Algeria is the only country with a tramway system in the desert.
This is Algeria's Ouargla Tramway — the first (and still only) modern tram system built in the Sahara Desert. Opened in 2018, the 9.7 km line with 16 stations was a joint Algerian-Alstom project.
Trams and tracks were specially engineered for 49°C heat, intense sun, and blowing sand: reinforced AC, solar-protective coatings, insulated mechanical parts, and daily sand-clearing vehicles. It links the old town to new suburbs despite harsh geotechnical conditions. Impressive engineering!
u/Akram-Brahimi — 2 days ago