The Sahara Desert, also known as the Great Sahara Desert, is the world’s hottest desert located in the continent of Africa. The first largest desert in the world is Antarctica, the second Arctic and the third is the Sahara desert of Africa. The Sahara includes Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and large parts of Tunisia. The Sahara Desert, the world’s largest desert, stretches for about 3,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea in its east, from the Nile River. To the south, the Sahara Desert is surrounded by the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea. Its area of 9.2 million square kilometers is equal to the area of China or the United States of America, which is spread over about 31% of the land area of the African continent.
The Sahara Desert is so hot that it rains only nominally and the rainwater turns into vapor as soon as it falls on the ground. The most important thing about the Sahara Desert is that even after being so hot, plants, vegetation, and 4 million people are still alive here. In the year 2006, meteorites were discovered in the Sahara desert. Despite the scorching heat of the Sahara Desert, tourists come to visit here. If you want to get more and more information about the Sahara desert, then definitely read this article of ours.
Sahara Desert History
Regarding the history of the Sahara Desert or Great Sahara Desert or Sahara Desert, researchers from the University of Texas, USA have told that about 6000 years ago, the Sahara Desert used to be a very green land. Earlier there was a lot of rain in Sahara too, but sudden climate change greatly affected this region and Sahara turned into a desert. Thousands of years ago people lived on the edge of the desert in the Sahara desert. But gradually people changed their place of residence due to the heat here. Dinosaur fossils have also been found here in the Sahara Desert, including Afroventur, Joberia and Aunosaurus. Before 1600 BC, there were changes in the earth’s axis, which made Africa desertified. Traces of agriculture have also been found here from 4000 BC. In 1922 a storm and a flood destroyed Tamanrasset in Algeria.
Interesting facts about the Sahara desert
- The name of the Sahara Desert is derived from the Arabic word Sahara which means desert.
- The area of Sahara desert is almost twice the area of India.
- In the Sahara Desert, the day temperature is above 56 °C and the freezing temperature at night goes below zero.
- The Sahara Desert covers 8 percent of the land area of the world. This desert is spread across 11 countries.
- The longest river in the world, the Nile, passes through the eastern part of the Sahara desert.
- On December 19, 2016, the Sahara experienced snowfall after 37 years. Earlier in the year 1979, this was seen.
- Many sand dunes in the Sahara Desert reach a height of more than 180 meters. The highest point of this desert is the extinct volcano Mount Koussi in Chad, which has a height of 3415 meters.
- More than 12000 camels have been used for caravan trade in the Sahara Desert.
- Arabic is the most common language spoken in Sahara.
- Wells, rivers, and waterfalls are also seen in some places in the Sahara Desert.
- Saline water lakes are also found in the Sahara Desert.
The Mystery of the Sahara Desert of Africa
All of you would be curious to know about the mystery of the Sahara desert, then let us tell you that the most unique mystery of this desert is the blue eye made here. This amazing artwork cannot be seen by the human eye but looks exactly like the human eye. This eye can be seen clearly from space. Many researchers believe that this eye was made by humans and according to many researchers, this wonderful structure is believed to made by aliens in the middle of the sand. Apart from this, there are many secrets related to the Sahara desert.
Many years ago, due to snowfall in the Sahara Desert, a river was formed there, which is known as Guelta de Archie, and the animals of the Sahara Desert survive by drinking the water of this river. This water never gets dry. But due to the excreta and urine of camels, this water has now turned black.
Sahara Desert’s highest temperature
The Sahara Desert recorded its highest temperature on September 13, 1922. On this day the temperature of the Sahara Desert had reached 136 degrees Fahrenheit.
In which country is the desert located
The Sahara Desert is located on the African continent.
What is the area of the Sahara Desert?
The area of Sahara Desert is spread over an area of about 9.2 million square kilometers.
Does anyone live in the Sahara desert?
Do you know that someone can live in the desert too, then let us tell you that people like to live in the Sahara Desert as well? The Tuareg people of the Sahara Desert are residents of African countries such as Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. Tuareg people live in the Sahara Desert by making families in the form of tribes. The Tuareg people belong to the Islamic religion and have their own distinct culture and language.
These people give women very high status. Tuareg men wear a turban called a tagelmust. Tuareg people cover their mouths with this type of cloth so that they can be protected from pollution. The people here are skilled in the art of making talismans, jewelry, and accessories.
Wildlife of the Sahara Desert
Animals are also found in the Sahara Desert, some of which include biskra, catfish, gerbil, ostrich, jerboa, cape hare, desert elephant, Barbary sheep, Dama deer, and Nubian wild ass. The Sahara also includes a large variety of bird species. Algae and brine shrimp and other crustaceans are also found in the Sahara’s lakes and pools. The animals and birds of the Sahara Desert use snails as food. Lizards, chameleons, skunks, and cobras are to be found among the rocks and dunes.
Vegetation in the Sahara Desert
On hearing the name of the Sahara desert, you will be surprised that plants and vegetation are also found here. We want to give you information about some major plants and flora of the Sahara Desert. Leparin’s Olive Tree, Saharan Cypress, Date Palm, Desert Thyme, Tamarisk, Acacia Palm, and Desert Gourd are the main ones. Despite the harsh and arid climate of the Sahara, there are many places where plant species grow.
Sahara Desert Temperature
The Sahara Desert is the hottest desert in the world with an annual average temperature of 86 °F (30 °C). Apart from this, the temperature varies, the highest temperature is 122 °F or 50 °C.
Sahara Desert Economy
The trade of mineral resources started from the Sahara desert only after the Second World War. The Sahara Desert is considered to be the center of oil, natural gas, coal, and all these minerals. It was only for these mineral industries that the entire region of Sahara started to develop.
The train ride in the Sahara Desert
You would not have even thought of deciding on the journey of the Sahara desert by train. But in Sahara, the train runs in the middle area so that tourists can enjoy the whole Sahara desert. Although this train was once banned due to the murder of some French passengers, but it has been started again. If you come to the Sahara Desert, then definitely take advantage of this luxurious train journey.
