After the Antarctic and Arctic deserts, the Sahara desert is the third-largest desert on Earth.Located in North Africa, Western Sahara occupies roughly 3,474,919 sq. mi (9,000,000 sq. km), an area comparable to that of China and the United States.This place is rather unusual in terms of temperatures. During the day, this largest hot desert is scorching, whereas, at night, it is freezing. The low humidity level in the air is the reason behind this.The Sahara is located on the African continent and the Sub-Saharan region, which includes countries south of this desert region. The deserts in this region are more than just sand and rocks since the Sahara also contains interesting landmarks, rivers, and animals. Check out Arabian desert facts and Arizona desert facts.Sand Dunes Of The Sahara DesertIn the Sahara desert, desert ergs are sand dunes. Among the various dunes, dome dunes are the rarest because of their circular shape and lack of slip faces.The sand sea is located east of the Tifernine Mountains in east-central Algeria, home to sand dunes up to 1,476 ft (450 m) high. As far as towers go, this is one of the tallest. There are no dunes larger than those in Morocco. Some of the Sahara’s sand dunes reach heights of 984 ft (300 m) in the Erg Chigaga.Due to their remote location, Chigaga dunes can only be reached by four-wheel drive, camel, or foot. The Saharan dunes here remain relatively untouched. Crescent dunes are characterized by horn-like arms pointing downwind. When the wind blows from only one direction, these world’s largest hot desert dunes form after prolonged periods.Linear dunes extend for miles and may be straight, curved, or twisted. Wind will blow from one of two directions when the formation takes place. With 1,000 ft (305 m) and a width of about 100 mi (161 km), the transverse dune is roughly saber-shaped and has parallel crests. In these dunes, sand is redistributed over time by shifting winds In a pyramidal mound, the arms are backsides and slip faces. The formation of Star dunes is a result of wind blowing from many directions.The mounds dome dunes form are circular or oval, and they are surprised to find that they have no back slopes nor slip faces. Rarely these dune fields form in windward regions. With their different forms, dunes are studied for a variety of reasons.Climatic Conditions In The Sahara DesertThe north and the south of the Sahara have a dry subtropical natural climate cycle.In this dry subtropical region, annual and daily temperature ranges are unusually broad, winters are cold, and summers are hot. In this northern African desert, maximum precipitation is seen in cold deserts in winter and summer.This climate in Northern Africa is distinguished by the Sun’s shifting each year, mild winters, and hot, dry summers before unpredictable rains in the winter. The cold Canary Current affects a narrow swath of the western coastal zone in the famous desert.Over the Tropic of Cancer, the northern Sahara has a dry climate, regulating salt flats by high-pressure cells. Every day, temperatures here range about 36°F (20°C). As a result, the northern Sahara experiences cold winters, while central Sahara experiences cool temperatures. Temperatures in the zone average 55°F (13°C) in the cold season and 85°F (29°C) in the summer. There is considerable variation in temperature in sand seas during winter and summer.Often, dust from the interior is carried by hot, southerly winds in the Mediterranean or tropical climate. Spring is their most common season, although they occur throughout the year. In Sudan, the dusty haboob wind primarily occurs in summer and usually lasts for only a few days. It may also bring heavy rain.The same high-pressure cells dominate the weather during the dry tropical season to the south. Still, an unstable maritime tropical air mass interacts seasonally with a southerly, continental subtropical air mass. In the Sahara’s dry tropical regions, the temperate savanna biomes range on average per day a temperature of 68-86°F (20-30°C). Even in the coldest months, the temperature varies less throughout the day than in the Sahara home region to the north. Maximum rainfall occurs in the lowlands of the dry tropics every summer, while a small amount of rainfall occurs throughout the year in the massifs.In the desert’s northern latitudes, thunderstorms account for most rainfall. On average, there is approximately 5 in (12.7 cm) of precipitation per year. Cold air currents cut the western edges of desert temperatures, reducing rainfall and increasing humidity and fogs. A dry north-easterly wind carries sand and dust to the southern Sahara desert during the winter.Flora And Fauna In Sahara DesertThere are a few plants that grow in the desert, such as calyxes, date palms, and acacias. Some places in this world’s largest desert present an oasis, where desert dwellers seeking a break can find relief.There are countless desert species of all sizes and shapes that live in the Sahara. Animals like camels, hyenas, jackals, foxes, scorpions, snakes, lizards, and the desert snails survive the rough Saharan desert.Interesting Facts About The Sahara DesertHere are some great facts about the Sahara. Check out these amazing facts about the great desert.It is popularly believed that the Sahara desert spans the largest area.The Sahara desert covers approximately 3.3 million sq. mi (8.6 million sq. km).The Sahara was about 10% smaller a century ago than it is today. Natural climate cycles and climate change caused by humans are both responsible.The Sahara stretches across 11 countries on the African continent.Sahara’s sandy expanses, plateaus, salt flats, gravel plains, and snow-capped mountains are some of the land features.Several species of cheetahs, gazelles, ostriches, fennec foxes, and monitor lizards live in the Sahara desert. More dangerous critters include the deathstalker scorpion and the poisonous sand viper.The Sahara is also home to roughly 2.5 million people, most of whom are Arab or Berber. They’re either nomadic or permanent settlements, living near water sources in permanent settlements or wandering with herds of sheep, goats, or camels from place to place.Ancient African economies relied heavily on trade routes from the desert (the Sahara). Camel caravans would transport goods like salt, copper, and gold in their heyday.Adrar Plateau is a mountainous region in western Mauritania. The Richard Structure is situated around Ouadane. With a 25 mi (40 km) diameter, the Sahara desert appears as an elliptical dome. It is called the ‘Saharan Eye’ or the ‘Eye of Africa’.A freshwater lake located in the Sahara, Lake Chad is the largest lake in the Chad Basin. Located in four countries surrounding it, namely Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria, this lake plays a crucial role in providing water to 30 million people. Researchers estimate that ancient Saharan lakes were the world’s largest freshwater lakes around 6,000 years ago, but today this lake is just 521 sq. mi (1,350 sq. km).There are many ethnic groups in the Sahara desert. Although they speak different dialects of Arabic, the language remains the same.The Sahara desert is home to tribes from the Amazigh region, including the Tuaregs, Sahrawis, Zaghawas, Kanuris, Hausas, Songhais, Bejas, and Fulanis.Most bureaucratic activities of the Sahara are conducted in Arabic.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Sahara desert facts then why not take a look at cold desert facts, or Gobi desert facts.
After the Antarctic and Arctic deserts, the Sahara desert is the third-largest desert on Earth.
