The Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is a desert located in North Africa. It is the largest desert in the world. It covers most of North Africa occupying an area almost as large as that of China or the United States. The Sahara extends from east to west, from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. To the south, it is bounded by the Sahel, a semi-arid tropical savanna belt that covers northern sub-Saharan Africa.

The Sahara covers several countries, including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan and Tunisia.

Most of the rivers and currents of the Sahara are seasonal or intermittent, the only and main exception being the Nile River, which crosses the desert from its source in Central Africa to flow into the Mediterranean. Underground aquifers can sometimes reach the surface, forming oases.

Oasis in the Sahara (Algeria)
Weather
Precipitation is very rare, but when they occur they usually do it torrentially, usually after long dry periods. Sandstorms caused by wind are frequent. Temperatures are very extreme and can be reached 55 ° C during the day in summer and reach 0 ° at night in winter.

Flora and fauna
Dromedaries and goats are the domestic animals that can be found most frequently in the Sahara. Given its qualities, especially its resistance and speed, the dromedary is the favorite animal of nomadic populations.

The yellow scorpion that can measure 10 cmm long. Several species of fox live in the Sahara, including the fenec. Addax, a great white antelope, can spend about a year in the desert without drinking water.

There are plants such as acacias, palm trees, cacti, thorny thickets and different kinds of herbs have adapted to arid conditions, growing less to prevent water loss as a result of strong winds, storing water in their thick stems for use in dry periods, having long roots to reach the largest area of ​​water as well as by arranging small, thick sheets or needles that prevent water loss through perspiration. The leaves can become completely dry and recover later.

Travel to the Sahara desert
The trip to the Sahara desert is one of the most interesting natural experiences that can be made in Africa. A scenario of dunes and landforms in continuous movement, where contrasts are the order of the day.

One of the most recommended activities for those who visit the Sahara desert is to sleep in jaimas, in those desert shelters, made with a special cloth to protect their inhabitants from the ravages of the sun. These are specially prepared stores so that the visitor is comfortable and fresh, in addition to ensuring direct contact with the natural energy of a unique place in the world.

And another unavoidable point in the Sahara desert is the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs in Morocco. It is a road through which you can discover a series of medieval fortresses that represent the typical Saharawi architecture. And that will transport you to story scenarios.

The Tuareg
The Tuareg: the nomadic peoples of the Sahara desert
Touring the Sahara desert it is not strange to run into shepherds that carry flocks and go with their faces covered to protect themselves from the sun and sand. These are the Tuareg, nomads who belong to a Berber community that has been populating this region for many centuries.

Even today they continue with the same way of life that thousands of years ago and, in addition to grazing, they have added the sale of different merchandise to their commercial activity.