A short message about the Sahara Desert. Great Sahara Desert
Deserts have always attracted the attention of researchers and travelers. These unique natural areas excite our imagination and frighten us with their mystery. The most famous desert in the world is the Sahara. In this article we will tell you how the Sahara Desert differs from other arid places on our planet and why it is interesting to modern science.
Geography of the Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is located in the northern part of the African continent and occupies almost 30% of the total area of Africa, which is comparable to the territory of Brazil. The area of the Sahara is about 8.5 million square kilometers, which is why this desert is called the “Great Sahara”. The Sahara is second only to the Arctic desert in size, but is the largest hot desert in the world. In the depths of the desert there is a huge amount of oil and natural gas. Especially in the territory belonging to Algeria and Libya. In addition, Algeria and Mauritania have large reserves of iron ore, and Morocco has large quantities of phosphates.
The exact age of the desert is unknown. There are different versions on this matter. Initially it was believed that it was about 6 thousand years old. Now scientists agree that the Sahara was formed approximately 3.5 thousand years ago.
The Sahara Desert is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Mediterranean Sea in the north, and the Red Sea in the east. The Niger River flows in the south of the desert.
The Sahara is located on the territory of 11 countries: Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Chad, Morocco, Eritrea, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Sudan. Sometimes the disputed territory of Western Sahara is added to this list.
Sahara desert map
Relief of the Sahara Desert
Most of the Sahara is sandy, poor in organic matter, expanses of flat pebble, clay and rocky plains. But here you can also find mountain ranges, plateaus, shallow basins, large oasis depressions and grasslands, which makes the relief of the Sahara quite atypical and varied. The most hilly part of the desert is its central region. It is here that the highest point of the Sahara is located - the Emi-Kousi volcano, 3,500 m high, and Mount Takhat, 3,003 m.
25% of the desert surface (almost 2.5 million km2) is occupied by wadis - sun-dried river beds and sand dunes. Dunes are found mainly in the north central region, in Algeria and Libya, where they are moved by strong winds. The wind moves the sand up the back slope of the dunes until it reaches the crest, whereupon it falls under the influence of gravity, cascading down the sliding surface. The wind builds dunes in the form of waves along its path. The Sahara dunes come in different shapes: round, star-shaped, crescent-shaped, transverse and pyramidal (up to 300 m high).
Sand dunes of the Sahara.
Sahara desert climate
The climate of the Sahara is one of the harshest in the world. There is little precipitation, strong winds blow, and wide fluctuations in air temperature occur daily. The Sahara Desert is located in subtropical latitudes, with prevailing areas of high atmospheric pressure that prevent the flow of moist air from the ocean.
There are two main climatic zones in the Sahara: in the north there are subtropics, and in the south there are dry tropics. The northern part of the desert is the driest, and the western part is the wettest. During the rainy season, only 2 cm of precipitation falls in the north. The rest of the desert can receive up to 9.9 cm of precipitation in a whole year.
The prevailing wind blows from the northeast towards the equator, which explains the aridity of the desert. The Sahara experiences very strong winds, up to 100 km per hour. They are called Siroko. Such winds can cause sandstorms, which can be seen even from space.
In the summer in the Sahara, you can safely set temperature records, as the air heats up to +60 degrees Celsius, and the sand up to +80 degrees Celsius. On September 13, 1922, in the Libyan city of Al-Azizia, the maximum air temperature in the Sahara was recorded - 57.7 degrees Celsius. The average annual temperature in the Sahara is 30 degrees Celsius. Since the air contains little moisture to retain heat, there are large differences between day and night temperatures - up to 40 degrees Celsius.
In winter, the northern part of the desert can experience freezing temperatures. in recent years it has ceased to be a rare occurrence.
Water in the Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert has only two permanent rivers and a few lakes, but it has significant underground reservoirs and aquifers.
The permanent rivers are the Nile and Niger. The Nile rises in central Africa, south of the Sahara, and flows north through Sudan and Egypt before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Niger flows in western Africa, southwest of the Sahara, and continues northeast to Mali, deep into the desert, through Nigeria, emptying into the Gulf of Guinea.
There are about 20 lakes in the Sahara and only one of them contains drinking water. This is a shallow Lake Chad, which constantly expands and contracts. Lake Chad is located on the territory of the state of the same name, on the southernmost edge of the Sahara. In other lakes the water is very salty and not suitable for human consumption.
An oasis in the middle of the Sahara Desert
Saharan reservoirs often lie just below dry river beds and river valleys called "wadis". Aquifers sometimes release some of their reserves to the surface. This is how oases arise. They can usually be found at the lower points of relief depressions. For many desert residents, oases are the only source of life in the middle of a hot sandy ocean.
Population of the Sahara
The Sahara is home to just over two million people. These are people who live in permanent communities near water sources, as well as nomadic tribes. Due to climate change, the number of people and many species of Saharan flora and fauna has declined sharply over the past decade.
Animals and plants of the Sahara Desert
Quite poor and monotonous. Due to the specific climate, only 500 plant species are counted in this vast region. In particular, these are trees, grasses, thorny bushes, and palm trees adapted to very hot conditions and salt water.
Plants often grow around oases, lakes and on hills. In oases, people practice growing fruits and some vegetables. Along the Atlantic coast there is enough moisture for the growth of lichens, succulents, and shrubs. Tibesti and Jebel Uweinat meet in the highlands. Because temperatures are cooler, plants such as tamarix, myrtle, oleander, acacia and palms can be found in this region.
The Sahara Desert is inhabited by about 4 thousand representatives of the animal world. These are mainly invertebrates, about 15% of them are endemic. Animals of the Sahara are characterized by a nocturnal lifestyle and semi-aquatic habitat. The ponds are inhabited by crocodiles, frogs and crayfish. It is impossible not to mention lizards, scorpions, monitor lizards, chameleons and various reptiles that live on rocky slopes and sand dunes.
Almost 60 species of mammals are found in the Sahara. The most famous among them are the cheetah, the wild dog, some species of foxes (fennec fox, pale fox) and antelope, the spotted hyena and the Ethiopian hedgehog. Some animals are considered long extinct, such as the North African elephant and addax antelope, Saharan oryx, African wild dog and African lion. More than 300 bird species have been spotted in the desert. For example, silver-billed finch and masked amaranth.
The indigenous people of North Africa, the Berbers, raise camels, goats, sheep and donkeys.
The Sahara Desert is an attractive region for hunters. Due to intensive safaris, many animals are classified as vulnerable. For example, the Nubian ibex, which, like other representatives of the fauna, occupies an important place in the ecosystem.
Environmental problems of the Sahara Desert
Unfortunately, anthropogenic factors did not play a positive role here either. Due to the cutting down of trees, already scarce water bodies are catastrophically drying up. Animal grazing has led to the erosion of previously fertile soils. All this adds up to the fact that every year the desert becomes wider by 5-10 square kilometers. Due to the increase in desert area, the Earth's atmosphere is warming up faster, which negatively affects the inhabitants of the African continent and those who live beyond its borders.
Although very little research has been done in the desert region, it is clear that many animals and plants are dying out, although the reasons for this are not fully known.
Positive changes have been observed since 2014, as this year was officially dedicated to the problems of deserts and desertification. Thanks to this, the whole world is thinking about serious environmental problems. Some states have made a wide range of commitments to preserve the Sahara. For example, a reserve was created in Niger, in which measures are being taken to protect and increase the populations of gazelles and antelopes living in the Sahara.
Interesting facts about the Sahara Desert
- Sahrawis are primarily of Berber and/or Arab origin.
- Due to its impressive size, the desert is also called the “Great Sahara”. The word “Sahara” itself means “greatest desert” in Arabic.
- Goats and camels are the most common domestic animals in the Sahara.
- In the desert, on natural rocks, archaeologists have found many rock paintings.
- Modern methods of mapping and measurement show that the desert changes its size from year to year, depending on the amount of precipitation in the region.
- Berbers, as well as Arab nomads, led their camel caravans across the Sahara, trading goods such as cloth, salt, gold and fish.
- Scientists predict that the desert will turn green again in about 15,000 years.
- The Sahara Desert is 70% gravel and 30% sand.
- The Marathon des Sables is held in the Sahara. Daredevils from all over the world can take part in the six-day race. This pleasure is not cheap and requires good physical preparation.
Sahara Desert for tourists
Although the Sahara Desert is strongly associated with an environment unsuitable for life, it is still of considerable tourist interest. You can get there from Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. In other countries there are certain political problems that will make it difficult to stay there.
When going on an unconventional trip, it is extremely important to remember safety measures. Berber guides will play an invaluable role in exploring these vast expanses of sand. Without them, the Sahara Desert can be an extremely dangerous place to live.
When we say “desert” we mean “Sahara”, and in Arabic there is no other word for desert other than “sugar” itself. And this is no coincidence: the Sahara is the largest sandy area on the globe, stretching in North Africa from the Red Sea to the Atlantic for almost five thousand kilometers. Dunes reaching a height of 300 meters, many kilometers of perfectly flat areas of saline soil, lush oases and endless dunes stretching beyond the horizon - all this makes up some of the most amazing landscapes on the planet. However, despite an area of more than 8 million km, the Sahara is not so easy to visit, which is due to the extremely turbulent political situation in the region. However, you can still get a glimpse of the majesty of the desert - the main thing is to know where and when to go.
The Sahara lies within the borders of eleven states, but you can visit without problems, perhaps, only three of them - Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco.
A bit of geography and politics
The Sahara covers almost the entire area of North Africa from the Mediterranean Sea to 16° north latitude, with the exception of a rather narrow continental coastline characterized by lush vegetation. Its area is 8.6 million km2, which is about a third of the total area of the African continent. From west to east the desert stretches for 4800 km, and from north to south its length ranges from 800 to 1200 km.
Contrary to popular belief, the Sahara is not only sand dunes and rare oases. The landscape here is no less diverse than in other natural areas: there are rocky plateaus, salt marshes, volcanic formations, highlands and ridges. The sandy areas of the Sahara are called ergs; they make up only 25% of the total desert area. And the rocky areas are called "reg".
The Sahara lies within the borders of eleven states - Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Sudan and Chad. You can visit without problems, perhaps, only three of them - Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. However, the most breathtaking landscapes lie, alas, in Algeria, Libya, Chad and Niger, which are difficult for tourists to reach.
Climate in the region
The northern part of the Sahara (which is most often visited by tourists) is influenced by a dry subtropical climate with relatively cool winters and hot summers. The average daytime temperature in the summer is about +37...+39 °C, at night the thermometer drops to +28...+30 °C. Winter is characterized by strong temperature changes between daytime and nighttime: during the day the air warms up to +15...+17 °C, while at night there may be zero readings or even frosts. There are often strong southern winds, bringing masses of sand - on such days life in the Sahara comes to a standstill.
In the southern regions of the Sahara, the climate is tropical - summers are even hotter, winters are colder.
It is best to visit the “civilized” Sahara (that is, its northern part) from October to early May, before daytime temperatures become unbearable. If you're visiting the Sahara for a few days, it's worth remembering that in December and January the nights are quite chilly and you'll need a warm sleeping bag. In June and September, you can visit the Sahara only if you can tolerate high temperatures.
Sahara civilized
So, where should a traveler go who decides to see with his own eyes the indescribable beauty of the Sahara Desert? The choice, frankly speaking, is small: Africa is not at all one of the prosperous regions of the globe, and North and Central in particular.
Tunisia
The Tunisian south juts out like a long narrow dagger into the Sahara - to the greatest “depth” compared to other “desert-possessing” countries accessible to the public. Tunisia's landscapes are not the most outstanding, but not dull either. The “trick” of the Tunisian Sahara is a wide variety of landscapes: you can see crescent-shaped dunes, endless salt marshes, and filming locations - “Star Wars” was filmed on the salt lake Chott el-Jerid and in Matmata, and the “Camel Neck” mountain appeared in “ The English Patient."
The gateway to the Sahara Desert in Tunisia is the city of Douz, located on the border of sand and an oasis of date palms. Its tourist area (and there are about seven very high-quality hotels here) is located directly in the vastness of the Sahara - step off the sidewalk and you will feel the finest sand, like powder, under your feet. Excursions to the Sahara regularly depart from Douz, lasting from 1 hour (a camel ride to the nearest dunes) to week-long or even two-week expeditions. Well, those who want to live “on a visit to the Sahara” can be offered to stay in a hotel in the remote oasis of Ksar Gilan - 147 km south of Douz, a thermal spring and the ruins of the Roman fort of Tisavar as a historical excursion.
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Morocco
The southeastern region of Morocco, lying at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains, is the most convenient region of the Sahara for tourists to visit. In addition to the amazing landscapes - red dunes and exotic fortresses, many of which “participated” in the filming of many films (Ait Benhaddou is the most famous), there is also a natural and historical attraction - the Draa Valley. This is a whole wonderful world of lush oases, fortified kasbah forts and Berber settlements. Once upon a time, it was here that the difficult 52-day journey of trans-Saharan caravans, carrying precious goods from the capital of the ancient empire of Mali, Timbuktu, to the Mediterranean Sea ended.
Today, popular excursions begin in the settlement of M'Hamid, from where tourists are taken along a picturesque 40-kilometer route to the heart of the Moroccan Sahara - Erg Shigaga. The second tested route starts in the town of Merzouga, east of M'Hamid, and continues through the territory of another erg - Chebbi. It is here that a truly brilliant collection of eternal dunes appears before the eyes of the traveler.
Egypt
The western regions of Egypt are a vast, but not very interesting region of the Sahara - especially compared to the landscapes of inaccessible countries. However, in order to get an idea of the desert, this area is quite suitable. More interesting here are the oases south of Siwa - a chain of lush emerald bushes connected by roads barely visible on the rocky surface of the desert. In Siwa itself, among other things, you can see a medieval mud-house fortress and a temple dating back to the time of Alexander the Great.
The southern oases of Al Kharga, Dakhla, Farafra and Bahariya are ideal starting points for excursions into the heart of the desert - by camel, four-wheel drive jeep or two-wheel drive. Beyond the last settlements begin the endless expanses of the White and Black Deserts (all of them are parts of the Sahara) and the picturesque Crystal Mountains, and even further to the south lie the filming locations for another scene of “The English Patient” - the Cave of Swimmers and the Gilf-Kebir plateau, on which it once existed the oasis of Zerzura that disappeared without a trace.
Sugar is hard to reach
The most magnificent landscapes of the Sahara lie, not surprisingly, in its interior regions - this is where the highest 300-meter dunes are located, sands in shades from deep yellow and ocher red to faint pink and almost white sing their songs, and dunes roam. Unfortunately, the situation in the region leaves much to be desired: the southern Saharan countries are regularly rocked by internal conflicts, and tourism here is either simply not developed or is downright dangerous.
Algeria
Algeria is the country with the highest content of Sugar “in the blood” and the safest of the hard-to-reach countries. 80% of its territory is occupied by the sands of this great desert. The sandy seas of the Sahara in Algeria are the longest and most deserted, and in the southeast of the country you can see the fantastic landscapes of the Ahaggar highlands and the Tassili mountains. By the way, in the Tassili Mountains there is one of the oldest caves with rock paintings - an honorary member of the UNESCO List. Tourism here is at an embryonic level - excursions will be gladly offered, but the organization will not shine, and there are almost no people willing to take risks. However, for the future: among the “non-sandy” pearls of the Algerian Sahara are the cities of Ouargla, the “golden key of the desert”, Mzab with its fantastic architecture and Beni Isgen behind the impressive fortress gates.
Libya
Libya, alas, is lost to the world in general and tourism in particular, so one can only dream about traveling to the Libyan Sahara. This is doubly offensive, since this is where some of the most incredible desert landscapes are located - the volcanic Acacus Mountains. Black basalt rocks grow directly from the sands of the central Sahara - and it seems that we are not at all on planet Earth. The area is on the UNESCO List - not only because of the landscapes, but also because of the prehistoric rock paintings and inscriptions, some of which are more than 12 thousand years old. Another must-see place is the Tuareg citadel, the Gat oasis.
It’s definitely not worth going to Chad, Niger and Mali to explore the Sahara without armed guards.
Mauritania
Mauritania is not as inaccessible to those “sick” of the Sahara as it might seem, and among active independent travelers from Europe it continues to be a popular destination for auto and motor rallies. It is easy to enter here from Morocco, a visa will cost from 50 to 95 EUR, and an entry permit for personal transport can also be obtained without any problems. However, this direction is definitely for daredevils - although the country is quite safe compared to its neighbors in the region, no one can guarantee a safe return. Among the interesting things is the endless desert plateau of Adrar, where you understand the scale of the Sahara as well as possible. Prices on the page are as of August 2018.
Chad, Niger, Mali
SAHARA DESERT - INTERESTING FACTS.
The Sahara is the largest desert on Earth, with an area of about 9 million km2, which is slightly less than the area of the United States of America. The Sahara is located in North Africa, on the territory of more than ten states (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan). The Sahara does not lend itself to categorization within one type of desert, although the predominant type is sandy-stony. The desert consists of many regions: Tenere, Greater Eastern Erg, Greater Western Erg, Tanezruft, Hamada el-Hamra, Erg Igidi, Erg Shesh, Arabian, Libyan, Nubian deserts. The name Sahara is an Arabic translation of the Tuareg word tenere, meaning desert.
In 2008, an international group of scientists from Germany, Canada and the United States, as a result of research, found that the Sahara turned into a desert about 2,700 years ago as a result of very slow climate evolution. Scientists were able to draw such conclusions based on a study of geological sediments recovered from the depths of Lake Yoa, located in northern Chad. According to research results, about 6 thousand years ago trees grew in the Sahara and there were many lakes. Thus, this work of scientists refutes the existing theory that this part of Africa turned into a desert 5.5 thousand years ago and that the desertification process took only a few centuries. About 160 thousand mirages are observed annually in the Sahara. They can be stable and wandering, vertical and horizontal. Even special maps of caravan routes have been compiled with an assessment of the places where mirages are usually observed. These maps show where wells, oases, palm groves, and mountain ranges appear.
The Sahara has a combined climate: subtropical and tropical.
The local conditions are practically unsuitable for human habitation, but the tribes of nomads (Tuaregs and Tedas) probably cannot imagine another life and feel great in the world’s largest uninhabited territory.
Geographically, the Sahara is rocky. It includes underground rivers that sometimes emerge to form oases.
There are dunes that reach heights of up to 180 meters.
It may sound strange, but the peaks in the desert are covered with snow in winter. The eastern part of the Sahara, the Libyan Desert, is dry and has several oases.
The Sahara receives only 20 cm of rain per year. This is one of the reasons that only 2 million people live here.
During the last Ice Age, the desert was larger than it is now. The Sahara has one of the most brutal climates in the world. The predominantly northeast wind often leads to sandstorms.
In the desert there is the City of Tidikelt, which has not received a single drop of rain for ten years.
The average temperature in the Sahara is 30 degrees Celsius, and the maximum is 50 degrees; in winter the temperature often drops below zero;
Only some animals can survive in the Desert - Camels, sand snakes, scorpions, monitor lizards.
About 500 species of flora survive here;
Emi Koussi is the highest point in the Sahara Mountains. Its height is 3415 meters.
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 influence 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;
- Western 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.
The Sahara Desert in Africa is almost 8.6 million square kilometers of secrets, mysteries and mysticism. Some of them have been practically solved, others cannot be explained. Its size is rapidly increasing, sands advance from the south and southeast at a speed of 50 km per year. Why is this happening? This is another inexplicable mystery, and there is no way to stop the sand invasion.
The Sahara Desert is located in the north of the African continent, it occupies almost a quarter of its area. Length – 4800 km from west to east, 800-1200 km from north to south. Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco - these are not all the countries that border the largest desert in Africa and the entire planet.
The Sahara Desert Was Once a Green Savannah
The Sahara Desert appeared about 4 thousand years ago, but literally 2 thousand years before that, rivers flowed here, and the water was crystal clear. The fertile land was covered with lush vegetation, and herbivores and predators lived in the forest thickets.
Interesting fact. There were no camels, which are invariably associated with the Sahara Desert. "Ships of the Desert" appeared much later. The African savannah was inhabited by a variety of animals and numerous tribes engaged in farming and hunting.
The dunes of the Sahara Desert sometimes reach 300 m
The dunes of the Sahara resemble the lifeless landscapes of Mars
Another legend? Not at all, this is a long-proven fact. Back in 1933, the German explorer of the African continent Leo Frobenius discovered rock art in the heart of the Sahara Desert. Ancient artists decorated the rocks close to the bed of the ancient river with drawings of antelopes, giraffes, birds, lions and even hippos. The paintings are painted with white clay and red ocher. Isn't this proof of the existence of a once diverse fauna in these places?
Among the dunes of the Sahara rise black rocks of volcanic origin
Lake Ubari in the Sahara Desert (Libya) is filled with underground springs
Rock art in the Sahara Desert
What happened to the African savanna? About 5 thousand years ago, a drought occurred, the fertile land of the Sahara began to rapidly lose moisture, and rivers and lakes gradually dried up. The vegetation disappeared, animals began to leave these places, they went into the forests of Central Africa. People also had to leave their homes; a few remained in the Sahara Desert, turning into nomads moving from oasis to oasis.
Are there rivers and lakes in the Sahara Desert?
The Niger, or rather a small part of it, flows through the southern territory of the Sahara Desert. The deep Nile carries its waters across the entire desert territory. These are the main waterways of the “sandy country”.
However, things were different before. The Sahara rivers originated on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains and brought life-giving moisture to the ancient inhabitants. Their dry riverbeds are imprinted in an intricate grid into the desert landscape. Their name is wadi. Many of them are striking in their size - in the Sahara there are wadis that are 30 km wide and more than 400 km long. During the period of mountain rains, some wadis are filled with water for a short time.
Wadi in the Sahara Desert - dry river beds and lake bowls
Lake Ubari in the Sahara Desert, Libya
There were also lakes in the Sahara Desert, and they are reminiscent of huge depressions, at the bottom of which there are shottas - miniature salt lakes. The water level in them is not constant, it fluctuates depending on the height of groundwater. In summer they dry out completely, revealing only a dense salty crust. The chotts are treacherous; in the spring, bottomless bogs form here, which are masked only by a thin layer of thoroughly salted clay. In some of them, entire caravans disappeared without a trace; safe paths are known only to the Tuaregs.
Lake Yoa is located in the Sahara and is part of the Unianga lake system
Drying red Lake Trona - a salty spring in the Sahara Desert
Although there are no deep rivers in the Sahara Desert, except for the legendary Nile, there is no shortage of water here. Even if it's underground. If it were different, then this “sandy country” would become a real hot hell without any signs of life. In some places, water seeps out of the ground, and oases are located near such springs.
Gelta Darshey in the Sahara Desert - a source of water among the rocks
Amazing landscapes in the vicinity of Gelta Darshey
The most famous oasis of the Sahara Desert is the legendary Nefta. According to legend, he appeared in this place immediately after the Great Flood ended. It was found by none other than the grandson of Noah himself - Kostel. He planted the first date palm near the spring, today there is a grove of 35 thousand trees. The largest oasis of the Sahara Desert is the valley of the deep Nile, whose area is more than 20 thousand km.
The dunes of the Sahara Desert take on a bluish-gray hue at sunset
Trees of the Sahara Desert are adapted to extreme conditions: minimum leaves, maximum thorns
Immortals from the Sahara Desert
Dates from the Sahara oasis - Nefty
Springs in the Sahara Desert are rare, so today, like many centuries ago, water is obtained from deep wells, of which there are many thousands. Back in the 11th century, there were more than 3 thousand of them. Some man-made springs are capable of watering only a small caravan, others are so full of water that oases have formed around them, where numerous tourists take refuge in the shade of date palms and Tuaregs settle.
Flora and fauna of the Sahara Desert
Animals of the Sahara Desert are individuals that can withstand the harshest living conditions. In modern language - extreme sports enthusiasts. They must move very quickly in search of food and water, and endure high temperatures and scorching heat.
Desert fox of the Sahara - fennec fox
Fenech is the faithful companion of the Little Prince from the famous fairy tale by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Desert hedgehog adapts to hard life in the Sahara
Hyenas survive well in the Sahara climate zone
The Sahara Desert is home to graceful antelopes: oryx and addax. Gazelles and mountain goats are found in the endless sands. Many species of artiodactyls are at the stage of extinction, the reason for this is their valuable skins and tasty meat, which is valued by the Tuaregs, and tourists consider it an African delicacy. The predator population includes hyenas and jackals, wild fennec foxes and cheetahs. The kings of animals, lions, also live in the vastness of the Sahara.
Funny pillars in the Sahara Desert - meerkats
And even little meerkats, just being born, already know how to stand in a column
The world of reptiles of the Sahara Desert is incredibly diverse. Lizards, snakes and turtles tolerate drought well, and over the years they have adapted well to such living conditions; here they are at home. It is in the Sahara Desert that the most poisonous scorpion on the planet lives. From its bite, a person dies within four hours, a dog or cat - immediately. The deep Nile is a habitat for crocodiles.
Thunderstorm of the Sahara Desert - horned viper
The black scorpion from the Sahara Desert is a striking example of how amphibious species became terrestrial, adapting to new climatic conditions
The vegetation of the Sahara Desert is the most persistent, but this does not make it any less beautiful. Although the sands seem lifeless, more than 1000 species of plants grow here, most of them are xerophytes or ephemerals that tolerate drought and heat well.
Flowers grow in the Sahara Desert
Desert hyacinth Cistanche tubulosa
Rose of Jericho during the dry season in the Sahara
Rose of Jericho comes back to life after rain in the Sahara
An amazing flower grew in the sands of the Sahara
The most famous is the rose of Jericho, which can exist for up to 30 years without a drop of water, curling up into a ball of dry stems, and immediately throwing out color at the slightest presence of moisture. But the most common vegetation of the Sahara Desert is lichens with small spines. Date palms, pistachios, and oleanders grow in the oases.
The tribes of the Sahara Desert are proud and unyielding inhabitants of the sands
The vast territory of the Sahara Desert is home to many nationalities. The total population is only 2.5 million people. Vast areas of the Sahara are deserted, and the highest density of inhabitants is recorded in the cities of Algeria, a country where a significant part is occupied by the Sahara Desert.
Interesting fact. There are many tribes in the Sahara Desert, but the most famous are the proud Tuaregs. A stern rider, covered with a bandage right up to his eyes, sitting on a camel or horse, is a symbol of the great “land of sands.”
Sahara desert mountains
Amazing mosaic of salt lakes in the Sahara region of Niger
The Tuaregs lived in the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert long before the Arabs arrived here. They are light-skinned, there is not a drop of Negroid blood in their veins. How did the Tuaregs appear in the Sahara? This is another secret. They still live a nomadic life, stubbornly rejecting all the benefits of civilization. Pride is their main asset and the meaning of life.
The White Desert is an iconic landmark of the Sahara.
In the east of the Sahara, on the territory of Egypt, is located one of the attractions of the “land of sands” - the White Desert. Its area is only 300 km2, and the sands here really shine with pearly whiteness. Karst formations give them this shade.
White desert in the Sahara
Amazing mushroom formations in the Sahara Desert
White Desert in Egypt, Sahara Desert area
At night, the White Sahara Desert resembles an Arctic landscape. Wind and erosion have carved bizarre pillars, castles and towers from the pliable karst deposits. Many of them are so intricate that they seem almost ephemeral.
Miracle of the Sahara - “Eye of the Desert” Richat
One of the Sahara Deserts and one of its main secrets is the “eye of the Sahara” - Guel El Richat. This is a geological formation in the form of rings with a diameter of more than 50 km. Richat's age is more than 500 million years.
“Eye” of the Sahara Desert - Richat
The Eye of the Sahara Richat Desert seen from space
It is noteworthy that the iconic landmark has long served as... a landmark for astronauts; it was this object that stood out among the vast sands of the world's largest desert. The era of astronautics made Richat famous; until the beginning of the 20th century, only the Tuaregs knew about the existence of the “Eye of the Sahara,” considering it a miracle.
Multi-tiered, amphitheater-like Richat structure in the Sahara Desert
Satellite photo of the Richat structure in the Sahara Desert
The reason for the blue concentric rings of Richat are stones of an unearthly shade of ultramarine
For a long time it was believed that the appearance of rings in the Sahara Desert was the result of a meteorite fall. However, a celestial body cannot possibly end up in the same place several times. The multi-tiered nature of Güell Er Richat is the result of centuries of erosion. However, this scientific explanation in no way detracts from the majesty of this landmark and its ideal forms. Perhaps this is a gift from other civilizations?
Will judgment day come?
The climate of the Sahara Desert continues to change. Floods have been recorded here over the past 100 years, and snow fell in 1979. The snowfall was so heavy that within half an hour it practically paralyzed traffic in Algeria. Local residents were quite surprised, to say the least. This unique phenomenon has excited scientists all over the planet. And it’s not surprising, because it is the world’s largest desert that is the place of the highest temperatures, where the thermometer sometimes rises to +57.
Snow fell in the Sahara Desert
According to the Koran, the Day of Judgment will come when the Sahara Desert turns into a blooming oasis. Well, anomalies occurring with the local climate are a significant prerequisite. It is quite possible that our descendants will see the African savannah again.