The Sahara desert is the largest hot desert in the world, covering around 8.5 million square kilometers across 11 countries in North Africa. It has an extremely hot and dry climate with some of the highest recorded temperatures on Earth. While the Sahara was once a fertile region, over thousands of years natural forces and human activities have converted it into a largely barren wasteland of sand that is unsuitable for most plant growth except for some hardy species like cacti and acacia. A few oases located among the desert support settled populations that farm dates and engage in herding and trade.

1. THE HOT DESERT -SAHARA

2. The desert is barren land . It is
an arid region characteriesed by
extremely high or low
temperatures and has scarce
vegetation.

3. SAHARA DESERT
It is the world’s largest desert. It has an area of around 8.54
million of sq. km.
The hot desert lie between 20 degree and 30 degree latitudes
north and south of the equator .
To the north-west of the Sahara lies the Atlas mountains .
Towards the south,the desert merges into the savanna grassland.
The Sahara is spread across 11 countries. These are
Morocco,Algeria,Libya,Egypt,Tunisia,Sudan,Chad,
Mali,Mauritania,Niger & West Sahara.
Sand is the most important feature of a hot desert.
One-fourth of Sahara is under sand . It is a flat,waterless
wasteland.Thus,Sahara is called “ El Khela ”which means
emptiness.
Sahara has not always been a wastland.Once it was a fertile region with thick
forests. Over thousands of years , the forces of nature and various humans
activities have converted this region into a barren wasteland.
Mt.Emi Khoussi in Tibesti range (about 3,415 m) is the highest point.

4. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The climate is very hot & extremely dry.
Some of the world’s highest temperature have been
recorded here.
Al-Azizia , in Libya , recorded the highest temperature
of 57.7 degree C in 1922.
In Sahara , the temperature rises & humidity decreases as
one goes from north to south.
The dryness of the air keeps the sky cloudless and clear.
Under clear skies , the temperature can range from below
freezing point on a winter night to more than 55 degree C
on a summer after noon .
The amount of rainfall varies greatly from region to region
& from year to year . In some areas there has been no
rainfall for many years.

5. • The climatic conditions are not suitable for
the growth of plants .
• Plants which have long roots and waxy and
leathery leaves can grow.
• The main plants species are Cactus , Acacia
,Baobab and Date palms.
• In some places there are oasis – green
islands with date palms surrounding them .
• Camels ,Hyenas ,Jackals, Foxes ,Scorpions ,
many varieties of snakes and lizards are the
prominent animal species living there.

6. • The life in the desert is difficult.
• The Bedouins and Tuaregs are the important
Nomadic Tribes who rear Goats,Sheeps,Camels and
Horses.
• The oasis in the Sahara and the Nile Valley in Egypt
supports settled population.
• Since water is available,the people grow date palms.
•There are also plans to construct a trans-Sahara railroad.
•The oases are also centres of trade.
•Agriculture, local trading and hearding have become
the basis of the economy.
•Their dress is designed to protect them from hot wind
and duststorms.