The Sahara Desert is among the world’s most expansive deserts and is located in North Africa. Between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east, much of the region has been swallowed up by the Sahara Desert. One interesting thing is that Sahara is an Arabic word meaning a ‘desert’ . There are many misconceptions about the Sahara desert that so many people need to be explained. Here’s everything you need to know about the arid land.
story
History points to the formation of the Sahara occurring 7 million years ago, affecting the plants and animals in the region – and possibly the early ancestors of humans. Before the great desert was born it was fertile farmland with a reasonable population and around 6000 B.C. millet and grain were grown in most parts of the desert. Prehistoric paintings have been unearthed in some parts of the Sahara showing that green flora thrived in the area.
According to a study from Nature, what triggered the drought in Africa was the replacement of the western arm of the Tethys Sea by the Arabian Peninsula about 7 to 11 million years ago. Replacing water with land that reflects less sunlight changed precipitation patterns in the region. This created the Sahara and increased its sensitivity to changes in the earth’s tilt.
Sahara desert on the map, location
From the map above, the Sahara fills almost all of North Africa with a total area of around 8,600,000 square kilometers (about 4,800 km²) from east to west and between 800 and 1,200 km² from north to south; although the actual area will vary as the desert expands and contracts over time.
The desert is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Atlas Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, and the Sahel to the south.
climate
As most people think, the Sahara is not always scorching hot, even though it is the largest desert and the third largest desert in the world after Antarctica and the Arctic. But between December and February, temperatures drop due to a lack of humidity. Some sand dunes in the Sahara desert can even be covered with snow! But there is no skating. However, in the history of the Sahara, the world’s highest temperature of 136 degrees was recorded in 1993.
The climatic conditions vary from one place to the other; In the north there is a subtropical climate, in the south there is a tropical climate. But over the years, the desert has undergone tremendous changes.
population
Sahara has a small population of about 4 million people, despite the fact that it’s spread across eleven countries. The area covered by the Sahara accounts for 8% of the total area covered by the world. The desert is common in eleven countries including Libya, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Chad, Niger, Eritrea, Mauritania, Sudan and Mali.
Oasis of the Sahara
Surprisingly there are more than a thousand species of trees in the Sahara contrary to what comes to mind Sahara is mentioned. Very few of these plant species are found in the driest areas. In many parts of the Sahara there are several oases (springs, wells) used by local people for irrigation. Around 80,000 square kilometers are available in the entire Sahara. There are several spots that are very fertile and productive thanks to irrigation. In Egypt, places bordering the Sahara have been turned into green havens.
Although a fairly large part of the desert is, the truth is that the amount of sand there is less than 50 percent. In most areas, however, sand consists only of the thin outer layer of the ground’s surface, as it is mainly carried away by the hurricanes that are mostly seen there. In fact, the composition is 30% sand and 70% gravel / solid ground.
Animals found in the Sahara
Animals living in the Sahara include the Saharan silver ant, deathstalker scorpion, sand adder, desert crocodile, monitor lizard, black-faced firefinch, African silverfish, red-necked ostrich, etc. However, dung beetles are a common occurrence, unlike those attracted to the smell of dung, the Sahara beetles are said to have no sense of smell to have.
sports attraction
Most people cannot imagine running a marathon in a desert, but the truth is that every year a marathon called Marathon Des Sables takes place in southern Morocco. It’s a race for the bravest as well as for the masochistic. This race is held over multiple stages and runners must carry all the supplies they need for the race.
Fast Facts
. The Sahara desert is not always hot.
. Sahara is not the largest desert in the world!
. It used to be very fertile farmland.
. Sahara has a small population
. The dry land used to be very fertile farmland.
. Even now, some parts of the Sahara are very fertile.
. It has different climatic conditions
. There are many occasions when snow falls in the Sahara.
. There are many species of trees in the Sahara.
. Only 30% of the soil is sandy.
. Dung beetles are a common occurrence.
. The Sahara is home to the toughest marathon ever!