The Famous Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is one of the most prominentvery hot reaching even at its highest temperature
deserts in the world. It experiences the harshestof 59°C.
weather on earth. The economy of the SaharanNiger River and the Nile River are the only
countries relies mainly on mineral deposits and oil.permanent rivers running across the desert. Other
Sahara Desert is among the world's most popularrivers are usually seasonal and only come alive on
desert. It is featured in some of the knownoccasional rainfalls and most of the time left as
Hollywood movies because of its distinct features.dry river beds.
Sahara Desert is considered the hottest andSaharan countries rely so much on the abundance
largest desert in the whole world, which coversmetallic minerals spread in the desert. Plenty of
most part of North Africa. It measures aroundiron ore deposits can be found in Mauritania and
800 to 1,200 miles from north to south and 4,800Algeria while smaller deposits can be found in
kilometers from west to east. Africa wascountries like Niger, Western Sahara, Tunisia,
inevitably divided into two regions because of theEgypt and Morocco. Besides iron ore deposits,
desert's very vast area. On the western side, theAlgeria is benefiting from its abundant oil, the
desert is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean while onmajor product contributor for its economy.
the eastern side is the Red Sea. On the northernThe Sahara Desert has a total population of
part of the desert, it is bounded by thearound four million. The majority resides in
Mediterranean Sea and the Atlas Mountains.countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania
The Sahara Desert is composed of abundantand Western Sahara. Dominant groups are the
mountains, basins, plains, plateaus and sand seas.Tuareg tribes which belong to the Berber groups.
Mount Koussi is the highest portion of the SaharaMajor cities of the Sahara includes the capital of
which measures 3,415 meters. The lowest point isMauritania Nouakchott, Chad, Tamanrasset,
the Qaterra Depression located in Egypt 436 feetGhardaia, Timbuktu, Faya-Largeau, Ouargla, Hassi
below.Messaoud, El Oued, Agadez, Ghat and Bechar.
Basically, Sahara Desert is totally covered withMany of the inhabitants in the desert are called
several types of dunes and sand sheets. Suchnomads. They travel in caravans looking for trade
dunes include blown out dunes, transverse dunesin other countries of the desert in order to
and tied dunes. There are even formations ofsurvive. Trade has been one of the major
pyramidal dunes reaching at around 150 meterssources of income for the inhabitants of the
high. The formations of dunes have been studieddesert.
by many archeologist but they were not able toThe soil of the Sahara is organically inactive and is
find answers on how the dunes have beensalty. This is the reason why vegetable plantation
created. It remains a mystery until today.is not existent. Only corn, dates and other fruits
Weather in the Sahara Desert is mostly dry withare grown in some of the desert's fertile oases
occasional rainfall for weeks. After that, it will notwhich cover a land area of about 200,000 square
rain again for several years. The northern partkilometers.
has a subtropical type of weather, while it isAnimals such as the jackals, antelopes, foxes,
tropical in the southern part. Winter season in thedeer, baboon, mongoose, cape hare, gazelles and
southern part is very mild. The north part ishyena exist in the desert. These animals are well
between cool to cold. Snow begins to form inadjusted and can survive with the harsh weather
some of the mountain peaks of the desert.in the Sahara. There are 300 species of birds that
During summer, the total area of the desert iscan be found in this desert.