Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Africa
The Sahara Desert, from the Arabic word "sahara," meaning desert, is the largest hot desert on Earth, covering much of northern Africa. It spans about 3,000 miles from east to west and ranges between 800 to 1,200 miles from north to south, totaling an area of 3.3 million square miles. Although most of it is arid and barren, the desert is a region of incredible natural diversity, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea and Atlas Mountains to the north, the Red Sea to the east, and the Sahel to the south, a region marking the transition to more fertile savannas.
Geographical Features of Sahara
The Sahara is more than just a desert of sand. It features a wide variety of landscapes, including shallow basins (chotts and dayas), large oasis depressions, and rock strewn plateaus (hammadas). The serirs (gravel plains) and vast sand dunes or ergs, which account for roughly 25% of the desert's surface, offer stunning visuals. The Sahara also boasts dramatic mountain ranges, such as the volcanic Tibesti Mountains in Chad, home to the highest peak, Mount Koussi, at 11,204 feet. The Qattara Depression in Egypt, the lowest point in the desert at 436 feet below sea level, contrasts sharply with its towering dunes, some of which reach up to 1,000 feet.
Climate and Ecosystem
The Sahara’s climate is extremely arid, with most areas receiving less than 10 inches of rain annually. However, rainfall patterns vary, and some regions experience brief but intense rainstorms. Vegetation in the desert has adapted to these conditions, with drought resistant species like halophytes, shrubs, and certain grasses thriving in the harsh environment. Wildlife, although sparse, includes species uniquely suited to the extreme climate, such as the fennec fox, dromedary camel, addax antelope, and reptiles like the monitor lizard. In the more temperate northern and southern regions, occasional stands of trees can be found. Interestingly, some of the desert sands are known for producing "singing" sounds, a phenomenon still not fully understood.
Human Inhabitants and Trade
Despite its forbidding conditions, the Sahara has been home to various peoples for millennia. Currently, around 2.5 million people live in the desert, primarily in small communities around oases, where water and minimal vegetation support basic agriculture and herding. Historically, the Sahara was a bustling trade route, with camel caravans transporting gold, salt, and other goods across its vast expanse. The "Trans Saharan Trade Route" linked West Africa with the Mediterranean, fostering cultural and economic exchanges. Though camel caravans have largely disappeared, modern trade routes still follow these ancient paths, with motor vehicles now navigating the harsh terrain. Towns like Timbuktu in Mali and Ghardaia in Algeria remain significant centers of life within the desert, balancing tradition with modernity in one of the world’s most challenging environments.
Historical Changes and Recent Flooding
Although the Sahara is now one of the driest regions on Earth, it wasn’t always so. Roughly 5,000 years ago, it was a green, fertile landscape filled with lakes, rivers, and abundant vegetation. This "Green Sahara" supported early human civilizations. Over millennia, however, the Earth’s shifting orbit and climate changes transformed it into the desert we know today. Human activities, such as livestock grazing, have also contributed to desertification. In recent years, unexpected events like the floods in Morocco have surprised experts. Intense rainfall, more than 8 inches in some areas, created temporary lakes across the sand dunes of Merzouga, an extremely rare event for the Sahara. It was the heaviest rain seen in decades, revealing that even the most arid deserts can experience dramatic shifts due to climate anomalies.
