1. Life in the Sahara and the Sahel
Adapting to a Desert Region

4. Definitions
Desertification- process by which land becomes more and more dry until it turns to desert.
Drought- an unsusually long period in which little or no rain falls
Marginal land- land that is not well suited for growing crops
Pastoral nomads- groups of herders who move with their animals from place to place in search of pasture and water

6. The Desert Environment
physical characteristics
landforms: ergs, regs, and hammadas.
two rivers, the Nile and the Niger.
Desert temperatures vary greatly between day and night.
Rain is unpredictable

7. The Desert Environment
physical characteristics
landforms: ergs, regs, and hammadas.
Only two rivers flow through the Sahara, the Nile and the Niger.
Desert temperatures vary greatly between day and night. Rain is unpredictable

8. Adaptations to Life in the Desert
1/3 are pastoral nomads.
Tuareg wear long, loose clothing
Camels for transportation.
Drilling machines create new oases.

9. Adaptations to Life in the Desert
One third of the people in the Sahara are pastoral nomads.
The Tuareg wear long, loose clothing to protect them from the sun.
Tuareg traders use camels for transportation.
Drilling machines have reached underground water to create new oases.

11. The Oasis Environment
Oases are tiny islands of fresh water in the desert. ( natural & man-made)
Date palms are the most important

12. The Oasis Environment
Oases are tiny islands of fresh water in the desert. Some oases are natural. Others are made when humans dig or drill into the ground.
Date palms are the most important and common oasis plant.

13. Adaptations to Life in the Oases
grow cash crops
nomads trade for water and food.
Farmers build windbreaks to protect their fields
People sometimes buy water or walk to distant wells

14. Adaptations to Life in the Oases
Farmers grow cash crops like dates and vegetables. Visiting nomads trade their products for water and food. Farmers build windbreaks to protect their fields from the desert.
People sometimes must buy water or walk to distant wells as an oasis town expands.

16. The Sahel Environment marginal for farming.
grasslands, acacia trees, baobab trees, and small bushes.
Drought
Desertification

17. The Sahel Environment
The land is marginal for farming. The vegetation is a mix of grasslands, acacia trees, baobab trees, and small bushes. Drought is a fact of life.
Desertification has begun in some areas.

18. Adaptations to Life in the Sahel
Farmers planted crops that grow in dry places.
shifting agriculture
Herders moved their herds
testing new ways of farming
use coal instead of wood for cooking.

19. Adaptations to Life in the Sahel
Farmers planted crops, like millet and sorghum, that grow in dry places. Farmers used shifting agriculture. Herders moved their herds from one grazing area to another throughout the year. Farmers today are testing new ways of farming. People are starting to use coal instead of wood for cooking.