The original name of the Sahara desert. Sahara Desert. Mysterious occurrence

1. Title

The name Sahara has been mentioned since the 1st century AD. e. It comes from the Arabic word صحراء ("ṣaḥrā ʾ"), which means "desert" in translation, and its plural "ṣaḥārā ʾ". Also related to the adjective "aṣḥar", which means "desert" with a connotation of the reddish color of the barren plains. The names of some areas of the Sahara, such as Tanesruft (southwestern Algeria) or Tenere (central Niger), are often of Berber origin.

2. Geography

The Sahara separates the African continent North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The southern border of the Sahara is a strip of napivarid savannas - the Sahel, to the south of which is the Sudan and the Congo River basin.

Small areas of Algiers and Tunisia are below sea level, but most are plateaus with a mountain system in the center, including the Ahaggar mountains in Algeria, the Air massif in Niger, the Tibetsi massif in Chad with an extinct shield volcano Emmy KUSS 3415 m, which is the highest point throughout the Sahara. The area of the Sahara has increased by 650 thousand km and is constantly increasing, now attempts are being made to plant forests in some areas in order to stop the advance of the desert.

On the territory of the desert is the western part of Egypt, the western part of Sudan, most of Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad, the southern part of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

2.1. Relief

The landscape of the Sahara is very diverse. Most of its territory (70%) is occupied by flat clay serirs, pebble reggae and rocky plateaus (Hamada) with a height of less than 500 m, dropping to 200 m in coastal areas. Mountain performances are the highest in the Central Sahara - the Tibesti highlands (Emi-Kusi volcano, 3415 m) and Ahaggar (Mount Tahat, 3003 m). These areas bear traces of active volcanism of the Neogene and Anthropogenic times and are dissected by deep valleys (up to 30 km wide, up to 400 km long) with dry beds of ancient rivers. Around the uplands stretch kuest ridges up to 1000 m high and stepped plateaus of Iforas (up to 728 m), Air (up to 1900 m), Ennedi (up to 1310 m), Tademait and others. Distinctive feature flat areas is a desert tan - ferromanganese black film covering the rocks. The Saharan plateaus are mainly composed of weathered rocks, such as the Algerian plateau of Tademait.

In addition to plains, plateaus and mountains, numerous shallow saline drainless basins (sebkhs, Schott and Dayi) and extensive depressions in which oases are found are distinguished in the Sahara. The lowest regions are Qattara (-133 m, the lowest point of the Sahara), El Faiyum, Chott Melgir (-26 m) and Bodele. Associated with depressions and large uedes, sandy deserts (ergs) and dunes occupy about 25% of the desert surface, or about 2.2 million km2. The largest accumulations of sands are Erg-Igidy, Erg-Shesh, Great Western Erg, Great Eastern Erg, Erg-Shebbi, etc. The ridges are predominantly held together by weak xerophytic vegetation, there are also round, star-shaped, transverse dunes and crescent-shaped dunes; pyramidal dunes reach a height of 150 m, there are ridges up to 200-300 m high. In the south of the northern and northeastern parts (Edei-ubar, Edei-Murzuk, Tenere, Libyan Desert) there are moving sands. In some places, the phenomenon of singing sands is observed.

The desert relief of the Sahara is mainly of eolian origin (formed by the wind). Most of the area of the Sahara is occupied by rocky hamads, ergs (large sand dunes) occupy only a small area. There are also gravel plains (regs), dry valleys (wadis), takyrs (Shatt). The Richat structure in Mauritania has an unusual relief.

2.2. Water resources

Several rivers, originating outside the Sahara, replenish the surface and The groundwater desert. The Nile River is the only river with a permanent transitive watercourse. Its main tributaries - the Blue and White Nile - merge in the southeast of the Sahara and along the eastern edge of the desert the river carries its waters to the Mediterranean Sea. On the Nile in 1964-1968, a large Nasser reservoir was created, during the flood, Lake Toshka was formed, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich the Egyptian government plans to turn into an oasis. In the south of the Sahara, several rivers flow into Lake Chad, from where a significant amount of water continues to flow to the northeast and replenishes local aquifers. The Niger River flows along the southwestern outskirts of the Sahara, in the inner delta of which there are lakes Fagibin, Gari, Niangai and others.

Most of the rivers and streams in the Sahara are seasonal or intermittent, with the only exception being the Nile River, which crosses the desert from its origin in Central Africa and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Underground aquifers sometimes reach the surface, forming oases, including Bahariya, Ghardaya, Timimun, Kufra, and Sivakh.

In the northern regions of the desert, water is brought by streams and wadis (dry streams that fill with water after heavy rains) flowing from the Anti-Atlas, the Atlas Mountains, the Ores Mountains and other coastal highlands of Libya Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The largest of these rivers are the Dra, Saura, Ziz. Many smaller wadis drain into Chott, such as the Jedi at Chott Melgir.

Inside the Sahara itself, from Ahaggar, Tassilin-Ajjer and Tibesti, a large ancient river network diverges - oueds Igargar, Tafasaset, Tamanrasset, etc. Some of these wadis formed in the distant past, when the climate of the region was humid, others are the result of the impact of water flows from sudden manifestations disasters such as the 1922 flood that destroyed the Algerian city of Tamanrasset. The sand dunes of the Sahara retain significant reserves of rainwater, which infiltrates and springs from the desert slopes. Rains also fill Gelta, some of which do not dry up (Gelta dArsh, Gelta-Zemmour, etc.) In the vicinity of the Sahara, as well as in the central mountain ranges, relict lakes have been preserved, partially swampy and often highly mineralized, for example, Lake Joa from the group of lakes Unianga - Serrir.

Beneath the sands of the Sahara are large pools groundwater, including artesian. These basins are mainly confined to the continental Lower Cretaceous sandstones and provide water to the oases. Due to the greater volume of underground runoff, the northern part of the Sahara is rich in groundwater; in the southern part the waters are less abundant and the aquifers lie deeper. Groundwater is also used for irrigation (see the Libyan Great Man-Made River Project).

2.3. Soils

Soils in the Sahara are typical for tropical deserts and semi-deserts (gravelly, pebbly, sandy). They have a low content of organic matter, the soil layers are poorly identified. In some areas there are nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but in general the soils are biologically active. Along the edges of the desert, the soils contain large concentrations of organic matter; along the depressions, the soils are often saline. The presence of free carbonate indicates a low degree of leaching.

Predominantly in the northwestern part of the desert, dense calcareous-gypsum layers (crusts) with a thickness of several cm to 1-2 m are distributed, which are associated with calcareous bedrocks. The distribution of finely dispersed components, including diatoms, is limited by drainless depressions and depressions.

As a result of the neglect of vegetation and the plowing of light sandy soils, shifting sands advance on oases. In 2008, Algiers launched a "green wall" project, during which eucalyptus trees and other trees were planted along the line for 1,500 km.

3. Climate

The climate of the Sahara has changed from wet to dry several times over the past few hundred thousand years. During the Ice Age, the Sahara occupied large area than today. The end of the ice age led to an improvement in the climate in the Sahara, from 8000 B.C. e. to 6000 BC e., perhaps due to the area low pressure over the ice sheet in the north.

As soon as the glacier melted, the northern part of the Sahara received droughts. However, shortly after the end of the ice age, the monsoon that now brings rain to the Sahel reached further north and neutralized the dry tendencies in the southern Sahara. Monsoon in Africa (and elsewhere) blows due to summer heat air masses. The air above the ground heats up and rises, drawing in cool, moist air from the ocean, causing rain to fall. Paradoxically, the Sahara was wet when it received more solar insolation during the summer. .

Around 3400 B.C. That is, the monsoon retreated south to about the line where it blows today, which led to desertification. The Sahara is now as dry as it was about 13,000 years ago. These conditions have been called the Sahara Pump Theory.

The modern arid climate lasts for about 10 thousand years. Probably, anthropogenic factor contributed by increasing surface reflectivity and reducing evapotranspiration. Obviously, the grazing of a large cattle for 7 thousand years in the desert and its borders fixed these conditions, and the climate of the Sahara has not changed much over the past 2 thousand years. A significant deviation of conditions from normal was observed from the 16th to the 17th centuries, when the so-called Small glacial period. At this time, precipitation increased significantly along the tropical border, in the desert itself and, possibly, in its northern regions. In the 19th century, climatic conditions returned to those that are similar to the current ones.

It is known that the Sahara is perhaps the most arid climate on the planet. A predominantly northeasterly trade wind can give rise to Samoom. Precipitation almost never falls. Half of the Sahara receives less than 20 mm of rain per year, at intervals of 100 mm per year. Precipitation falls very rarely, sometimes with an interval of several years, and if it does, it is in the form of showers. In the year February 18, snow suddenly fell in the Sahara.

The climate of most of the Sahara throughout the year has strong influence northeast trade wind. Relative Humidity is 30-50%, a huge deficit of moisture and high evaporation (potential evaporation 2500-6000 mm) are typical for the entire desert area, with the exception of narrow coastal strips. There are two main climatic regime dry subtropical in the north and dry tropical in the south. The northern regions are characterized by unusually large annual and daily temperature fluctuations with cool and even cold winters and hot summers. The amount of precipitation has two annual maxima. In the southern regions, summers are hot, and winters are mild and dry. After the hot and dry season comes the summer rains. The cooler climate of the narrow coastal strip in the west is due to the influence of the cold Canary Current.

3.1. Northern part

The dry subtropical climate of the northern Sahara is explained by stable centers of high pressure located above the northern tropics. annual difference average daily temperatures is about 20 C. Winters are relatively cold in the north and cool in central regions. The average monthly winter temperature of the northern part of the desert is 13 C, the average monthly temperature air in July reaches 37.2 C (Adrar) Daily temperature fluctuations are significant both in winter and summer. In winter, the soil freezes at night, and in the central mountain ranges, night temperatures of up to -18 C are recorded. Summer is hot, the maximum recorded temperature is 57.8 C (El Azizia, Libya), the earth's surface can warm up to 70-80 C.

Rainfall varies greatly, with an annual average of 76 mm. Mostly rains are observed from December to March, and there is little rainfall from May to June. The second maximum occurs in August and is accompanied by thunderstorms that cause severe short-term floods. The hinterland may not receive precipitation for several years in a row, on the northern plateaus (Ahaggar and Tibesti) almost every year short-term snow falls. Most of the desert is characterized by abundant dew in the morning, which contributes to the formation of superficial dusty crusts.

The dry subtropics are also characterized by hot southerly winds that blow dust away from the hinterland, causing multi-day dust storms(wind speed sometimes reaches more than 50 m/s). As a rule, they are observed in the spring, but are possible at other times of the year. In Egypt, these winds are known as "khamsin" and "simoom", in Libya - as "gibbly", in Tunisia - as "chili". The Sudanese wind HABUB is of shorter duration, occurs in summer, and usually accompanies heavy rains.

3.2. southern part

The dry tropical climate of the south of the desert, in addition to the same high pressure cells, is also regularly affected by the seasonal interaction of stable subtropical continental and unstable maritime air masses to the south. The annual difference in the average daily temperatures of the dry tropical regions of the Sahara is about 17.5 C. The average temperatures of the cold months are about the same as in the northern part of the desert, but the daily fluctuations are smaller. In high-altitude areas, the temperature sometimes drops below zero - the absolute minimum recorded in the Tibesti mountains is -15 C. The end of spring and the beginning of summer are hot, the air often warms up to 50 C.

Precipitation in mountainous areas dry tropics are small and distributed over the entire duration of the year, rains in low-lying areas occur mainly in summer. As in the north, a lot of rain is accompanied by thunderstorms. The average annual rainfall is about 13 cm, snow occasionally falls on the central mountain ranges. The temperature of the western border of the desert is softened by the cool Canary current, due to which the amount of convection precipitation decreases, but humidity rises and fogs are sometimes observed. Winter in the southern Sahara is a period of harmattan, a dry northeast wind that carries dust and sand

4. Flora and fauna

4.1. Flora

4.2. Fauna

Mammals in total 110 (20 large and 90 small): 10 ungulates, 17 carnivores, 45 rodents, 2 lagomorphs, 22 bits, 12 insectivores, 1 family Hyracoidea. All large mammals are endangered. Rodents are well represented, there are 8 species of jerbus (Gerbillus ssp)
256 bird species in total (56 individuals and 200 migrants)
Reptiles: 96 species - 66 pangolins and 30 snakes
Amphibians: 10
Pisces 20
Arthropods: more than 20 scorpions, spiders, termites 30, ants 66, centipedes 15, scale insects 14, several hundred species of beetles.
Microbial life in soil

5. Ecoregions

The Sahara is made up of several distinct ecoregions that differ from each other in temperature fluctuations, precipitation, elevation and soils, plant and animal biomes. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the following ecoregions can be distinguished in the Sahara:

The Atlantic Coastal Desert occupies a narrow strip along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where fog generated by the coastal cold Canary Current provides enough moisture to support a variety of lichens, succulents and shrubs. Covers an area of 39,900 km in Western Sahara and Mauritania.
The northern Saharan steppes and forests lie along the northern desert, next to the Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrublands of the northern Maghreb and Cyrenaica. The winter rains preserve the scrub and dry forests that form the transition between the Mediterranean climate in the north and the sub-arid Sahara in the south. It covers an area of 1,675,300 km in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara.
The Sahara desert itself covers the supra-arid and central parts of the Sahara, where the amount of precipitation is minimal and sporadic. Ridkis vegetation. This ecoregion consists of sand dunes (ergiv, chech, raouiv), rocky plateaus (gamada), gravel plains (reg), dry valleys (wadi) and takyr. It covers an area of 4,639,900 km in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Sudan.
The South Sahara steppes and forests occupy a narrow strip from west to east between the supra-arid Sahara and the Sahel savannas in the south. The equatorial convergent zone provides summer rainfall in July and August, averaging between 100 and 200 mm, but these values vary greatly from year to year. These rains restore summer pastures, dry woodlands and scrub along seasonal streams. Covers an area of 1,101,700 km in Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Sudan.
The Western Saharan montane forests on the volcanic highlands in the western Sahara have a cool, humid environment that supports the Saharan Mediterranean forests and scrublands. Occupying an area of 258,100 km, mainly in Tassilin-Ajjer in Algeria, with small enclaves in Airi in Niger, Adrar in Mauritania and Adrar-Iforas on the border of Mali and Algeria.
Tibesti-Jebel-Uweinat mountain forests. The Tibesti and Jebel Uweinat have more regular rainfall and a cooler climate that allows forests to grow from date palms ( Phoenix dactylifera) acacia (Acacia) myrtle (Myrtus) oleanders (Nerium oleander) tamarix (Tamarix) and other rare and endemic plants. It covers an area of 82,200 km in the Tibesti on the border of Chad and Libya, and Jabal Uweinat on the border of Egypt, Libya and Sudan.
Saharan halophytes grow in the seasonally flooded salty lowlands of the Sahara. Halophytes are plant communities adapted to saline soils. Saharan halophytes cover an area of 54,000 km, including depressions

The black continent is rightfully considered one of the hottest and driest on Earth, 80% of its territory is occupied.

The largest of them, as well as on a global scale, is the Sahara.

The length of the Sahara desert from north to south reaches a length of 1200 kilometers.

Despite the fact that in the summer in the Sahara the temperature can rise above 57 C, and the winds are so strong that they penetrate the sand to great heights, the fauna of this desert is very diverse.

Some species are so unique that they are endemic and it is impossible to meet them outside the African continent, and sometimes the Sahara itself.

Sahara Desert Animals

Mammals:
Representatives of this class in the African fauna are only about 60 species. Let's dwell on the most interesting of them.

Yes, very unusual view has a Saharan fox - Fenech. The muzzle of this animal has a pointed shape, and the head is crowned with ears of impressive size.

By the way, the fenech owes this shape of ears climatic conditions their habitat, because they play important role in thermoregulation of the whole organism, removing excess heat.

The addax antelope is now endangered. So in the northern regions of the desert, these animals were finally exterminated in the first third of the twentieth century, and in the southern part of the Sahara their number is critically low.

Also in the vast expanses of the desert you can meet a lion, a baboon, a mongoose, a Cape hare, a jackal, a hyena and other mammals.

Birds:
Including migratory birds, which account for about half of the total species diversity, over 300 species live in the largest desert in the world.

The regions adjacent to the shores of the Atlantic are rich in various species of waterfowl.

Moving deep into the desert, you can meet the world's largest bird - the ostrich.

Birds of prey also live here: crows, falcons. In the endless sands of the Sahara, you can meet sandgrouse, which, in search of water for their offspring, can fly more than one kilometer.

When they discover life-giving moisture, they soak their feathers in the process of drinking. So they carry it for their chicks.

Reptiles, amphibians and insects:
An important place in the desert ecosystem is occupied by scorpions. On their body there is a sting, the tip of which contains a poison that can kill a person within a few minutes.

A very unusual appearance in the Saharan horned viper. Actually, she got her name due to the small horns located on her head.

In length, this reptile can grow up to 80 cm, the color of the snake is yellowish-sandy with dark brown spots on the back and sides. This type of snake was known in ancient Egypt.

And today Egyptian fakirs use Sahara horned viper in their presentations. And to give effect to the small horns of a snake, enterprising Egyptians glue porcupine quills on them.

In the vast expanses of the Sahara desert, a small efa snake lives. It can only be found in the north of the continent, in * South Africa* such snakes do not live.

The size adult is about half a meter. However, despite this, efu is considered one of the most dangerous snakes worldwide. The reason for this is the incredible speed and dexterity with which the snake attacks its enemies. In addition, its venom is extremely toxic.

There are also many in the Sahara various spiders and insects. For example, locusts live here, which have the ability to breed in the rain almost at lightning speed.

monitor lizards - large lizards, whose body length can exceed a meter. They live, monitor lizards mainly in sand dunes, where they hunt small rodents, digging out their minks.

They defend themselves from enemies by skillfully using their tail and sharp claws. The bite of a monitor lizard is very dangerous for humans, as it can lead to lethal outcome. The teeth of this lizard, although they do not contain poison, are inhabited by numerous microbes that cause suppuration of the bite site and its further infection.

But the greatest fear among the inhabitants of the Sahara is the tree snake - mamba. This snake is able to move at a speed of just over 11 km / h (for comparison, its relatives on average develop a speed of no more than 1 km / h), and once on a tree, the mamba accelerates even more and shows extraordinary dexterity.

And this despite the fact that an adult in length grows up to 4.5 meters. However, although mamba bites are dangerous, they are not always able to kill a person.

Thus, now that you have become acquainted with the diversity of the African desert fauna by looking at the map of the Sahara Desert, this region will no longer seem so lifeless and empty to you.

We say "desert" - we mean "Sahara", and in Arabic there is no other word for desert except for the actual "sugar". 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 ideally flat areas of saline soil, lush oases and endless dunes that go beyond the horizon - all this makes up one of the most amazing landscapes on the planet. However, despite the area of more than 8 million km, the Sahara is not so easy to visit, which is to blame for the extremely turbulent political situation in the region. However, you can still take a glimpse of the majesty of the desert at least out of the corner of your eye - 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 almost completely occupies the area of North Africa from the Mediterranean to 16° northern latitude, except for the rather narrow coastline of the continent, which is characterized by lush vegetation. Its area is 8.6 million km, 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 is 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 are only 25% of the total desert area. And 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 daily temperature of the summer season is about +37...+39 °С, at night the thermometer drops to +28...+30 °С. Winter is characterized by strong temperature fluctuations between daytime and nighttime: during the day the air warms up to +15 ... +17 ° С, while at night there may be zero readings or even frosts. Strong southerly winds are not uncommon, bringing masses of sand - on such days, life in the Sahara freezes.

In the southern regions of the Sahara, the climate is tropical - summers are even hotter here, winters are colder.

It is best to visit the "civilized" Sahara (that is, its northern part) from October to early May, while daytime temperatures have not yet become unbearable. If you are going to the Sahara for a few days, it is worth remembering that in December and January the nights are very cool, and you will need a warm sleeping bag. In June and September, you can visit the Sahara only if you tolerate high temperatures well.

Sahara civilized

So, where should a traveler who decides to see the indescribable beauty of the Sahara desert go? The choice, frankly, is not great: Africa is generally not among the prosperous regions of the globe, and Northern and Central - in particular.

Tunisia

The Tunisian south protrudes like a long narrow dagger into the Sahara - to the greatest "depth" in comparison with other "desert-possessing" countries accessible to the public. The landscapes of Tunisia were not the most outstanding, but not dull either. The “feature” of the Tunisian Sahara is a wide variety of landscapes: you can see crescent-shaped dunes, and endless salt marshes, and filming locations - they filmed on the salt lake Chott el-Jerid and in Matmata “ Star Wars", and the mountain" Camel's Neck "lit up in" The English Patient ".

The gateway to the Sahara Desert in Tunisia is the city of Douz, located on the border of the sands and the oasis of date palms. Its tourist area (and there are about seven very high-quality hotels here) is placed right on the expanses of the Sahara - get off the sidewalk and you will feel the finest, like powder, sand under your feet. Excursions to the Sahara lasting from 1 hour (camel ride to the nearest dunes) to weekly and even two-week expeditions are regularly sent from Douz. Well, those who want to live "visiting the Sahara" can be offered to stay in a hotel in a remote oasis of Ksar Gilan - 147 km south of Douz, thermal source and the ruins of the Roman fort 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 lush oases, fortified Kasbah forts and Berber settlements. Once it was here that the difficult 52-day journey of the trans-Saharan caravans, carrying to mediterranean sea precious goods from the capital of the ancient empire of Mali, Timbuktu.

Today, popular excursions begin in the settlement of M'Hamid, from where tourists are transported along a picturesque 40-kilometer route to the heart of the Moroccan Sahara - Erg Shigaga. The second run-in route starts in the town of Merzouga, east of M'Hamid, and continues through the territory of another erg - Shebbi. It is here that a really brilliant collection of eternal dunes appears before the eyes of the traveler.

Egypt

The western regions of Egypt - although a vast, but not very interesting region of the Sahara - especially in comparison with the landscapes of hard-to-reach countries. However, in order to get an idea of the desert, this area is quite suitable. More interesting here are the oases to the 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 hut fortress and a temple dating from 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, 4x4 jeep or on your own. Outside the last settlements, the vast expanses of the White and Black deserts (they are all parts of the Sahara) and the picturesque Crystal Mountains begin, and even further south lie the filming locations for another scene of The English Patient - the Cave of Swimmers and the Gilf-Kebir plateau, on which once existed the oasis of Zerzura that disappeared without a trace.

Sugar hard to reach

The most magnificent landscapes of the Sahara lie, which is not surprising, in its inner regions - it is here that the highest 300-meter dunes are located, sands of shades from rich 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 sub-Saharan countries are regularly shaken internal conflicts, and tourism here is either simply not developed, or even dangerous.

Algeria

Algeria is the country with the highest amount 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 Tassil mountains there is one of the oldest caves with rock art - an honorary member of the UNESCO List. Tourism here is at an embryonic level - excursions will be offered with pleasure, but the organization will not shine, and there are almost no hunters to take risks. Nevertheless, for the future: among the “non-sandy” pearls of the Algerian Sahara are the cities of Ouargla, the “golden key to 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 of traveling to the Libyan Sahara. This is doubly disappointing, since it is here that one of the most incredible landscapes of the desert is located - the volcanic mountains of Acacus. Black basalt rocks rise 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 over 12 thousand years old. Another must-see place is the Tuareg citadel, the oasis of the Ghats.

It is definitely not worth going to Chad, Niger and Mali to get acquainted with the Sahara without armed guards.

Mauritania

Mauritania is not as inaccessible to those suffering from the Sahara as it might seem, and among active independent travelers from Europe continues to be a popular destination for car and motor rallies. It is easy to enter here from Morocco, a visa will cost from 50 to 95 EUR, permission to enter by 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 will give guarantees of returning safe and sound. Of the interesting - the endless desert plateau Adrar, where you can understand the scale of the Sahara as well as possible.

Prices on the page are for August 2018.

Chad, Niger, Mali

Despite popular belief, the Sahara desert on the map is by no means the largest in the world. In fact, in terms of its area, it is inferior to the Antarctic desert, but among the hot deserts and located on the 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 by its size, but by its influence on history and modern life person. Mankind lived in the Sahara many millennia ago, as evidenced by more than 3 thousand rock paintings in various parts desert.

And now the Sahara has a huge impact on the political, economic and cultural life North Africa.

Because of their huge The size of the Sahara is characterized by a rather diverse climate, soil type, living conditions and local inhabitants - from the Arabs in the north to the Negro peoples in the south of the desert.

What continent is it on?

The 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 wholly or partially located on the territory of the Sahara:

Libya;
Tunisia;
Algeria;
West Sahara;
Mauritania;
Mali;
Niger;
Chad;
Sudan.

History of origin and name

Scientists believe that in 5th-4th millennium BC e. trees grew on the territory of the Sahara, 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 evaporation of moisture over precipitation.

Cause This could be 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 the once flourishing savannahs into a desert.

Be that as it may, for about a thousand years The Sahara turned into a desert, and the process of desertification was completed by the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. e.

The name Sahara is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "ṣaḥārā" which means "desert". Another version of the origin of the name is from the Arabic "sahra", which means "red-brown". The name of the desert has been recorded since the 1st century AD. e. after the Arabic-speaking tribes reached the Sahara.

If acquaintance with the Sahara is accompanied by a vacation in Tunisia, then find out which weather in the country by months.

Climatic conditions

The climate of the Sahara deserted(arid), a characteristic feature of which is the predominance of evaporation processes over moisturizing 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. AT winter time 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. average temperature air 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 rainfall does not exceed 75 mm.

Sandy sea - what is it?

Sahara - active desert, which annually increases its area, moving south by 10 km.

Characteristics of the Endless Sands

About a quarter of the sugar is made up of sand dunes, a quarter - from mountains of volcanic origin, and half from barren rocky plains and rocks. The area of the territory of sustainable vegetation does not exceed a few 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 the least amount of annual precipitation is observed (no more than 20 mm per year) is one of the most lifeless places on earth. The average biomass in this part of the desert drops to 2 kg/ha or less.

Square the desert is 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 for 1.2 thousand km from north to south.

Water sources in the Sahara are:

artesian groundwater, above the surface of which oases are located;
rainwater, which fills gelts (ponds or natural puddles) and wadis (drying channels of ancient rivers filled with rainwater);
major 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 a classic sand. Mostly dry climate-resistant plants grow in oases and high-altitude areas (grass, small shrubs and trees). Oases grow a variety of cultivated plants: dates, olives, figs, vegetables.

Fauna The Sahara is mainly represented by various species of rodents and reptiles, as well as birds, more than half of which are migratory. To large mammal include antelopes, rams, Nubian donkey. Predators - spotted hyena and cheetah. Most of the animals of the Sahara are active at night, when the heat is not so great.

For those wishing to visit the deeper places of 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 campground here, where tourists can expect all the benefits of civilization available in the desert.

Picturesque Shigaga, which measures 30 by 15 km, exceeds any expectations: countless untouched dunes, almost devoid of vegetation, stretch to the end of the horizon.

Another popular route in the Moroccan Sahara is a trip to Ergu Shebbi through the village of Merzouga. Erg Chebbi is as colorful as Shigagu, but getting to him is a little more difficult.

Mauritania

Mauritania is located almost entirely within the Sahara, but trips here are rare due to poverty local population, lack of infrastructure and quite high level crime in the country.

For those who decide to tour this exotic country it will be interesting to visit Adrar plateau The in which the list objects are located world heritage UNESCO - the villages of Ouadan and Chinguetti. On the plateau itself, despite its lifelessness, there are more than 20 large oases, including quite Big City 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 the desert.

The most stunning desert landscapes are located in the southeastern part of Algiers at the foot of the Tassili mountains.

Tassil Plateau- one of the objects of the UNESCO list, the oldest petroglyphs were found in local caves, the age of which is from 2 to 9 thousand years.

Others man-made attractions Algerian Sahara are:

city of Ouargla;
Mzab valley with fortified cities.

These settlements are of great value from a historical and architectural point of view and were founded and built up in the 10th century. Ibadis- a branch of Muslims, different from Sunnis and Shiites.

Of the natural attractions of the Algerian part of the Sahara stands out Ahaggar highlands in the south of Algeria, consisting of volcanic remnants of bizarre shapes. Open on site national park Ahaggar, and the guides of tourists are local residents of the Tuareg, to get acquainted with the peculiar culture of which it will be interesting for any tourist.

A truly endless sea of sand, stone and clay, with only rare green patches of oases and a single river, is the Sahara Desert. Its territory is eight million square kilometers. That's bigger than Australia and slightly smaller than Brazil! Five thousand kilometers of heat and sand, from Atlantic coast Africa to the Red Sea. The origin of the great Sahara desert holds many secrets and mysteries.

Scientists have conducted computer simulations of the Earth's climate. Research has shown the following:

the desert exists on the site of the ancient Tethys ocean, which existed in the Mesozoic era eleven million years ago (the remnants of this ocean are the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas).
during the Paleolithic period (10-12 thousand years ago) the climate in North Africa was much wetter. The Sahara was not a desert, but a steppe-savannah.
about 5-7 thousand years ago, a drought began, the land of the Sahara was losing moisture more and more, grasses dried up.

Skeleton of a whale in the Sahara Desert

The photo shows the remains of a 15-meter-high beast that died thirty-seven million years ago and sank to the bottom of the ancient Tethys ocean. And in Egypt there is the Valley of the Whales, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Got in a situation with these remains in the desert alone important point- the rate of growth of the soil level, on average, according to official studies, is 1-2 mm per year. For 37 million years, several tens of kilometers should have accumulated, and these bones lie on the surface. And not only in the Sahara, there are such remains on the surface of other deserts, in the Gobi (Mongolia), Atacama (Chile). How did they get to the surface - they were probably brought by the same deluge, which happened relatively recently - only 10 thousand ago.

The territory of the Sahara desert is not all covered with sand. But we are presented with the image of this desert: solid sands, dunes with rare rocky massifs.

But there is still a lot of sand - where does it even come from ?! Various versions are being put forward:

The classical one comes from the fact that the sand is from the Tethys Ocean. But it is not clear why there was so much sand at the bottom of the ocean
There is a version that sand is the result of technological processing of rocks. V. Kondratov expresses such a version and connects it with aliens, who for some reason needed it
I found a version, quite plausible, related to the action of the waves of the flood. More details here:

Lesser Known Landscapes of the Sahara Desert

Chad. 16° 52′ 24.00″ N 21° 35′ 31.00″ E

Egyptian desert

All these are remnants of the original surface. They look like islands. The rest of the territory may not have been so solid, the flood carried away the rest of the soil when the waves passed through the continent. The washed away soil is the sands of the Sahara. Soil, rocks, washed by water erosion of the flow grain of sand to grain of sand.

In general, not all of the Sahara is “yellow”. Exists in the eastern part white desert. It is full of bizarre remnants, covered with white sand, which gives it the appearance of the Arctic north, there are also many karst deposits and caves.

Rather, here the waters of the ocean receded gradually, here in more preserved organic traces of the ocean.

The Sahara desert and life in it

The fact that the territory of the Sahara Desert was once inhabited and actively used is also evidenced by the numerous rock paintings found in its different parts. In the years when glaciers raged in the north, the population of the Sahara was engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture, as well as hunting and even fishing.

Somewhere in the middle of the second millennium BC, the outlines of chariots drawn by horses appear on the rocks. The image of a horse on the rocks of the Sahara can be traced back to the 2nd century AD.

Also one of the common plots of the rock art of the Sahara is the image mysterious creatures, which many researchers mistake for gods, ancient astronauts or aliens.