Snow has fallen in the Sahara Desert in north-western Algeria as temperatures plummeted to below freezing, writes BBC.

The ice crystals formed stunning patterns in the desert sands. Dunes - ideal for sliding - were also partially covered by the snow and ice.

The snow in the town of Ain Sefra - known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert - was only a light dusting.

Temperatures in the town, which is surrounded by the Atlas mountains, dropped below -2 for the last three nights but this is only a few degrees colder than average at this time of year, says BBC Weather’s Nicky Berry.

The snow was not a complete surprise - there were also falls in 2021, 2018 and 2017.