Maximum temperature in the Sahara Desert. Sahara Desert: map, photo, description
The air temperature in summer rises to 58°, and in winter it remains within 15-28° C.
Strong winds, during frequent sandstorms, can carry sand dust from the Sahara even to Europe.
An interesting fact is that there are maps on which areas where mirages are observed are marked. And more than 150 thousand of them are observed in the Sahara!
The mysterious and almost mystical eye of the Sahara.
Map of the ancient Sahara.
Vegetation
The vegetation cover of the Sahara includes 1,200 plant species. Most of them are xerophytes or ephemerals. Rocky areas seem lifeless, but even on such soil, seemingly unreal for life, you can find plants that amaze with their ability to adapt to the harsh conditions of the desert.
Rose of Jericho is a plant whose short branches seem to be pinching its seeds with fingers. When it rains, these “fingers” unclench and the seeds fall into moist soil, where they germinate very quickly.
Seeds of other plants also use every drop of moisture, but if there are no favorable conditions, they can sit in dry soil even for several years.
Lichens, small plants with spines and small leaves, spread on the sands and rocks. Gray, grey-green and yellow tones of the vegetation give a lifeless, sad look to the entire desert.
Shrubs and some tough grasses appear near the southern border of the Sahara, and wild pistachios, jujubes and oleanders can be found in the north.
Animal world
The fauna of the Sahara is poor in species, but quite rich in individuals. It includes animals that can move quickly in search of food and water, and can also endure all the harsh conditions of the desert.
The most typical for the Sahara are the oryx and addax antelopes, the dama gazelle, the Dorcas gazelle, and mountain goats. Due to their valuable skins and tasty meat, some species are at risk of extinction.
The most famous predators are jackals, foxes, hyenas, and cheetahs.
There are also birds - migratory and permanent. Among the permanent residents, the desert raven is especially popular.
Of the reptiles, lizards predominate, and there are also many snakes and turtles. And in some reservoirs, real crocodiles have been preserved.
Of course, living in the conditions of the Sahara is very difficult, but for many it is their native land, so they get to feel not only the severity, but also the caress of the desert.
Watch the video: Fearless Planet - Sahara Desert (Discovery: Fearless Planet. Episode 1 Sahara Desert).
Sahara. Tuareg salt caravan. Jim Brasher lives the life of a Tuareg in a salt caravan in the middle of the Sahara Desert.
In the wilds of Africa-2. Episode 3. Sahara. Life on the edge / Sahara. Life On The Edge
.
Borders
Of course, a desert of this size could not occupy the territory of one or two African countries. It covers Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia and Chad.
From the west, the Sahara is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, from the north it is bounded by the Atlas Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, and from the east by the Red Sea. The southern border of the desert is defined by a zone of sedentary ancient sand dunes at 16° N, to the south of which is the Sahel, a transition region to the Sudanese savannah.
![](https://i1.wp.com/wikiway.com/upload/resize_cache/iblock/daa/320_215_2/3_akhaggar.jpg)
Regions
![](https://i1.wp.com/wikiway.com/upload/resize_cache/iblock/e22/420_2150_1/4_sahara_map.jpg)
It is difficult to attribute the Sahara to any specific type of desert, although the sandy-rocky type predominates here. It includes the following regions: Tenere, Greater Eastern Erg, Greater Western Erg, Tanezruft, Hamada el-Hamra, Erg Igidi, Erg Shesh, Arabian, Algerian, Libyan, Nubian deserts, Talaq desert.
Climate
The climate of the Sahara is unique and is determined by its location in the zone of high-altitude anticyclones, downdrafts of air and dry trade winds of the northern hemisphere. It rarely rains in the desert, and the air is dry and hot. The Sahara sky is cloudless, but it will not surprise travelers with its blue transparency, since there is always the finest dust in the air. Intense solar exposure and evaporation during the day gives way to strong radiation at night. First, the sand heats up to 70° C, radiates heat from the rocks, and in the evening the surface of the Sahara cools much faster than the air. The average July temperature is 35°.
![](https://i1.wp.com/wikiway.com/upload/resize_cache/iblock/343/500_330_2/5_sahara_ocean.jpg)
![](https://i1.wp.com/wikiway.com/upload/resize_cache/iblock/0c1/500_330_2/6_zakat_v_pustine.jpg)
High temperatures, with their sharp fluctuations, and very dry air make being in the desert very difficult. Only from December to February does the “Saharan winter” begin - a period with relatively cool weather. During winter, temperatures in Northern Sahara can drop below 0° at night, although during the day they rise to 25°. Sometimes it even snows here.
Desert nature
Bedouin walks along the dunesDespite the fact that the desert is usually represented as a continuous layer of hot sand that forms dunes, the Sahara has a slightly different topography. In the center of the desert there are mountain ranges more than 3 km high, but on the outskirts there are pebble, rocky, clayey and sandy deserts, in which there is practically no vegetation of any kind. It is there that nomads live, driving herds of camels across sparse pastures.
OasisThe vegetation of the Sahara consists of bushes, grasses and trees in the highlands and oases located along river beds. Some plants have fully adapted to the harsh climate and grow within 3 days after rain, and then sow seeds for 2 weeks. At the same time, only a small part of the desert is fertile - these areas take moisture from underground rivers.
The well-known dromedary camels, some of which were domesticated by nomads, still live in small herds, feeding on cactus spines and parts of other desert plants. But these are not the only ungulates that live in the desert. Pronghorn Addax, Maned Ram, Dorcas gazelle and Oryx antelope, whose curved horns are almost as long as their body, have also perfectly adapted to survive in such difficult conditions. The light color of their coat allows them not only to escape the heat during the day, but also not to freeze at night.
Several species of rodents, including the gerbil, the Abesse hare, which comes to the surface only at dusk and hides in burrows during the day, and the jerboa, which has surprisingly long legs that allow it to move with huge leaps like a kangaroo.
The Sahara Desert is also home to predators, the largest of which is the fennec fox, a small fox with wide ears. Also inhabited there are sand cats, horned vipers and rattlers, leaving winding tracks on the surface of the sand, and many other species of animals.
Video: From Casablanca to the Sahara
Sahara in cinema
![](https://i0.wp.com/wikiway.com/upload/resize_cache/iblock/295/420_2150_1/10_planeta_tatuin.jpg)
The mesmerizing landscapes of the Sahara never cease to attract filmmakers. Many films were shot on the territory of Tunisia, and the creators of two famous films left a memory of themselves among the sands. The planet Tatooine was not actually lost in the distances of space, but was located in the Sahara. There is an entire “extraterrestrial” village from the latest Star Wars series located here. At the end of filming, the “aliens” left their homes, and now the quaint dwellings and the gas station for interplanetary aircraft are at the disposal of rare tourists. Next to Tatooine, the white Arabian house from The English Patient is still visible. You can only get here by jeep and with an experienced guide, because you have to drive off-road, in the complete absence of signs and landmarks. Fans of “The English Patient” need to hurry a little more and the merciless dune will finally bury this unusual attraction under the sand.
The most famous and largest desert on Earth, covering approximately 5000 km in northern Africa. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea to the Atlantic. Its landscape gives way to high dunes, flat sandy areas and dunes, as well as rare but lush oases. This endless desert is included in the version of our website.
Despite the fact that the Sahara passes through 11 African states, it can only be visited freely in, Morocco and. Translated from Arabic, the name of the desert means a monotonous brown desert plain. The climate in this area is perhaps the hottest on Earth. In some places, summer temperatures here exceed 57 degrees Celsius, and if rare rains occur, the drops may not reach the ground, drying in the air. It is best to visit the Sahara, or more precisely its northern part, from October to May, before the air temperature becomes unbearable.
A fairly large Sahara region is concentrated in the western regions of Egypt. Alas, it is not as picturesque as those areas that remain in inaccessible countries, but it also deserves the attention of tourists. South of Siwa there is a chain of oases interspersed with rocky deserts. You can also travel to the heart of the desert by camel or jeep from Al Kharga, Dakhla or Bahariya. Moving south, you can reach the places where the famous movie “The English Patient” was filmed.
The most beautiful landscapes of the Sahara are, of course, in its interior regions, for example, in Algeria, Libya or Mauritania. The longest and most deserted sand dunes are located in Algeria. Many would like to look at these fantastic landscapes, and there are many excursions in this direction, but there are not many risky ones.
Photo attraction: Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert in Tunisia
Sahara Desert in Morocco
The Sahara Desert is located in southeastern Africa and is the largest hot desert, the third largest after the Arctic and Antarctic deserts.
What is she really like?
The word “Sahara” evokes associations in any person with the scorching heat of the African continent. Under the influence of stereotypes, the average person often judges this African desert one-sidedly. But she is completely different. Endless sands stretching beyond the horizon with dunes and dunes towering on them, flat areas of salt marshes, rocky plateaus and oases immersed in greenery, sweltering daytime heat and piercing cold at night, almost complete absence of moisture and violent floods during heavy rains. . In the eastern part, the Nile River flows through the Sahara Desert, which served as the only source of life for the civilizations that lived along its banks in ancient times.
Why is the desert called Sahara?
Interesting fact: this unique area owes its name to the nomadic Tuareg tribes who have lived here since time immemorial. Translated from the local dialect, “Sahara” means “desert area.” The Sahara Desert, located in northern Africa, was first mentioned in documents dating back to the 1st century AD.
Area of the Sahara Desert.
According to various sources, the area of the Sahara Desert ranges from 8.6 to 9.1 million km 2. Due to its vast territory and differences in climatic and relief conditions, the following deserts are distinguished in its composition:
- Nubian;
- Arabian;
- Talaq;
- Libyan;
- Algerian.
Each of them has its own unique ecosystem, microclimate and unique topography.
Climate of the Sahara Desert.
In the northern part of the desert the climate is subtropical, in the southern part it is tropical. The average monthly winter temperature in the northern and southern parts of the Sahara reaches +13 degrees Celsius, in July it is +37.2 degrees Celsius. Moreover, temperature fluctuations in the northern part are significantly higher than in the southern part. The average daily temperature in the Sahara Desert can reach +50 degrees in summer (the maximum is recorded at +57.8 degrees), while the surface of the earth warms up to 70-80 degrees Celsius. In mountainous areas, temperatures can drop to -18 degrees, so in winter the soil freezes at night, and occasionally even snow falls.
In the northern part it rains from December to March; in the remaining months there is little rainfall. In the southern part, rains are observed mainly in the summer, often accompanied by thunderstorms. Also in the desert there are often dust storms, in which wind speeds reach 50 meters per second. In the western part of the Sahara Desert, humidity is high and fog is common.
In which countries is the Sahara Desert located?
Millions of tourists flock every year to touch the secrets that the Sahara hides and admire its grandeur. It stretches across several states. The list of countries most visited by tourists where the Sahara Desert is located includes Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria. Each of them has its own unique attractions.
Sahara Desert in Tunisia.
Tourists who come to Tunisia and want to see the Great Desert should visit the city of Douz, which stands on the border of a blooming oasis and endless sands and is a kind of gateway to the Sahara Desert. As a reminder of this, on the outskirts of the city, near the Great Dune, there is a monument in the form of a symbolic key.
Tourists are offered a variety of excursion options. These could be one-hour camel rides to the dune closest to the city or expeditions deep into the desert lasting two weeks. Those wishing to see the Sahara from above are invited to take a flight on a motorized hang glider. It is possible to breathe the spirit of the ancient desert in the remote oasis of Ksar Gilan with its thermal waters and date palms surrounded by dunes.
Here you can also see the ruins of an ancient Roman settlement and defensive structure. And, taking a walk around the drying salt lake Chott el-Jerid, you can see the famous bizarre mirages of the Sahara Desert.
As part of the excursion, you are invited to visit the filming locations of the Star Wars film. An addition to the program is the opportunity to eat dates and buy a “desert rose” as a souvenir - a creation of sand, sun and wind, similar to a rosebud.
Sahara Desert in Egypt.
Not all tourists who come to Egypt are interested in beaches, sea and tanning. Many of them purchase vouchers to get acquainted with the pyramid complex in the Giza Valley, take pictures against the grandiose and mysterious background, and feel the magic of the desert. Travelers can visit numerous oases in the Sahara Desert.
In the city of Siwa, in addition to lush thickets of date palms growing near the springs, you can see the remains of ancient fortresses built from unbaked clay and brick, as well as a temple dating back to the reign of Alexander the Great. According to local legends, the grave of this commander is located somewhere here.
Most of the Southern oases are ideal points for embarking on horseback, car or walking excursions through the expanses of the Black or White deserts, which are part of the vast Sahara. You can get close to the Crystal Mountains, which enchant travelers with their picturesque beauty.
A visit to Bahariya, an oasis located in the western part of the Sahara Desert and consisting of several Bedouin villages, provides an opportunity to get acquainted with their life and customs. Some of the landscapes surrounding this oasis resemble the lunar surface, and thermal waters gush out from hundreds of springs located near the main settlement.
Knowledgeable tourists come to the Dakhlya oasis, located in the Nile Valley, to improve their health. There are many hot springs here, the waters of which help get rid of radiculitis and some stomach diseases. And in the city of Muta there is the famous Ethnographic Museum, where you can learn in detail about the culture and customs of the people living here.
Travelers to Morocco will certainly be attracted by the Draa Valley, which contains many oases. The main attraction here is the incredible scenery of red dunes and the ruins of ancient fortresses.
This was once the final stop for caravans crossing the desert to the Mediterranean Sea. People come here to admire the eternal dunes - the virgin ergs of Shigaga. The path to this magnificent spectacle can be made either by off-road vehicle or on camels, but only as part of a group. You won't be able to get to this place on your own.
Sahara Desert in Mauritania.
Traveling through the Mauritanian Sahara is quite dangerous due to the political situation in the country. But lovers of extreme sensations are attracted here by the Adrar plateau. It became famous after the beginning of the space age of mankind. From the depths of space, a grandiose structure called Gu-Er-Rishat is clearly visible on it. The diameter of this formation exceeds 50 km, and its age is more than 0.5 billion years. The origin of this phenomenon is still not precisely known. Previously it was assumed that this was a trace of a meteorite impact, but today most scientists are inclined to the version of erosional origin. Although this place is remote from civilization, travel companies organize excursions here.
Sahara Desert in Algeria.
The largest area of the Sahara Desert went to a country like Algeria. Its endless sandy expanses occupy about 80% of the state's territory.
Unfortunately, the tourism infrastructure in Algeria is poorly developed, but travelers will be happy to visit numerous attractions, including the Tassile Mountains of the Sahara Desert with unique rock art protected by UNESCO, and the Mzab Valley with its unique architecture of all five cities located in it.
Despite popular belief, the Sahara Desert on the map is not the largest in the world. In fact, in area it is inferior to the Antarctic desert, but among hot deserts and located on inhabited continents, the Sahara is the undisputed leader.
Sahara Desert on the map of the world and Africa
The Sahara is the greatest desert in the world, not in size, but in influence on the history and modern life of man. Humanity lived in the Sahara many millennia ago, as evidenced by more than 3 thousand rock paintings in various parts of the desert.
And now the Sahara has a huge impact on the political, economic and cultural life of North Africa.
Because of their huge The size of the Sahara is distinguished by a fairly diverse climate, soil type, living conditions and local inhabitants - from Arabs in the north to black peoples in the south of the desert.
What continent is it on?
Sahara is located in the northern part African continent and extends from the coast in the north to the tropical savannas of the Sahel in the south at 16° N. sh., from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the east of the continent.
Which country does it belong to?
The following African states are located entirely or partially on the territory of the Sahara:
- Libya;
- Tunisia;
- Algeria;
- West Sahara;
- Mauritania;
- Mali;
- Niger;
- Chad;
- Sudan.
History and names
Scientists believe that even in 5-4 millennium BC e. On the territory of the Sahara, trees grew, the earth's surface was covered with grasses and shrubs, and water resources were represented by numerous lakes.
Presumably, complex desertification began at the same time due to a decrease in moisture and the predominance of moisture evaporation over precipitation.
Reason This could be due to both natural factors (climate change) and an anthropogenic factor - the transition of local tribes to a pastoral type of animal husbandry, which led to desertification. On the other hand, such a transition could be caused by the transformation of once flourishing savannas into desert.
Be that as it may, in about a thousand years The Sahara turned into a desert, and the desertification process was completed by the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. e.
The name Sahara presumably comes from the Arabic word "ṣaḥārā", which means "desert". Another possible origin of the name is from the Arabic “sahra”, which means “red-brown”. The name of the desert has been fixed since the 1st century AD. e. after Arabic-speaking tribes reached the Sahara.
If your acquaintance with the Sahara is accompanied by a vacation in Tunisia, then find out what the weather conditions in the country are by month.
Climatic conditions
Climate of the Sahara - deserted(arid), a characteristic feature of which is the predominance of evaporation processes over moistening processes.
The southern part of the desert has dry tropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. The amount of precipitation per year is usually about 130 mm. In winter, at night the air temperature can drop below zero, and in summer it often reaches +50°C.
The northern part of the desert has dry subtropical climate with hot summers and relatively cold winters. The average air temperature in summer reaches +37°C, and in winter in mountainous areas it can drop to -18°C. This part of the desert is characterized by high daily fluctuations in air temperature due to night cooling. The average annual precipitation does not exceed 75 mm.
Sand Sea - what is it like?
Sahara - active desert, which annually increases its area, moving southward by 10 km.
Characteristics of endless sands
About a quarter of Sugar consists of sand dunes, a quarter - from mountains of volcanic origin, and half from barren rocky plains and cliffs. The area of the territory with stable vegetation does not exceed several percent.
One of the reasons for the dryness of the Sahara is the presence of the Atlas Mountains in the north of the desert, which block the access of humid Mediterranean air to the Sahara.
The central part of the Sahara, where there is the least amount of annual precipitation (no more than 20 mm per year), is one of the most lifeless places on Earth. The average amount of biomass in this part of the desert drops to 2 kg/ha or less.
Square The desert covers almost 9 million km², which is equal to almost 30% of the territory of Africa. The desert stretches for 4.8 thousand km from west to east and 1.2 thousand km from north to south.
Water sources in the Sahara are:
- artesian groundwater, above the surface of which there are oases;
- rainwater, which fills gelts (ponds or natural puddles) and wadis (dry beds of ancient rivers filled with rainwater);
- large rivers on the outskirts of the desert (Nile, Niger).
Flora and fauna
A significant part of the desert has no vegetation at all and is classic sand. Plants that are mostly resistant to arid climates grow in oases and high-altitude areas (grass, small shrubs and trees). Various varieties are grown in oases cultivated plants: dates, olives, figs, vegetables.
Fauna Saharans are mainly represented by various species of rodents and reptiles, as well as birds, more than half of which are migratory. Large mammals include antelopes, rams, and the Nubian donkey. Predators: spotted hyena and cheetah. Most of the Saharan animals are active at night, when the heat is not so great.
For those wishing to visit deeper places in the Sahara, it is recommended to get to erga Shigaga- a conglomerate of sand dunes in the heart of the Moroccan Sahara. There is a tent camp here, where tourists can expect all the benefits of civilization available in the desert.
Picturesque Shigaga, whose dimensions are 30 by 15 km, exceeds any expectations: countless untouched dunes, practically devoid of vegetation, stretch to the end of the horizon.
Another popular route in the Moroccan part of the Sahara is a trip to Ergu Chebbi through the village of Merzouga. Erg Chebbi is as colorful as Shigagu, but getting to it is a little more difficult.
Mauritania
Mauritania is located almost entirely within the Sahara, but travel here is rarity due to the poverty of the local population, lack of infrastructure and a fairly high crime rate in the country.
For those who decide to take a tour to this exotic country, it will be interesting to visit Adrar plateau, in which the UNESCO World Heritage sites are located - the villages of Ouadan and Chinguetti. On the plateau itself, despite its lifelessness, there are more than 20 large oases, including the rather large city of Atar.
Algeria
Algeria is a country with greatest The territory of the Sahara in its composition, more than 80% of the country's area is occupied by desert.
The most stunning desert landscapes are located in the south-eastern part of Algeria at the foot of the Tassile Mountains.
Tassil Plateau- one of the objects of the UNESCO list; the oldest petroglyphs, whose age ranges from 2 to 9 thousand years, were found in local caves.
Others man-made attractions Algerian part of the Sahara are:
- Ouargla city;
- Mzab Valley with fortified cities.
These settlements are of great value from a historical and architectural point of view and were founded and developed in the 10th century Ibadis- a branch of Muslims distinct from Sunnis and Shiites.
Of the natural attractions of the Algerian part of the Sahara, it stands out Ahaggar Highlands in the south of Algeria, consisting of volcanic remains of bizarre shapes. The Ahaggar National Park is open on the territory, and the guides of tourists are local Tuareg residents, who will be interesting for any tourist to get acquainted with their unique culture.
- All about raising rabbits for meat: tips and tricks Raising rabbits for meat is the best breed
- Why does a mother rabbit eat her babies?
- Why does a mother rabbit scatter her babies immediately after giving birth?
- Soviet merino: characteristics of the productivity of fine-wool sheep and features of caring for them Merino animal