Cartography of Flood Risks Due to Extreme Storm Surges on the Central Algerian Coast (Eastern Coast of Cherchell)

Risks and destruction of coastal archaeological sites in Algeria – the case of the coast of El Hamdania

“…The results show that the east coast of Cherchell is faced with the risks of erosion and marine submersion (Figure 7), indicating a high and very high vulnerability level along the sandy stretches of coastline, and a low to moderate vulnerability level along cliffs and rocky coasts. (Amrani et al 2021, 80). The results also demonstrate a very high socio-economic vulnerability level in areas with economic activity, and a very low level in those areas free from the anthropic factor.…”

“…To provide a broader view of the geomorphology, we extended our study area further west to Cape Tizirine, thus also including Cape Rocher Blanc and Oued El Bellaa (36°62′59.45″N, 2°26′40.05″E) (Figure 2). The area is defined by two morphological landscapes, a coastal plain and valleys formed of alluvial terraces, which are an extension of the plains of Mitidja (Amrani et al 2021, 57; Leveau 1984, 217). To the north, the landscape is dominated by the western Algiers’ Sahel.…”

“…At Trois Ilots the rocky beach is 1500 m in length and at Oued El Bellaa it is 400 m in length. At Cape Rocher Blanc a rock-cut cliff rises to 40 m in height, while the cliff at Cape Riadh only rises to 10 m (Amrani et al 2021, 551). The coast meets the sea at two low valleys (Abaidia and Remini, 2020 136): the Fedjana valley leads to the 2-km-long medium sandy beach of El Hamdania; further west, the Boukadir valley shelters the Oued El Bellaa, which originates 20 km upstream at the confluence of several small rivers.…”

“…The coast meets the sea at two low valleys (Abaidia and Remini, 2020 136): the Fedjana valley leads to the 2-km-long medium sandy beach of El Hamdania; further west, the Boukadir valley shelters the Oued El Bellaa, which originates 20 km upstream at the confluence of several small rivers. The mouth of Oued El Bellaa is located at a beach of the same name, stretching 450 m in length (Amrani et al 2021, 552).

Figure 3.View of Hamdania beach from Cape Amesfout (image: R. Khellaf).

Figure 4.View of the western rocky coast of the area from Cape Amesfout (image: R. Khellaf).

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“…A recent study was conducted to assess the coastal vulnerability of the central western Algerian coast to erosion and marine flooding, focusing on the Cherchell shoreline (Amrani et al 2021). It was based on the evaluation of the physical vulnerability index according to the Gornitz approach (Gornitz et al 1994) enriched by Hammar-Klose and Thieler in 2001 (Pendelton et al 2004), as well as on the evaluation of the socio-economic vulnerability index, adopting the approach of McLaughlin and Cooper (2010).…”