The Sahara and the Sahel stretch across most of North Africa. The Sahara is the largest desert in the world. The Sahel is along Sahara’s southern edge.

Which desert receives more rainfall?

The Sahel receives more rainfall that the Sahara Desert.

What is an oasis?

An oasis is a place in the desert where water is found. Some oasis are natural. Others are created by people. Oasis are created in many ways. They allow life to exist in one of the world’s harshest environments.

Many kinds of plants and animals are found at a desert oasis. The most important plant is the date palm. What does the date palm provide?

The date palm is the most important plant in a desert oasis because it provides food, fuel and materials to build homes.

What is marginal land?

Marginal land is land that is not well suited for growing crops.

What is a drought?

A drought is an unusually long period in which little or no rain falls.

What is desertification?

Desertification is the process by which land becomes more and more dry until it turns into desert.

There are many causes of desertification……. 1. when animals overgraze. 2. when people cut down trees, or deforestation, for cooking or fuel. 3. long period of no rain or drought.

What are pastoral nomads? Why do they move from place to place?

Pastoral nomads are groups of herders who move with their animals from place to place in search of pasture and water.

The Sahara has three main types of land forms. Name them.

The three main landforms found in the Sahara desert are ergs, regs and hammadas.

What is shifting agriculture?

Shifting agriculture is when a farmer plants crops then shifts his crop to another piece of land for the next few years to allow for the worn out field to rest.

Does shifting agriculture cause desertification?

Shifting agriculture does not cause desertification. It is a positive method to help preserve the lands and fields in the desert.

This diagram shows, desertification is a problem with many causes. Marginal lands across the world are being threatened worldwide causing deserts to continue to grow.