Timia 1

Our teams finished mapping and surveying Timia by noon, so we had the rest of the afternoon off, a much needed break and the official end of the survey (the other 6 teams had already finished and were back in Niamey). We spent the hot part of the day sleeping under a tree, then I joined Idrissa, the Red Cross logistician, for some sight seeing. A few kilometers outside Timia are some waterfalls that originate from a mountain spring, so they flow year around, even during the dry season, though they are only a trickle if there hasn't been recent rain.

The spring originates in this little cave behind a tree and flows through the valley.

The terrain all around is incredibly rocky and almost barren, except for occasional trees and a sparse dusting of grass in places.

There was a Tuareg rebellion in 2004, and our military guys told us about chasing Tuareg rebels up hills of boulders like this.

But soon you cut down into the valley and see the beautiful blue pool of clear cold water. There are several smaller pools in the rocks above, as it's sort of a multi-tiered waterfall. I and a couple others swam across a couple times, climbed up the rock wall on the other side to look at the little pools above, then dove back in. It was the most refreshing, invigorating, exhilarating swim I've had in a long time!
The rocks around it have been sculpted into waves by the eons.

Group pic in the pool, before I decided to go for a real swim.

In the middle of the village is a conical hill with a French fort, built in 1952, nestled on top. It was never actually used for military purposes, but the view from the top is amazing!

The well in the middle of the village.