What is the highest mountain in the Sahara Desert?

Emi Koussi is the highest mountain in the Sahara Desert, rising to about 3,445 metres. It is a large, dormant volcanic massif in northern Chad’s Tibesti Mountains.

The mountain’s summit contains a broad caldera and several volcanic features, reflecting the region’s complex geological history. Emi Koussi is part of the Tibesti range, which stands dramatically above surrounding desert plains in the central Sahara.

Although the Sahara is usually imagined as a landscape of dunes, mountains cover important areas, especially in the Tibesti, Ahaggar and Aïr ranges. These highlands can influence local weather and contain valleys, rock formations and occasional water sources.

Emi Koussi is sometimes confused with Mount Tahat, the highest mountain in Algeria, or Jebel Marra, a major volcanic massif in Sudan. Those peaks are significant Sahara landmarks, but neither reaches Emi Koussi’s elevation.