The Sahara: Earth's largest hot desert

The Sahara desert is located in North Africa at 15°N latitude between Egypt and Sudan. It has an area of about 2 million square kilometers (over 790,000 sq mi) and extends from west to east across Libya, Chad, Algeria, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Western Sahara, and Southern Spain. The Sahara desert has few permanent rivers or lakes but many salt pans and oases that are home to various species of wildlife. There are also many natural hot springs, including one at Bou-Saâda in Algeria that reaches temperatures of about 122 °F (50 °C). In 1869, French explorer Ferdinand de Lesseps became the first European to cross the Sahara desert, traveling overland from Tripoli, Libya to Suez, Egypt. He named his route after himself, creating the term "Lessepsian." The climate of the Sahara desert varies greatly; generally speaking, summers are extremely hot and dry, while winters are cold and wet. Rainfall can vary from none to several hundred millimeters (about 1 to 4 inches) per year.

On average, the Sahara receives less than 10 centimeters (1/2 inch) of rain each year. This makes the Sahara a very arid region, receiving only 0.01% of the world's annual rainfall. At least seven major droughts have occurred since 1500 B.C., though some researchers believe that these were not caused by climate change. There was a particularly severe drought that lasted from about 800 A.D. to 1100 A.D. Its area covers about 4 million km2 (1.5 million square miles), covering parts of seven African countries including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. In some places, the temperature can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius, and Saharan sand dunes are constantly changing their form. There are two dry seasons: winter and summer. The average annual rainfall is only 30 cm/year. Despite its arid climate, deserts cover about 10% of the earth's land surface.

Temperature:

The Sahara desert spans North Africa from Egypt, through Algeria, Libya, Chad, Sudan, Central African Republic, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Western Sahara, and Morocco.

Rainfall:

Rainfall varies greatly throughout the Sahara and ranges from between 1-100 inches (25 cm) per year.

Humidity:

Humidity is highest in the Sahara Desert, at about 90% or more.

The Sahara desert covers 974,000 square miles of land, stretching across North Africa from Mauritania in the West to Sudan in the East-northwest. In addition to being the largest hot desert in the world, it's also home to a large number of animals and plants that are unique to this region.

It's commonly known for its arid climate and lack of vegetation, however, the Sahara once supported thriving forests, grasslands, and communities of animal life such as elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, hippos, and many species of birds. Over time, the Saharan climate has been changing at an alarming rate. This transformation can be attributed to global warming, but it also has a lot to do with human intervention. As we begin to exploit the natural resources of the Sahara, we drive rainwater runoff into the sea and deplete the groundwater table. We also release carbon dioxide through the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These activities contribute significantly to climate change and have hurt the Sahara ecosystem.

Today, the Sahara desert covers over 80% of its original size, making it the fastest desert expansion in recent history. To sustain our rapidly growing population and lifestyle, we need to find ways to reduce our dependence on nonrenewable resources and increase sustainability practices.