Page 112 - Journeys Through Society-7

Sahara Desert: Physical features
is taken from the Arabic word meaning ‘desert’. The
Sahara divides Africa into the Arab regions to its north
and sub-Saharan Africa to its south.
This large desert has hundreds of miles of surface and
underground water. River Nile and Lake Chad are large
water bodies found here. Smaller water bodies in
oasis can be found nearly everywhere. Some of them
have a steady supply of water, but some dry up soon.
Climate
The climate of the Sahara is generally dry. The
northern part of the desert receives some
precipitation in winter, while the southern part
receives some rainfall in summer.
In the Sahara, the summers are very hot. The winters
are quite cold in the subtropical north, but milder in
the tropical south. Diurnal as well as seasonal
temperatures vary widely, especially in the north. The
western coastal region has a relatively cooler climate
due to the influence of the cold Canaries Current
flowing along the coast.
Vegetation and Wildlife
The vegetation of the Sahara consists mainly of
scattered patches of grasses and shrubs. Trees like
date palm and acacia are found on the margins of
105
highlands and in the oasis. The wildlife includes: hares,
desert foxes, hedgehogs, hyenas, gazelles and several
types of snakes, lizards, insects and rats.
The discovery of rock art depicting savanna animals
such as giraffes has given rise to the belief that the
Sahara was earlier a grassland and has since turned
into a desert.
Wow Fact
The oldest mummy in the world was found in
the Sahara desert, dating from before the
founding of the Egyptian state.
Life of People
The Sahara desert has one of the lowest populations
with barely 2.5 million people. Most of the people live
a nomadic life, while some live close to lakes and
rivers. Some of the people cultivate crops on the
irrigated lands in the oasis, while others are cattle
Bedouins