Sahara Desert of Ancient Africa | Location, History, Countries & Facts

The freezing desert of Antarctica is bigger than the Sahara Desert, which is the largest hot desert on Earth. The development of African history and culture has benefited greatly from the Sahara.

Where is the Sahara Desert?

In North Africa, there is a desert called the Sahara. It extends from the Atlantic to the Red Sea and covers a large portion of North Africa. The Mediterranean Sea is located north of the Sahara. The Sahel region is located in the south between the African Savanna and the desert.

The Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan are just a few of the eleven nations that substantial portions of the Sahara encompass.

What size is it?

It is a vast desert, the Sahara. It has a 3,629,360 square mile surface area and is still expanding. It is 4,800 miles long from east to west and 1,118 miles width from north to south. The Sahara would be the fifth-largest nation in the world if it were a country. bigger than Brazil and just barely smaller than the US.

When does it get hot?

One of the areas on Earth with the greatest consistency of heat is the Sahara Desert. Summertime temperatures typically range from 100.4 °F (38 °C) to 114.8 °F (46 °C). For several days in a run, the temperature in some places can get above 120 °F.

The Sahara has a hostile climate, making it difficult for any life to exist there. It is windy, hot, and dry. Despite the heat of the day, the nighttime temperature can change drastically. occasionally to below freezing. In the Sahara, it doesn’t often rain. Some areas may not receive a drop of rain for years.

Landforms of the Sahara Desert

There are several different types of landforms in the Sahara Desert, including:

Dunes –
Sand-filled hills are called dunes. In the Sahara, some dunes can grow to heights of over 500 feet.

Ergs –
Large sand dunes are called ergs. They are also known as sand seas.

Regs –
Regs are broad, flat plains with firm gravel and sand on them.

Hamadas –
Hamadas are rough, desolate plateaus made of rocks.

Salt Flats –
A salt, gravel, and sand-covered flat expanse of land.

Living in the Desert

Despite how challenging it is to exist in the desert, the Sahara has produced some extremely advanced civilizations. Along rivers and oases, bigger towns and farming communities typically develop. For instance, along the Nile River, enormous civilizations were developed by the Ancient Egyptians and the Kingdom of Kush. Some people, like the Berbers, live nomadic lifestyles. They roam around frequently in search of fresh grounds for their livestock to graze and for food hunting.

Desert Caravans

The economies of ancient Africa relied heavily on trade routes through the Sahara Desert. Long camel trains known as caravans were used to move goods through the desert, including gold, salt, slaves, textiles, and ivory. To avoid the heat of the day, the caravans frequently traveled in the evening or early in the morning.

Facts about the Sahara Desert that are Interesting

Arabic uses the word “Sahara” to refer to a desert.

In the past, the Sahara was a verdant area with a variety of vegetation and animals. As the angle of the Earth’s orbit gradually changed, it started to dry out about 4000 years ago.

The volcano Emi Koussi in Chad is located at the highest point in the Sahara Desert. 11,302 feet above sea level marks its top.

Only over 2.5 million people call the Sahara Desert home, despite its enormity.

Arabic is the most widely used language in the Sahara.