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Sahara Desert. Mysterious occurrence. Great Sahara Desert

One of the largest and most famous deserts on the planet is the Sahara, which covers the territory of ten African countries. In ancient writings, the desert was called "great". These are endless expanses of sand, clay, stone, where life is found only in rare oases. Only one river flows here, but there are small lakes in oases and large reserves of groundwater. The territory of the desert occupies more than 7.7 million square meters. km, which is slightly smaller than Brazil and larger than Australia.

The Sahara is not a single desert, but a combination of several deserts that are located in the same space and have similar characteristics. climatic conditions. The following deserts can be distinguished:

Libyan

Arabian

Nubian

There are also smaller deserts, as well as mountains and an extinct volcano. You can also find several depressions in the Sahara, among which Qatar can be distinguished, with a depth of 150 meters below sea level.

Climate conditions in the desert

The Sahara has an extra-arid climate, that is, dry and hot tropical, but on far north- subtropical. Fixed in the desert temperature maximum+58 degrees Celsius on the planet. As for precipitation, they are absent here for several years, and when they fall, they do not have time to reach the ground. A frequent phenomenon in the desert is the wind that raises dust storms. The wind speed can reach 50 meters per second.

There are strong daily temperature fluctuations here: if during the day the heat is over +30 degrees, which makes it impossible to breathe or move, then coolness sets in at night and the temperature drops to 0. These fluctuations cannot withstand even the most solid rocks that crack and turn into sand.

In the north of the desert is the Atlas mountain range, which prevents the penetration of Mediterranean air masses into the Sahara. Humid atmospheric masses move from the south from the Gulf of Guinea. The climate of the desert affects the neighboring natural and climatic zones.

Plants of the Sahara Desert

Vegetation spread unevenly throughout the Sahara. More than 30 species of endemic plants can be found in the desert. Flora is most represented in the Ahaggar and Tibesti highlands, as well as in the north of the desert.

Plants include the following:

Acacia

Animals in the Sahara Desert

The animal world is represented by mammals, birds and various insects. Among them, jerboas and hamsters, gerbils and antelopes, maned sheep and miniature chanterelles, jackals and mongooses, dune cats and camels are found in the Sahara.

There are lizards and snakes here: monitor lizards, agamas, horned vipers, sand efy.

The Sahara Desert is a special world where an extra-arid climate has formed. Here is the hottest place on the planet, but there is life here. These are animals, birds, insects, plants and nomadic peoples.

Desert location

The Sahara Desert is located in North Africa. It occupies the expanse from the western part of the continent to the eastern one over 4.8 thousand kilometers, and from north to south 0.8-1.2 thousand kilometers. The total area of the Sahara is approximately 8.6 million square kilometers. FROM different parts light desert is bordered by such objects:

in the north, the Atlas Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea;
in the south - the Sahel, a zone passing to the savannahs;
in the west - the Atlantic Ocean;
to the east is the Red Sea.

Most of the Sahara is occupied by wild and uninhabited spaces, where you can sometimes meet nomads. The desert is divided between such states as Egypt and Niger, Algeria and Sudan, Chad and Western Sahara, Libya and Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritania.

Sahara desert map

Relief

In fact, sand occupies only a quarter of the Sahara, and the rest of the territory is occupied by stone structures and mountains of volcanic origin. In general, we can distinguish such objects in the desert:

Western Sahara - plains, mountains and lowlands;
Ahaggar - highlands;
Tibesti - plateau;
Tenere - sandy expanses;
Air - plateau;
Talak - desert;
Ennedi - plateau;
Algerian desert;
Adrar-Iforas - plateau;
Al-Hamra;

The largest accumulations of sands are in such sandy seas as Igidi and the Great Eastern Erg, Tenenre and Idekhan-Marzuk, Shesh and Aubari, the Great Western Erg and Erg-Shebbi. Meet more different shapes dunes and dunes. In some places there is a phenomenon of moving, as well as singing sands.

If we talk in more detail about the relief, sands and the origin of the desert, then scientists say that the Sahara was previously ocean floor. It even has white desert, in which white rocks are the remains of various microorganisms of antiquity, and during excavations, paleontologists find the skeletons of various animals that lived millions of years ago.
Now the sands cover some parts of the desert, and their depth in some places reaches 200 meters. Sand is constantly carried by the winds, forming new landforms. Under the dunes and dunes of the sands there are deposits of various rocks and minerals. When people discovered oil fields and natural gas, they began to be mined here, although it is more difficult than in other places on the planet.

Water resources of the Sahara

The main source of the Sahara desert is the Nile and Niger rivers, as well as Lake Chad. Rivers originated outside the desert, they feed on the surface and groundwater. The main tributaries of the Nile are the White and Blue Nile, which merge in the southeastern part of the desert. The Niger flows in the southwest of the Sahara, in the delta of which there are several lakes. In the north, there are wadis and streams that form after heavy rains and also flow down from the mountain ranges. Inside the desert itself there is a network of wadis, which was formed in antiquity. It is worth noting that under the sands of the Sahara there are groundwater that feeds some reservoirs. They are used for irrigation systems.

River Nile

Among the interesting facts about the Sahara, it should be noted that it is not completely deserted. More than 500 species of flora and several hundred species of fauna are found here. variety of animals and flora forms a special ecosystem on the planet.

In the bowels of the earth under the sandy seas of the desert there are sources of artesian water. One of interesting phenomena is that the territory of the Sahara is changing all the time. Satellite images show that the area of the desert is either increasing or decreasing. If the Sahara used to be a savanna, now it is a desert, it is very interesting what a few thousand years will do with it and what this ecosystem will turn into.

The Great Sahara Desert is located in North Africa and partially or completely covers the territory of almost eleven countries. This largest desert in the world covers an area of more than 9,000,000 square meters. km, comparable to the area of the United States. It stretches 1600 km wide and about 5000 km long from east to west. It is said that a thousand years ago the climate in the desert was more humid. The fact is that in the distant past, the territory of the Sahara was subjected to various atmospheric changes, which led to a change in climatic conditions. The desert divides the African continent into two parts - North and Sub-Saharan Africa. By reading the interesting facts below, you will learn more about this desert.

The Sahara Desert is the second largest desert in the world (after Antactis) and the largest hot desert planets.

It covers almost all parts North Africa. Stretches from the Red Sea, including sections mediterranean coast, to the edge Atlantic Ocean. IN southern region its border is the semi-arid savannah region of the Sahel (Sahel), which separates the desert from Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the boundaries of the desert are not clearly defined; moreover, over the past thousand years they have undergone significant changes.

Sahara passes through the territory following countries: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara.

The history of the desert goes back at least 3 million years.

The climate of the Sahara is combined: in the north it is subtropical, and in the south - tropical.

The relief is quite diverse, but in general it is a plateau lying at an altitude of 400-500 m above sea level. There is underground rivers, which sometimes flow to the surface, forming oases. Vegetation develops well in such natural oases. The soil of such regions of the Sahara is very fertile, so where irrigation is possible, an excellent crop grows.

Part of the desert is occupied by sand dunes, which reach a height of 180 meters.

The central region is more elevated above sea level compared to the rest of its regions. The central plateau stretches for 1600 km from the northwest to the southeast. Its height varies from 600 to 750 m, some peaks reach the level of 1800 m and even 3400 m. Ahaggar Highlands.

It may seem strange, but in winter time snow caps lie on the mountain peaks. In the eastern part of the Sahara - the Libyan desert - the climate is the driest, so there are very few oases. In this part, sandy areas with large dunes are concentrated, the height of which reaches 122 meters or more.

The climate of the Sahara Desert is very hot and dry. During the day it is very hot here, and at night it is cool.

The Sahara receives only 20 cm of precipitation per year. It is for this reason that a very small number of people live here, only 2 million people.

Previously, the desert was a fertile land where elephants, giraffes and other animals grazed. Gradually, it became more and more arid, and the fertile landscape turned into the barren region as we know it today.

The central part of the Sahara is exceptionally dry, with little or no vegetation. In places where moisture accumulates, meadows, desert shrubs, trees and tall shrubs are sometimes found here.

During the last ice age the desert was larger than it is now, extending south beyond its current borders.

Climatic conditions here are considered the most severe in the world. The prevailing northeasterly winds often cause sandstorms and dust devils micro-tornadoes.

Arabic is the most widely spoken language in the Sahara, from the Atlantic to the Red Sea.

The Sahara is divided into several regions: Western Sahara, the Central Ahaggar Highlands, the Tibesti Mountains, the Aïr Mountains (a region of desert mountains and high plateaus), the Tenere Desert and the Libyan Desert (the driest region).

Valley of the Nile and mountainous areas The Nubian Desert east of the Nile are geographically part of the Sahara Desert. However, the waters of the Nile turned this territory of Egypt from a barren desert into a fertile agricultural area.

Where is the Sahara Desert located?

The Sahara Desert is the largest SANDY DESERT on our planet and it is located in the northern part of the African continent. It also ranks second as the most big desert in the world by area, making way for Antarctic wilderness. The area of the Sahara occupies 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. At the same time, 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% of the plains and 30% of the Tibesti and Ahaggar uplands, the stepped plateaus of Adrar-Iforas, Air, Ennedi, Tademait, etc., as well as cuesta ridges.

Climate of the Sahara Desert

The climate of the desert 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 fluctuations in temperature, both annual and average daily. In winter, the temperature can drop to -18 degrees in the mountains. 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 the temperature in the mountains can drop below zero degrees Celsius. Winters are milder and dryer.

The desert is characterized by large fluctuations in temperatures at night and daytime. This figure is voiced up to 30-40 degrees difference between night and day temperatures! Therefore, it is sometimes impossible to do without warm clothes there at night, as the temperature can drop below zero. Also in the desert are often sandstorms at which the wind can reach up to 50 meters per second. Central parts of the desert may not see rain for years, and other parts may even heavy showers. In other words, the Sahara desert is full of surprises in terms of weather.

The Sahara Desert is an amazing place. It is incredible how animals, plants, and people have been able to adapt to life in this part of the earth, given the constant drought and heat.

1) In terms of size, the desert is like 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 Russian Federation, or the entire area of Brazil, which is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of area.

2) "Sea without water." On the 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. The 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. Near the oases, villages and cities usually appear, but every year there are fewer and fewer oases.

5) The average temperature in the desert is about 40 degrees Celsius! The sand itself is heated 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) There are 3 million people living in the Sahara. but before people there were more, once upon a time, caravans of merchants who carried various riches passed through the desert. But the passage through 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 in the Sahara various kinds animals and plants.

10) Camels live without water for 14 days, and without food as much as 30! They can smell moisture for 50 kilometers, and drink a hundred liters of water at a time! And they don't sweat at all! Their humps are fat, thanks to which they can exist for a long time without food.

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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 mainland. The desert area touches 10 neighboring African states. The Sahara is the hottest and driest place on the planet. Temperature regime here it 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 the countries neighboring the desert often refer to the desert as an endless sea of sand. Here you can find only dark sand, clay and stone scorched by the sun. All that can be found here except for sandy expanses is a handful of oases and a single river.

The Sahara is an endless sea of sand.

Sahara (Sahra) in Arabic means a brown monotonous empty plain. Saying the name of the desert several times aloud, 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 emaciated person is heard, who is subject to sizzling heat and becomes weak without water and moist air. In our country, the word "Sahara" is pronounced somewhat softer than among Africans, but the formidable 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 figure of 73 degrees was recorded.

But you are probably interested to know how the average Russian or European feels when visiting the Sahara. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the words of one tourist who spent 3 days in the desert:

"Morning. A huge scorching sun rises below the horizon and heats up the sand in a few minutes. After a few more minutes, it is impossible to stand on him barefoot, his legs burn and are very strong. The air is incredibly dry and hot, it burns your lips, as soon as you lick them, they immediately begin to dry 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, during the daytime, the wind can rage very strongly and bring strong sandstorms, which you can survive ordinary person extremely difficult without special equipment. At night, the unbearable heat subsides, and the wind blows with a very noticeable coolness. Such differences are difficult to tolerate even stones and stone structures. They burst here, making a barely audible crack. Because of this nuance with stones, they were even given the name "Shooters", and among the local population there is a saying that even stones scream from the heat in sugar.

However, deserted sugar also cannot be called. Here you can often meet nomadic Tuareg, especially in uninhabited areas. Local residents called them blue ghosts, since their main attribute is a blue veil that completely covers the face, leaving only a thin strip around the eyes to see the route. It is customary to give such bandages-veils at the age of 18 to young men who have become men. From this moment on, he can put on a bandage at any time, however, when the accessory is on his face, it cannot be removed until 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, focusing on the territory between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea. In a north-south direction, it spreads across the entire territory from the foothills of the Atlas to Lake Chad, along the savannah zone. Desert area in different sources different is indicated and is within 7-10 thousand square kilometers.

Weather.

The desert climate is expected, but we will deal with it in more detail. The climate of the Sahara desert is classified as extra-arid. Dry weather prevails here with tropical hot days. Increased humidity with rainfall more than 1-2 times a year can be seen only in the northern part. This fact explains that the main part of the desert is affected by the northeast trade wind, which "walks" through it for a whole year.

The northern Atlas mountain range, which stretches across almost the entire territory, has an active influence on the climatic conditions of the desert. African continent. He does not allow the clouds to penetrate the desert. It rains regularly in the southern part of the Sahara, but it dries up and does not reach central parts desert.

A very high coefficient of air dryness and excessively active evaporation prevent rain from falling normally to the ground in any corner of the desert. Although, the Sahara is still divided into three zones according to the amount of precipitation:

South (precipitations periodically fall, but very scarce);
Central (no precipitation, except for 1-2 times a year);
North (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 west wind.

Air humidity - 30-40%. On the outskirts of the desert, the figures may be slightly higher. Active evaporation of precipitation (6000 millimeters per year) already says a lot about the desert itself. On the territory of narrow coastal strips, precipitation is slightly higher and evaporation can fall up to 2500 millimeters. The earth reaches 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 heavy rains. At this time, stormy water flows lead to flooding of all neighboring villages. Only then does the desert truly come to life. Unfortunately, these facts are very rare. There is little rainfall in the desert, but it is overflowing with groundwater, which is actively used by the inhabitants of many African villages.

Due to the large temperature differences between day and night, most of the Sahara is characterized by dew. But on Ahaggar and Tibesti, snow was recorded several years ago.

The critical temperature in summer can reach 70 degrees, however, forecasters say that the maximum summer temperature constantly fluctuates around 57 degrees. Average annual temperature in the Sahara - 37 degrees. The minimum indicators in the mountains can reach sub-zero temperatures, but with severe January colds average temperature throughout the desert is in the range of 15-17 degrees.

Sandstorms can be found here almost daily, as well as long strong winds. Sometimes strong storms can drag on for several days. The wind speed in these cases can be over 50 meters per second, which is almost twice stronger than a hurricane. Caravaners and Bedouins often talk about how saddles with a camel can fly 200 meters away, and stones the size of a fist calmly roll on the ground like a pea.

Strong winds are often accompanied by sandy dust. Visibility becomes zero, looking at the sun is like an eclipse, and the wild animals of the Sahara desert completely lose their bearings.

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 has not always been a dry and lifeless land. During the Paleolithic period, which falls on the period of 10,000 years ago, there were more than humid climate and instead of endless sands there were savannahs and steppes. Local population engaged in agriculture, hunting, fishing, cattle breeding. As confirmation of these words, there are many rock paintings in all corners of the desert.

Since that time, many large cities and villages of the present Sahara have been buried under the sand. Archaeologists still find elements of houses and various structures under a large thickness of sand.

Boston scientists claim that in the west of Sudan, in the place where the desert is now, there used to be a huge lake similar to Baikal. According to them, there was a lake 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.

It is very difficult to determine the age of the buried lake, but in the old days it was regularly replenished from heavy rains.

The drought in what is now the Sahara began 5,000 years ago. At first, the grass dried up here because of the scorching sun, the waters gradually evaporated and soaked into the ground for recharge. Herbivores instinctively began to run away to better feeding places. They were followed by predatory groups of animals of the Sahara desert. Most of the animal species of those times are still preserved. They found shelter 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 Tuareg.

The only place that now reminds of the former valley on the site of the Sahara is the plateau of many rivers. It was in this form that 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, the Sahara is a generalized name for a huge number of small areas that are connected by the relief space and the climate of the Sahara desert. The eastern part of the Sahara is called the Libyan Desert, the voids from the right bank of the Nile to the Red Sea are the Arabian. South of the Arabian - Nubian. In addition to the above deserts of the Sahara, there are many small ones that we will not mention. Most of them are separated by mountain ranges and massifs.

The Sahara has several high mountains, heights up to 3.5 kilometers and the dried crater of the Emi-Kushi volcano. Its diameter is 12 kilometers. But most territories are occupied sand dunes, hollows, occasionally decorated with salt marshes and oases. Do not forget about dry depressions, one of which is located in the Libyan desert. Its bottom is at a level of 150 meters below ocean level.

All these elements perfectly complement the desert. When viewed from above, an unimaginable outlook 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 located only in 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 characteristic of the Mediterranean flora. South part The Sahara has rare patches of paleotropic flora.

Most of the plants here belong to the endemic genus of plants, which, in turn, belong to the red-flowered, composite and haze families. Vegetation is very sparse in drier and extra-arid areas.

The southwest of Libya is rich in only nine plants of the Sahara desert, which can exist in European countries. If you drive along the southernmost border of the Libyan desert, you can not meet a single plant. But in the 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 uplands Ahaggat and Tibesti. At the highlands of Tibetsi, near water bodies, ficus and ferns grow. The territory of Ahaggat is rich in relic specimens of the Mediterranean cypress.

After light rains, ephemera sprout in the desert. Often you can find grass-shrub formations, tiers in the form of acacias, undersized randonia and cornulaka. In the northern belt you can find jujube.

The extreme west of the desert is rich in large succulent plants. Here you can quite often meet cactus euphorbia, sumac, wolfberry, acacia. The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is covered with Afghan trees. Cereal plants of the Sahara Desert, feather grass, mallow, ragwort, bonfire, etc. dominate on the mountain ranges.

Throughout the desert, you can find date palms that grow near rivers and oases.

Sahara Desert Animals

The desert fauna is very rich, unlike the flora. More than 500 species live here. different groups, among which:

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, rodents are the most common. In particular, the families of squirrels, jerboas, hamsters and mice are common. Large ungulates in the Sahara are only partly distributed. Harsh conditions survival in the desert does not allow them to exist normally here. Moreover, the population of nearby countries is actively catching them for their own needs.

A lot of antelopes live in the Sahara. The largest antelope is the aryx. Maned sheep can be found on plateaus and coasts.

From the class of predators, one can single out striped jackals, which are very numerous here, Egyptian mongooses, miniature chanterelles and velvet cats.

Birds in the Sahara are very rare. Fritillaries, larks, desert sparrows are regulars of the desert. Less often you can meet the desert crow, eagle owl, sandpipers. Representatives of lizard-like and serpent-like animals have adapted very well to sugar.

The most important symbol of the Sahara desert has long and still remains the camel.

Mirages - the most mysterious phenomenon of the Sahara

A rare inhabitant of the planet earth dare to travel to 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 travelers of the desert even managed to draw up a map-plan 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 the desert lands looks no less beautiful. The sky, adorned with the rays of the setting sun, daily creates a new harmony of shades of blue, red and Pink colour. All this beauty gathers on the horizon in several layers, sparkles, burns and changes in form, 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 Algiers, you can get to the Sahara along a good road in one day. Along the way, you can see the stunning El Kantara Gorge. The gorge got its name because it connects the populated area and the desert. Translated from the African dialect as the Gateway to the Sahara. The road here runs through clay and rocky plains, as well as small rocks. When viewed from afar, the rocks resemble a fortress or a tower.

Guell Er Richat - The largest structure in the world

The object is located in the Sahara in 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-Rishat arose as a result of a meteorite fall. Today, research teams continue to study this piece from space and cannot explain how the perfectly even shape was preserved.

The company site offers you excursions to the Sahara. These are short-term trips for 3-4 days to exhausting desert regions. You will be able to ride camels with the overseer. The most daring travelers and thrill-seekers can go through the entire desert. Before committing such madness, consult a doctor.

Romantic, hot and limitless, this desert has always captivated the hearts of people. She tends to be beautiful and captivating and at the same time terrible and dangerous, so she will always be of great interest. This is the real miracle of nature, which hides many secrets and mysteries in its sands. So let's get to know the most Interesting Facts about this amazing place.

It is amazing how people, animals and plants could adapt so well to such conditions, sultry heat, which is simply crazy, sandstorms, night cold, and lack of water.

Surely many people know that this is the largest desert on Earth. It is located in northern Africa, and occupies 30% of its total area, which can almost be compared with the entire territory of the United States. The total area of the desert is 8.6 million km. The length of the desert from west to east is 4900 km, from north to south to 900-1300 km. In the west, the Sahara touches the Atlas Mountains and is washed by mediterranean sea, in the east is the Red Sea, in the south is the Sahel.

The desert extends through countries such as: Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Chad, Mauritania and others, in total 13 countries.

The locals call this place the “Sea without water”, because earlier there was a huge lake and many rainforest, and all this is due to the fact that the Sahara desert is rocky, so many underground rivers pass under the sand, which go out to form an oasis. Moreover, such underground rivers are comparable in area to Lake Baikal, for the most part they are used for irrigation, such systems were known back in Ancient Egypt. They deliberately dug out canals, perpendicular to the river, some of which converged into one reservoir, and only then distributed on the soil.

But even now, in the middle of the desert, you can find oases that are surrounded by unique vegetation, and people settle here, building entire settlements and even cities. But year after year, such places are becoming less and less.

Even despite the fact that there is actually no water here, they live here over 3 million people. Most of them, of course, lead a nomadic lifestyle, moving from one place to another, usually near the Nile and Niger rivers, where at least some plants are present. Mostly Tuareg and Berbers live here.

This place for us is primarily sands and dunes. But what is most interesting is that the sands make up only a fifth of the entire area, the thickness of the sands is almost 160 meters. The sands are constantly swept into dunes, thereby forming dunes that can reach a height of up to 180 meters, and this is actually the height of the Eiffel Tower.

There is so much sand in the Sahara that all the people who live on Earth would have to scoop sand with the help of ordinary wind, then more than 3 million buckets would have to be moved.

Most of the desert is occupied by mountain peaks, although it’s hard to call them peaks, it’s about 70%, the rest falls on pebbly wastelands, where nothing can grow at all, because it’s rocky soil and even salt marshes.

Previously, it was assumed that the Sahara arose several million years ago, but the latest findings of scientists indicate the opposite and its age is only 2.7 thousand years.

As for the temperature, it’s just a real hell here, the average air temperature ranges from 55 to 60 degrees Celsius, in winter the temperature drops to 30 and below, which is quite typical for a change in time. We have such a temperature in the summer, and they have in the winter.

The climate here is completely focused on northeast trade wind, so there are often sandstorms that can reach the territory of Europe. In the north, the climate is dry subtropical, in the south, tropical and also dry.

Back in the last century, a huge reservoir called was created here, due to the spill of one nearby lake.

Rain in the Sahara is the most real holiday, but this is not enough, because raindrops do not even have time to irrigate the earth and evaporate before reaching the ground. Here, evaporation is several times higher than precipitation, and that's all, because no more than 20 millimeters of precipitation falls here.

But even so, it may not rain for several years, and then at one fine moment there will be a brutal downpour that will last for several days. Once, more precisely in 1879 and 2013, snow fell on the territory of Algeria.

One of the truly unique and mysterious anomalies of this place is mirages, almost everyone who wandered the Sahara observed unexpected oases with a reservoir and plants, visually it seemed from 2-3 kilometers from the observer. All this is due to the refraction of the flow of light on the verge between layers of air of different density and temperature.

In total, more than 150 thousand mirages were seen in sugar, and special maps were even created where places where such anomalies were observed were plotted.

And finally, let's talk about the animal world, in total there are almost 4000 different kinds of animals. Such as camels, which can go without water for two weeks and, without food, for up to a month at all, but at a time they can drink almost 80 liters of water.

This is the smallest representative of the cat family, only 50 to 80 cm in length, and then half the length is the tail.

Which is able to do without food for 2 months.

Tiny fox.

Very fast and hardy animals that can do without water for a long time, but now this species is threatened with complete extinction.

Well, the vegetation here has no more than 1200 species, almost all of them are xerophytes and ephemera. In particular, rocky areas seem completely lifeless, but even here the plants manage to adapt to such a harsh environment.

The Jericho rose looks like the branches of the plant are fingers that squeeze the seeds when it's raining branches straighten out and the seeds fall out and a raw kidney, where they immediately take root.

In fact, for any plants in this desert, one drop of water is enough to sprout.