Regions of Africa Sahara Desert

Imagine a place on Earth that gets so hot that you could only go without water for four hours. Pretty scary, uh? You would walk hundreds of miles and see only sand.  This is the Sahara Desert, the largest desert in the world!

Location

What makes the Sahara a desert? The Sahara is one of the hottest places on Earth. Even though temperatures there may rise to 136 F (57.7 C), its dryness, not heat, that makes a place like the Sahara a desert. As the world's largest desert, the Sahara receives less than three inches (7.6 cm) of rain a year. Even in its wettest areas, rain may arrive twice in one week, then not return for years.

The word "Sahara" means "desert" in the Arabic language The word "Sahara" means "desert" in the Arabic language.  The Sahara is one of the hottest places on earth.   September, 1922, the temperature in the Sahara soared to 136 degrees F.  At night the temperature can drop below freezing.

Emi Koussi, a peak in the Tibesti Mountains is 11, 204 feet high and the highest point in the desert. Land Forms The Sahara Desert has many  different landforms.  Parts have sand dunes.  A sand dune is a mountain of sand.  Some dunes can be as high as 600 feet.  These dunes are found in huge areas of shifting sand called ergs. Regs are another type of landform found in the desert.  regs are broad plains covered with sand and gravel.  Regs make up most of the Sahara.

Hammadas also make up a large part of the Sahara Hammadas also make up a large part of the Sahara.  These are areas of flat, raised land that are also known as plateaus.  There are volcanic mountains in the Sahara in the country of Chad. Emi Koussi, a peak in the Tibesti Mountains is 11, 204 feet high and the highest point in the desert.

Sometimes you can find gazelles and antelope in sand dunes of the Sahara.  Mostly though, you will finds, birds, snakes, lizards, gerbils, and small foxes in the dunes. Many desert animals search for food at night, because it is cooler.

Camels: When one says the word 'desert', the second word that comes to our mind is 'camel'. There are two major types of camels found in the world, Bactrian and Dromedary camels. The Dromedary camel, which is said to be of Arabian Origin, is the main Saharan camel. The interesting thing about dromedary camels is that they store fat in their humps and not water. It can drink up to 100 liters of water in 10 minutes! But it is the favorite domesticated animal among the Saharan people as it has great strength, endurance and can go without water and food for a very long time. Deathstalker Scorpion: Scorpions are another breed of animals that are commonly found in desert areas and the deathstalker scorpion or the Leiurus quinquestriatus is the native scorpion of the Sahara Desert. It can grow up to 10 cm long and although toxic, its venom is not very fatal. Sand Vipers: Sand Vipers can grow up to 50 cm in length. They venture out only during the night, and usually bury themselves in the sand during the day. Their bites too are rarely fatal. Goats: Goats are found almost everywhere in the world, so why should the Sahara desert be any exception? Goats are popularly domesticated by the Saharan people along with camels. Goats are mainly domesticated for their milk but are sometimes used to carry goods by the nomads.

Addax Antelope: Addax Antelope is one of the most beautiful animals in the world. But unfortunately for this lovely antelope, its horns are madly desired by people and hence, this animal has almost been hunted into extinction. They are flat-footed antelopes that can easily traverse the sandy landscape of the Sahara. The Addax Antelope is classified as an endangered animal. Dorcas Gazelle: The Dorcas Gazelle is another exceptionally beautiful animal found in the Sahara. It is the most common species of gazelle and stands up to 65 cm tall and weighs around 25 kgs. It is also known as the Ariel Gazelle. Ostrich: Famous due to the irony of being a 'flightless' bird, the ostrich compensates its inability to fly by being one of the fastest land animals. An average ostrich can run at 40 miles per hour! Ostriches are the largest birds in the world and different breeds of ostriches are found in various parts of the Sahara desert. Monitor Lizard: The monitor lizard is another native of the Sahara Desert and is called so as it stands on its two hind legs and appears to be monitoring the surroundings.

The stem of the Saguaro Cactus stores all of its water The stem of the Saguaro Cactus stores all of its water. The stem is green. Photosynthesis occurs in the top layer of the stem instead of in leaves. This plant has another adaptation that is hidden from us. This is its large net of roots -- that extend far away from its trunk. How would these roots help a desert plant? The roots collect water after rain. Stored in the pleated expandable stem, the water keeps the saguaro alive until the next rain. Saguaro fruit is used in jam and woody skeletons are used in building materials.  The Saguaro only grows in the Sonoran Desert, which stretches through parts of Arizona, California, and Mexico. This cactus can grow as tall as fifty feet, weigh up to several tons, and live for two hundred years. The saguaro's sharp spines protect it from harm.  The accordion-like pleats in its skin expand in the rain, storing extra water for the long dry times.