drunken - truck driver. The then lieutenant and later state president Ali Saibou brought the remains of the Arbre du Ténéré in a military van to Niamey to the Niger National Museum on 8 November 1973, where they have been exhibited in their own pavilion since 1977. A tree-like structure made of metal pipes was erected at the site of the acacia, and chrome-plated hubcaps were later attached to its "branches" as reflectors for the night drivers. In 1998, Katsuyuki Shinohara erected the metal sculpture "Lighthouse of the Desert", with glass elements as optical and wind harps as acoustic orientation signs. - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

At the Arbre du Ténéré there are two wells, one with bad water, possibly from a carcass that fell into it. The salt caravans use this place as a night camp. The nomads' campsite near the well is called Ad Azzaouagger. - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

The " Arbre du Ténéré " is actually the sign of a lost waterhole in a desolate desert! Or was, because this legendary tree has disappeared! It was the expected signal for all the nomads passing through, who knew that at its foot there were two wells whose water, although not very inviting, was essential for camels. For those who have understood what the desert is, this souvenir photo is not only very beautiful but also deeply moving. It conveys a religious thought that makes the numerous sun signs depicted in the Sahara's rock art easier to understand. - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

The well by the tree of Ténéré. The mediocre water is found at a depth of 36 metres and is brought up by hand by the Tuareg or Toubou men of the caravans. A few metres further on is a second well, but unusable: a camel has fallen in. – Ténéré – Niger - 1966

A Kanouri from a Bilma caravan. He is taking advantage of a stop at the tree of Ténéré to pound millet. On the left, the clay vessel in which he will cook his midday meal. – Ténéré – Niger - 1966

There are different interpretations of the name Timbuktu: "well of Buktu", "the far well" or "place in the dunes". - Drawing water at a well in the surroundings of Timbuktu - Mali - 1969

The lens has captured the biblical-like image of the bozo riding to the well of Ekisman. It has often been overlooked that cattle also served as pack animals and as such played a major role in Saharan civilisation. - Niger - 1970

Thirst is quenched directly at the well - Ekisman - Niger - 1970

You can even use the precious water from Eskiman's well to wash your hair. - Niger - 1970

Joining forces makes it easier to lift the water bag - Eskiman well - Niger - 1970

Girls as well as boys help to bring the cattle to the drinking trough. - Eskiman well - Niger - 1970

Overview of the well of Ekismane. The herders distribute the water to the watering troughs. The cattle wait for their turn. - Niger - 1970

The irreproachability of their bearing stems partly from the fact that they learn very early to carry heavy loads on their heads. Typical of their breed, apart from the graceful gesture of this Bororo carrier, are the very large eyes, the delicacy of the mouth and the rather oriental imprint of the head. The ears, pierced all along the rim by many holes, allow to wear amazing amounts of silver rings. - Fountain of Eskiman - Niger - 1970

The irreproachability of their bearing stems partly from the fact that they learn very early to carry heavy loads on their heads. Typical of their breed, apart from the graceful gesture of this Bororo carrier, are the very large eyes, the delicacy of the mouth and the rather oriental imprint of the head. The ears, pierced all along the rim by many holes, allow to wear amazing amounts of silver rings. Two cords serve to hold two different collections of amulets, to which . . . Safety pins are added! The chignon, worn over the forehead, recalls the Phrygian hairstyle of figures in rock paintings in the Tassili. - Fountain of Eskiman - Niger - 1970

Mariam is a Peul Bororo woman. The Bororo tribe is fundamentally animistic and forms an endogamous society. Marriages are therefore necessarily within the group, so the Bororo consider themselves the "purest" of the Peulh. - Eskiman well - Niger - 1970

The camp at the well of Tezirzek is reached - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The goats are supplied with water - Well of Tezirzek- Niger - Aïr - 1992

The well of Tchou-m-Adegdeg - Tebet region between Adrar Chiriet and Tamgak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

At the well of Tchou-m-Adegdeg - A goatskin guerba is filled with water - Tebet region between Adrar Chiriet and Tamgak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

Traditional well at Zakkat - The water is lifted from the depths of the well in a sack with the help of a cow or a dromedary -- Niger - Aïr - 2003

Many animals gather around the well of Afis - Niger - Aïr - 2001

In the background the well of Afis with a large number of animals - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The well Tanet Mellet (= small beautiful well) at the camp of Bachar - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The water is fetched from the depths in a leather sack - Tanet Mellet - Niger - Aïr - 2001

Bachar (left), the boss, sits on the edge of the well and chats with a member of his clan - Tanet Mellet - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The vital water is poured into the drinking trough for the animals - Tanet Mellet well - Bachar camp - Niger - Aïr - 2001

A guerba is filled with water - Tanet Mellet well - Bachar camp - Niger - Aïr - 2001

At the well Tanet Mellet - On the left the chief Bachar - Niger - Aïr - 2001

The well of Eghaghar or Erarar - Aïr - Niger - 2001

At the well of Eghaghar or Erarar - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Traditional well at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - The dromedary pulls the goatskin water container out of the well to irrigate the maize field - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Traditional well at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Traditional well at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - The dromedary pulls the goatskin water container out of the well to irrigate the maize field - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Traditional well at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Traditional well at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - Not only dromedaries are used to pull up the water container, but also zebus - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Well in the gardens of Iferouâne. According to old custom, the water is drawn up in a leather bag and distributed into the irrigation channels - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The well of Tchintoulbus, en route to Iferouâne - Niger - Aïr - 1999

At the fountain of Ounane Iterade, in the midst of lush vegetation - Niger - Aïr - 1999

The main town of Iferouâne is the primary oasis in the north-western part of the Aïr Mountains. It is the main administrative centre of the "Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve", the largest protected area in Africa at 77,000 km². The settlement is located in the Irhazar Valley (also: Ighazar Valley) and is characterised by mud houses, mat tents and gardens. - Traditional well in the gardens of Iferouâne - Niger - Aïr - 1992

Traditional well in the gardens of Iferouâne - The water is drawn from the depths in a goatskin bag (doulon) - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The main town of Iferouâne is the primary oasis in the north-western part of the Aïr Mountains. It is the main administrative centre of the "Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve", the largest protected area in Africa at 77,000 km². The settlement is located in the Irhazar Valley (also: Ighazar Valley) and is characterised by mud houses, mat tents and gardens. - Traditional well in the gardens of Iferouâne - Niger - Aïr - 1992

Traditional well in the gardens of Iferouâne - The water is drawn from the depths in a goatskin bag (doulon) - Niger - Aïr - 1992

Marco Polo’s house in Venice, with its doorway showing strong Byzantine influence (in the corner in the background). In the centre of the courtyard, the Corte Seconda del Milion, stands a well. The house was built in the 11th/12th century, and Marco Polo was born in Venice in 1254. He travelled extensively throughout Asia and lived for nearly seventeen years at the court of Kublai Khan, the Great Khan of China. After returning to his hometown, he took part in a naval battle against Genoa and was taken prisoner. During his exile in Liguria, he dictated his memoirs, the ‘Book of the Marvels of the World’. This masterful travelogue remains to this day an inexhaustible source of information on the history, customs and traditions of Asia in the Middle Ages. Marco Polo died in 1324 as a highly respected man, known to his fellow citizens as ‘Messer Marco Milione’, as he was in the habit of estimating the Great Khan’s treasures in millions of gold ducats. – 1989

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