Message about sugar. Sahara Desert in Tunisia
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 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- the largest desert in the world, which covers an area of almost 10 million square kilometers and occupies almost a third of the entire territory of the continent. The desert territory affects 10 neighboring African states. The Sahara is the hottest and driest place on the planet. The temperature here rarely drops below 30 degrees. Rain is extremely rare here. But powerful storms, raising whirlwinds of sand to a height of 1 kilometer are not uncommon here.
The most ancient information about the desert dates back to the beginning of our era. Residents of countries neighboring the desert often call the desert an endless sea of sand. Here you can only find sun-scorched dark sand, clay and stone. All that can be found here except sandy expanses is a handful of oases and a single river.
The Sahara is an endless sea of sand.
Sahara (Sahra) translated from Arabic means a brown, monotonous, empty plain. When pronouncing the name of the desert out loud several times, a slight wheezing is felt, which intensifies with each new time of continuous pronunciation. Perhaps in this way the Arabs wanted to show that the further a person goes into the desert and the longer he wanders through it, the stronger the wheezing of an exhausted person who is subject to the sizzling heat and becomes exhausted without water and moist air can be heard. We pronounce the word “Sahara” somewhat softer than the Africans, but the menacing charm of the desert atmosphere is still felt in it.
It is difficult to refute the fact that the Sahara is the hottest place on the planet. Here the air temperature annually reaches over 55 degrees, and once a maximum of 73 degrees was recorded.
But you are probably interested in knowing what the average Russian or European feels when visiting the Sahara. We invite you to read the words of one tourist who spent 3 days in the desert:
"Morning. The huge scorching sun rises over the horizon and heats up the sand in a few minutes. After a few more minutes it is impossible to stand on it barefoot, your legs burn very badly. The air is incredibly dry and hot, your lips burn; as soon as you lick them, they immediately begin to dry out and crack. It is worth mentioning the proverb that says that in the Sahara the wind rises with the sun and subsides with it. Indeed, in the daytime the wind can get very violent and bring strong sandstorms, which are extremely difficult for an ordinary person to survive without special devices. At night, the unbearable heat subsides, and the wind blows a very noticeable coolness. Even stones and stone structures can hardly withstand such changes. Here they burst, making a barely audible crack. Because of this nuance with the stones, they were even given the name “Shooting”, and among the local population there is a saying that even the stones scream from the heat in the sugar.”
However, Sahara cannot be called deserted either. Here you can often find nomadic Tuaregs, especially in uninhabited areas. Local residents nicknamed them blue ghosts, since their main attribute is a blue blanket that completely covers their face, leaving only a thin strip in the eye area to see the path they are following. It is customary to give such headbands-covers at the age of 18 to young men who have become men. From this moment on, he can put on the bandage at any time, however, once the accessory is on his face, he cannot remove it until his death. It is only allowed to move the mask to the level of the nose when eating.
Where is the desert located?
The endless desert is easy to find by looking at the area between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea. In a north-south direction it spreads across the entire territory from the foot of the Atlas to Lake Chad, along the savannah zone. The territory of the desert is indicated differently in different sources and is within the range of 7-10 thousand square kilometers.
Weather.
The desert climate is expected, but let's look at it in more detail. The climate of the Sahara Desert is classified as extra-arid. Dry weather with tropical hot days prevails here. High humidity with rainfall more than 1-2 times a year can be noticed only in the northern part. This fact explains that the main part of the desert is influenced by the northeast trade wind, which “walks” through it throughout the whole year.
The northern Atlas mountain range, which stretches across almost the entire territory of the African continent, actively influences the climatic conditions of the desert. He prevents the clouds from penetrating the desert. It rains regularly in the southern part of the Sahara, but it dries out and does not reach the central parts of the desert.
A very high coefficient of air dryness and excessively active evaporation prevent rain from falling normally on the ground in any corner of the desert. Although, the Sahara is still divided into three zones based on the amount of precipitation:
- South (precipitation occurs periodically, but very scanty);
- Central (no precipitation, except 1-2 times a year);
- Northern (there is practically no precipitation, as the clouds linger in the mountains).
The direction of the desert from west to east also has its own characteristics. Near the Atlantic Ocean you can occasionally encounter fog, but you should not expect rain either, since the Canary Current cools the westerly wind.
Air humidity - 30-40%. On the Desert Edges, rates may be slightly higher. Active evaporation of precipitation (6000 millimeters per year) already says a lot about the desert itself. In narrow coastal strips, precipitation is slightly higher and evaporation can drop up to 2500 millimeters. The Earth receives only 50-200 millimeters of precipitation per year. There are also areas where not a single drop of rain has been observed for the past hundred years.
The desert comes to life only during the period of heavy rains. At this time, rapid flows of water lead to flooding of all neighboring villages. Only then does the desert truly come to life. Unfortunately, these facts are very rare. The desert has little rainfall, but it is overflowing with groundwater, which is actively used by residents of many African villages.
Due to large temperature differences between daytime and nighttime, dew falls are typical for most areas of the Sahara. But snowfall was recorded on Ahaggar and Tibesti several years ago.
The critical temperature in summer can reach 70 degrees, however, weather forecasters say that the maximum summer temperature constantly fluctuates around 57 degrees. The average annual temperature in the Sahara is 37 degrees. Minimum temperatures in the mountains can reach sub-zero temperatures, but with severe January cold, the average temperature throughout the desert is in the range of 15-17 degrees.
Sandstorms can be encountered here almost every day, as well as prolonged strong winds. Sometimes severe storms can drag on for several days. The wind speed in these cases can be over 50 meters per second, which is almost twice as strong as a hurricane. Caravan leaders and Bedouins often talk about how camel saddles can fly 200 meters away, and fist-sized stones calmly roll on the ground like peas.
Strong winds are often accompanied by sandy dust. Visibility becomes zero, looking at the sun feels like an eclipse, and the wild animals of the Sahara Desert become completely disorientated.
The Sahara is a place of eternal sands and hurricanes that can carry dust and sand to Europe and the Atlantic Ocean.
Sahara - cities walled up with sand
According to historians, the Sahara was not always a dry and lifeless land. During the Paleolithic period, which dates back 10,000 years, there was a more humid climate here and instead of endless sands there were savannas and steppes. The local population was engaged in farming, hunting, fishing, and cattle breeding. As confirmation of these words, there are many rock paintings in all corners of the desert.
Since then, many large cities and villages of what is now the Sahara have been buried under sand. Archaeologists are still finding elements of houses and various structures under a large thickness of sand.
Boston scientists claim that in the west of Sudan, in what is now a desert, there used to be a huge lake similar to Lake Baikal. According to them, the lake was located at a level of 570 meters. Scientists believe that several rivers took their sources from this reservoir. Now, like many villages, the lake is hidden under a layer of sand.
The age of the buried lake is very difficult to determine, but in the old days it was regularly replenished by heavy rains.
The drought in what is now the Sahara began 5,000 years ago. At first, the scorching sun here caused the grass to dry out, and the water gradually evaporated and was absorbed into the ground to replenish it. Herbivores instinctively began to run away to places of better feeding. Following them, predatory groups of animals from the Sahara Desert followed. Most of the animal species from those times are still preserved. They found refuge in Central Africa, where they live today.
The last to leave the territory, which was already unsuitable for existence, were people. Only a few decided to stay, claiming that this was their home. Centuries later they began to be called nomads or Tuaregs.
The only place that now resembles the former valley on the site of the Sahara is a plateau of many rivers. This is exactly how life once flourished here.
Sahara - a vast sandy plateau pierced by a river
The Sahara is far from being one huge desert, as we used to think. For Africans, Sahara is a generalized name for a huge number of small areas that are connected by the relief space and climate characteristics of the Sahara Desert. The eastern part of the Sahara is called the Libyan Desert, the void from the right bank of the Nile to the Red Sea is the Arabian Desert. To the south of Arabian is Nubian. In addition to the above-mentioned Sahara deserts, there are many small ones that we will not mention. Most of them are separated by mountain ranges and massifs.
The Sahara territory has several high mountains, up to 3.5 kilometers high, and the dried-out crater of the Emi-Koussi volcano. Its diameter is 12 kilometers. But most of the territory is occupied by sand dunes and depressions, occasionally decorated with salt marshes and oases. Don't forget about the dry depressions, one of which is located in the Libyan Desert. Its bottom is 150 meters below ocean level.
All these elements perfectly complement the desert. When viewed from above, an unimaginable horizon opens up, which causes great delight.
But in general, the Sahara is a huge plateau, which is broken only by the depressions of the Nile valleys and Lake Chad. Mountain ranges are found in only three places; the rest of the territory is a once-existing plain covered with sand.
Plants of the Sahara Desert
The northern part of the desert is much richer in flora than the southern part and is categorically different in plant species. The northern part is more characterized by Mediterranean flora. The southern part of the Sahara has rare patches of paleotropical flora.
Most of the plants here belong to the endemic genus of plants, which, in turn, belong to the red-flowered, asteraceae and goosefoot families. In drier and extra-arid areas, vegetation is very sparse.
Southwest Libya is rich in only nine Sahara Desert plants that can exist in European countries. If you drive along the southernmost border of the Libyan Desert, you may not see a single plant. But in Central Sahara the diversity of flora is wider than in other regions. A wide variety of vegetation is achieved here only due to the two desert highlands of Ahaggat and Tibesti. Ficus willow and fern grow near the Tibetsi highlands, next to reservoirs. The territory of Ahaggat is rich in relict specimens of Mediterranean cypress.
After light rains, ephemerals sprout in the desert. You can often find cereal-shrub formations, acacia-shaped tiers, low-growing randonia and cornulberry. In the northern zone you can find jujube.
The far west of the desert is rich in large succulent plants. Here you can quite often find cactus euphorbia, sumac, wolfberry, and acacia. The Atlantic coast is covered with Afghan trees. The mountain ranges are dominated by cereal plants of the Sahara desert, feather grass, mallow, ragwort, bromegrass, etc.
Throughout the desert you can find date palms that grow near rivers and oases.
Animals of the Sahara Desert
The desert fauna is very rich, in contrast to the flora. More than 500 species representatives of different groups live here, including:
- About 70 species of mammals;
- More than 300 representatives of beetles;
- More than 200 representatives of birds and winged animals;
- Approximately 80 species of ants.
Touching upon species endemism, it is worth noting that in some groups it can reach 70%, for example, in insects. There are no endemics among birds, and only 40% among mammals.
Among mammals, the most common are rodents. In particular, the families of squirrels, jerboas, hamsters and mice are common. Large ungulates are only partly distributed in the Sahara. The harsh conditions of survival in the desert do not allow them to exist here normally. Moreover, the population of nearby countries actively catches them for their needs.
There are a lot of antelopes living in the Sahara. The largest antelope is the Arix. Maned sheep can be found on the plateaus and coasts.
From the class of predators we can distinguish striped jackals, of which there are a lot here, Egyptian mongooses, miniature foxes and velvet cats.
Birds in the Sahara are very rare. Grouse, larks, desert sparrows are regulars in the desert. Less commonly you can see the desert raven, eagle owl, and sandpiper. Representatives of lizard-like and serpentine species have adapted very well to sugar.
The camel has long been and still is the most important symbol of the Sahara Desert.
Mirages - the most mysterious phenomenon of the Sahara
It is a rare inhabitant of planet earth who dares to travel across the Sahara. Along the way through the sandy expanses, you may encounter mirages more than once. It is worth noting that they always appear in the same places. Some desert travelers even managed to draw up a map of the appearance of mirages. Now mirage maps contain about 160 thousand marks of their location. Maps contain a detailed description of what is seen at these points: oases, wells, mountain ranges, groves, etc.
The sunset in desert lands looks no less beautiful. The sky, adorned by the rays of the setting sun, creates a new harmony of shades of blue, red and pink every day. All this beauty gathers on the horizon in several layers, sparkles, burns and changes in shape, gradually fading away. After a couple of minutes, a gloomy night sets in, in which the brightest stars are barely visible.
Now a trip to the Sahara is available to anyone. If you leave Algeria, you can get to the Sahara on a good road in one day. Along the way you can see the stunning El Qantara Gorge. The gorge received this name because it connects the populated area and the desert. From the African dialect it is translated as Gateway to the Sahara. The road here runs through a clayey and rocky plain, as well as small rocks. When viewed from afar, the rocks resemble a fortress or a tower.
Güell Er Richat - The largest structure in the world
The facility is located in the Sahara region of Mauritania. Its diameter is almost 50 kilometers. According to ancient legends, this ring was formed more than one and a half billion years ago. No one knows the reasons for the appearance of the structure, but some scientists believe that Guel Er Richat arose as a result of the fall of a meteorite. Today, teams of researchers continue to study this piece from space and cannot explain how its perfectly even shape was preserved.
The company website offers you excursions to the Sahara. These are short-term trips of 3-4 days to sweltering desert regions. You will be able to ride camels with the overseer. The most daring travelers and extreme sports enthusiasts can traverse the entire desert. Before you do something so crazy, consult your doctor.
Where is the Sahara Desert located?
The Sahara Desert is the largest SANDY desert on our planet and is located in the northern part of the continent of Africa. It also ranks second as the largest desert in the world by area, behind the Antarctic Desert. The area of the Sahara covers about 8.6 million km2 and partially occupies the territory of 10 states. From west to east its length is 4800 m, and from south to north its length ranges from 800 to 1200 meters. Moreover, the size of the desert is not constant; it grows annually by 6-10 km from south to north.
Sahara desert landscape
The landscape of the Sahara consists of 70% plains and 30% of the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands, the stepped plateaus of Adrar-Iforas, Air, Ennedi, Tademait, etc., as well as cuesta ridges.
Sahara desert climate
The desert climate is divided into subtropical in the north and tropical in the south of the desert. In the northern part of the desert there are large temperature fluctuations, both average annual and average daily. In winter, temperatures in the mountains can drop to -18 degrees. Summer, on the other hand, is very hot. The soil can warm up to 70-80 degrees Celsius.
In the southern part of the desert, temperature fluctuations are slightly less, but also in winter, temperatures in the mountains can drop below zero degrees Celsius. Winters are milder and drier.
The desert is characterized by large temperature fluctuations between night and day. This figure is expressed by up to 30-40 degrees difference between night and day temperatures! Therefore, sometimes you can’t do without warm clothes there at night, as the temperature can drop below zero. Also in the desert there are often sandstorms, in which winds can reach up to 50 meters per second. Central parts of the desert may not see rain for years, and other parts may even experience heavy downpours. In other words, the Sahara Desert is full of surprises when it comes to weather.
The Sahara Desert is an amazing place. It is incredible how animals, plants, and people were able to adapt to life in this part of the earth, given the constant drought and heat.
1) The size of the desert is as big as half of Russia, or the whole of Brazil!
The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world, covering 30% of Africa. But this is half of the Russian Federation, or the entire area of Brazil, which is the fifth largest country in terms of area on Earth.
2) “A sea without water.” In Arabic, the Sahara is a desert, and some people called it the “Sea without Water” because once upon a time there were many rivers and lakes in its place.
3) Mars on Earth. Desert dunes move from a couple of centimeters to hundreds of meters per year, and the dunes themselves resemble the landscapes of Mars! Sometimes they reach a height of 300 meters!
4) There are fewer and fewer oases. Villages and towns usually appear near oases, but every year there are fewer and fewer oases.
5) The average temperature in the desert is about 40 degrees Celsius! The sand itself heats up to 80 degrees Celsius! But at night the temperature can drop to -15 degrees Celsius.
6) Over the past fifty years, storms have begun to appear more and more often, in some places their occurrence has increased forty times!
7) 3 million people live in the Sahara. However, there used to be more people; once upon a time, caravans of traders passed through the desert, carrying various riches. But crossing the entire desert took 1.5 years!
8) The roots of some plants are at a depth of 20 meters! In this way, plants try to get water for themselves in order to retain it for a long time and use it carefully.
9) There are about 4 thousand different species of animals and plants in the Sahara.
10) Camels live without water for 14 days, and without food for as many as 30! They can smell moisture from 50 kilometers away, and drink one hundred liters of water at a time! And they don't sweat at all! Their humps are fat, thanks to which they can survive for a long time without food.
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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 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.