Why is it hot during the day and cool at night? Natural desert zone: characteristics, description and climate
Where is the Sahara Desert located?
The Sahara Desert is the largest SANDY desert on our planet and is located in the northern part of the continent of Africa. She also takes second place as the most big desert in the world in area, giving way to the Antarctic desert. The area of the Sahara covers about 8.6 million km2 and partially occupies the territory of 10 states. From west to east its length is 4800 m, and from south to north its length ranges from 800 to 1200 meters. Moreover, the size of the desert is not constant; it grows annually by 6-10 km from south to north.
While Germany experiences a rainfall drop of 000mm per year, the average in Namibia is around 250mm. In general, Namibia decreases rainfall from the northeast to the southwest. Due to the East Trade Winds, precipitation is already losing on its way to the west most your water through South Africa. While the Kalahari still experiences relatively high rainfall, it drops sharply over the Inland Highlands. This gives the Namib almost no more rain. In the south and west the climate is completely dry almost all year round, in the state center up to three quarters of the year.
Sahara desert landscape
The landscape of the Sahara consists of 70% plains and 30% of the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands, the stepped plateaus of Adrar-Iforas, Air, Ennedi, Tademait, etc., as well as cuesta ridges.
Sahara desert climate
The desert climate is divided into subtropical in the north and tropical in the south of the desert. In the northern part of the desert there are large temperature fluctuations, both average annual and average daily. In winter, temperatures in the mountains can drop to -18 degrees. Summer, on the other hand, is very hot. The soil can warm up to 70-80 degrees Celsius.
This climatic component, as well as mismanagement and overgrazing of these parts of the country, led to significant changes in the flora. New plants replace old vegetation; It can't absorb anymore large quantity water during rainstorms, which can lead to erosion and later desertification.
The temperature difference between day and night is very large. The interior highlands - the area between the Kalahari Desert to the east and the Namib Desert to the west - can even experience freezing temperatures during the winter months. On very rare occasions snow falls here, but after a while it melts again. The climate in Namibia is generally very tolerable as it has low humidity. The coastal area has strong southwesterly and westerly winds, but the sea does not have too much influence on Namibia's climate. The Benguela Current carries cold seawater from Antarctica towards the equator, greatly cooling the winds and therefore not causing high humidity.
In the southern part of the desert, temperature fluctuations are slightly less, but also in winter, temperatures in the mountains can drop below zero degrees Celsius. Winters are milder and drier.
The desert is characterized by large temperature fluctuations between night and day. This figure is expressed by up to 30-40 degrees difference between night and day temperatures! Therefore, sometimes you can’t do without warm clothes there at night, as the temperature can drop below zero. Also in the desert there are often sandstorms, in which the wind can reach up to 50 meters per second. Central parts of the desert may not see rain for years, and other parts may even experience heavy downpours. In other words, the Sahara Desert is full of surprises when it comes to weather.
These maritime air masses also cause the only precipitation that the Namib experiences on the coast: coastal fog and dew. Deserts are landscaped areas that receive little or no rain. This is why most deserts are found in hotter areas such as Australia, Africa, Asia and America. Many people imagine a sea of many small yellow grains of sand under the desert.
This is not entirely true; there are not only sand deserts, but also many other types of deserts. The surface of a rocky desert is covered with blocky debris or rock. Weathering and peeling of thin material creates tall rocks, which then form rocky deserts. Hamadas are much more common than sandy deserts. Alone, the Sahara is 70% rocky desert.
Sahara Desert - amazing place. It is incredible how animals, plants, and people were able to adapt to life in this part of the earth, given the constant drought and heat.
1) The size of the desert is as big as half of Russia, or the whole of Brazil!
The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world, covering 30% of Africa. But this is half Russian Federation, or the entire area of Brazil, which is the fifth largest country on Earth.
The gravel desert area is even covered with pebbles in the surrounding mountains. Based on the size of the stones, serifs are differentiated into coarse or fine serifs. The gravel desert has a 10% share in the area. The Serir Desert is created by weathering fine material which is then transported and hence the pebbles are left lying around. Through water and wind they can be rearranged, resulting in formation and flattening.
This type of desert consists primarily of quartz sand, which was created by removing wind and water from the gravel desert. Feature sandy desert are dunes or moving dunes. A dune is created by a collection of sand that is moved by the wind and dumped. The sand and lack of closed vegetation suggest that dunes may arise.
2) “A sea without water.” In Arabic, the Sahara is a desert, and some people called it the “Sea without Water” because once upon a time there were many rivers and lakes in its place.
3) Mars on Earth. Desert dunes move from a couple of centimeters to hundreds of meters per year, and the dunes themselves resemble the landscapes of Mars! Sometimes they reach a height of 300 meters!
4) There are fewer and fewer oases. Villages and towns usually appear near oases, but every year there are fewer and fewer oases.
It occurs mainly in arid and dry areas, in drainage-free sedimentary basins due to strong evaporation. The landscape of a basin is called a sedimentary basin in geology. There are many deserts in Persia and Central Asia. Only after heavy rains does the wadi water. Up to 100m deep, they can penetrate the surrounding desert and build high side walls. It is dangerous to stay in a dry valley because the water rises so fast that you can no longer escape.
Path to the desert above Risani
The entrance to the Sahara offers the site of Merzouga, from which desert tours lead to the famous Erg Chebbi. During our trip to Morocco, we were allowed to spend 2 days in the adventurous desert. What we have collected for the experience and what attractions there are, we will try in the next trip report to bring you closer. On the day of arrival we had only 300 km. We arrived from Agdz and had lunch in Risan at lunchtime. But even today, trade determines what happens. After licking lunch at a small restaurant on the street we looked at the city's African market.
5) The average temperature in the desert is about 40 degrees Celsius! The sand itself heats up to 80 degrees Celsius! But at night the temperature can drop to -15 degrees Celsius.
6) Over the past fifty years, storms have begun to appear more and more often, in some places their occurrence has increased forty times!
7) 3 million people live in the Sahara. However, there used to be more people; once upon a time, caravans of traders passed through the desert, carrying various riches. But crossing the entire desert took 1.5 years!
There we bought a typical Saharan Berber turban for a few euros to protect us from the strong sun. Some hikers or backpackers start their Erg Chebbi route tour directly from here, even if they are about 50 km away. We made it to a better starting point in Merzouga and were able to see out much more clearly into the desert dunes.
Arriving in Merzouga we found a typical small desert town. Small one-story houses, a few Berbers on the street and everything is very relaxed. There are several camel herds on the outskirts to watch the dunes await. When we arrived at the hotel we soon realized that there was nothing to explore beyond the desert sand. The whole is designed as a transit station to the Erg Chebbi desert.
8) The roots of some plants are at a depth of 20 meters! In this way, plants try to get water for themselves in order to retain it for a long time and use it carefully.
9) There are about 4 thousand different species of animals and plants in the Sahara.
10) Camels live without water for 14 days, and without food for as many as 30! They can smell moisture from 50 kilometers away, and drink one hundred liters of water at a time! And they don't sweat at all! Their humps are fat, thanks to which they can survive for a long time without food.
Since we arrived in Merzouga around 2pm, we asked our driver what else could be done in time. He gave us a tip for a four hour sunset tour which we thought was cool from the start. Since the activity was not included in our round trip trip, we had to pay here per person and the square was 45 euros. Not a lot for a 90 minute excursion, but good for a unique experience.
Even those who have never ridden one before quickly get used to automatic shifting ATVs. Just give it gas and have fun. The first 30 minutes take him through relatively small dune hills to get a feel for the sand and the quad. Immediately after this, the guide led us to large sand dunes, where we are at full throttle. There was a short break at the top and we loved the view. We could see nothing else but sand and Merzouga. We were literally lost in the Sahara.
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The Sahara Desert is definitely unique place. People, animals and plants have managed to master the difficult art of survival in conditions of constant heat, drought, and an almost complete (by our standards) lack of water and vegetation. Life here has once again proven that it is capable of making its way even in the most extreme conditions.
We then went with the quadrants to a small Berber tent on the edge of the desert. There was also a short photography stop before she headed off into the sunset. The light turned the sand more and more red, and it partially receded into the desert. As we arrived at our final stop, we watched the sunset from ATVs on a high dune. All that was missing was beer. When the sun went down we returned to the hotel.
A selection awaits you in the story interesting facts and stunning photographs of the Sahara.
Sahara- the largest desert on our planet. It occupies 30% of the area of all Africa (slightly more area Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, or, for example, about 50% of the territory of Russia).
With a camel through the Erg Chebbi desert
After spending the night in Merzouga, we set off early in the morning around 10am to be taken by camels to the desert camp. We saddled up and moved slowly. The sun was beating and it was getting hotter. There are regular short breaks along the way, which are also necessary. Like an untrained camel rider, our butts have hurt us over time. It offers a breathtaking scene of camels in the desert. After some time, the clear desert from afar saw several isolated tent camps. Even if 90 minutes is not much, you should have enough water with you.
The Sahara covers most of the territories of ten countries: Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Western Sahara, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Mauritania, Niger, Chad.
The name “Sahara” comes from an Arabic word meaning “desert”. In local dialects such names as “Great Desert”, “Sea without Water”, “Land of Fear and Thirst” are common.
The sun shows its strength in the morning. Also the Berber turban bought in Risan was gold value and professionally knitted by our camel guides. 
Arriving at the desert camp, we were the only ones there. Like our entire tour, we saw very few tourists, even though we were there at the end of March and started the season so slowly. He later added more tourists by jeep. Why one prefers a camp tour with a jeep than with camels is a mystery to me. Horseback riding and desert views are certainly part of the Sahara experience.
In height dunes reach 250 meters. Dunes have the ability to move at speeds ranging from a few centimeters to hundreds of meters per year.
Oasis is a body of water located in the middle of the desert with vegetation spread around it. Villages and even entire cities are located in oases.
Since we arrived at the camp for lunch, we had plenty of time to explore the Bedouin camp and surrounding area. First, we were allowed to choose a tent at the camp for the night and set it up. The tents are more than just furnished. It has a bed and electricity for light. But you shouldn't sleep anymore. A common European-style toilet is located just a few meters from the camp and has running water. So no hole in the ground “Yoohoo.”
Since the camp cook did not have a job, we were asked directly if we wanted to eat anything. At a full 35 degrees for lunch, we were grateful for every little break in the shade. After fortifying we climbed around and onto the dunes. Then we tested the snowboards at camp right on the desert sand. Even as a non-snowboarder, you have a quick turn and hit the dunes quickly.
Every year the desert takes over more and more territories. The few lakes and rivers are drying up, and the number of oases in the Sahara is falling.
5 - 10 thousand years ago there were many lakes, rivers and tropical forests in the Sahara.
You have to be careful here because you can quickly twist your legs and knees. 
At sunset we went to the large dune in front of the camp. From the top there is a fantastic view of Erg Chebbi and the camp. What doesn't look heavy from below turns out to be in high professional sports. The sand beneath your feet flows like the water below, and you feel like you can barely move forward. Arriving at the top of a large dune hill, we saw a beautiful sunset scenery. Although we took longer than expected and lost 2 liters of sweat, it was worth it.
Some regions of the Sahara experience significant temperature changes. From +30 during the day to -15 at night. The average daily temperature reaches +40 °C. The soil can warm up to 70-80 °C.
Rainfall in the Sahara is extremely rare. The average annual precipitation is 76 mm. For comparison, the same figure in Moscow and the Moscow region varies between 600-800 mm.
Dry hot winds often cause multi-day sandstorms. Over the past 50 years, the number of dust storms has increased by 10, and in some regions by 40-50 times.
About 2.5 million people now live in the Sahara, i.e. 0.5 people per square kilometer. It used to be much busier here. From ancient times until the mid-20th century, active trade was carried out across the desert. Along the caravan routes of the Sahara they carried gold, copper, salt, ivory, slaves, ostrich feathers... The passage through the desert and back took Peaceful time 1.5 years.
Tuaregs- one of the peoples living in the Sahara. They are distinguished by their belligerence and the organization of society, where the leading role is played by women.
On the picture - White Desert. Millions of years ago there was an ocean floor here. White rocks are the remains of ancient microorganisms.
Richat structure(50 km in diameter) is a mysterious formation in Mauritania, also called the “Eye of the Sahara”. Scientists have not yet precisely determined the cause of this anomaly.
The local flora is incredibly adaptable to drought and heat conditions. Native shrubs, for example, have very extensive root systems. The roots of many local plants go 15-20 meters underground. An important condition for survival is also the ability to store moisture and consume it extremely economically.
The fauna of the Sahara has 4,000 species.
Camels perfectly adapted for life in the desert. They are able to go without water for 2 weeks (they can lose up to 40% of their weight), and without food for up to a month. Camels smell moisture at a distance of 50-60 kilometers, and can also notice clouds in the sky and head to the expected place of precipitation. To replenish fluid in the body, drink more than 100 liters of water at a time. Thick fur during the day protects their skin from direct exposure to sunlight, and at night it saves them from the cold. A camel loses almost no moisture through feces and does not sweat. The animal's humps are deposits of fat that help it go without food for a long time.
Interestingly, camels are excellent swimmers. And this despite the fact that many of them have not seen a single body of water in their entire lives.
Dune cat (sand cat)- the world's smallest representative of wild cats. Its body length is only 65-90 cm (the tail accounts for 40%). The weight of adults is 2-3.5 kg. These babies are nocturnal, escaping the heat in burrows during the day. They hunt small rodents, lizards, spiders, hares, birds and even poisonous snakes. Sometimes sand cats approach human settlements, but do not attack poultry or cats.
In the photo above - Ethiopian hedgehog. They reach a length of 15-20 cm and weigh on average 500 g. Like many other animals in the Sahara, the hedgehog is nocturnal. Hunts rodents, insects, scorpions, frogs, snakes. Can fast for up to 2.5 months.
fennec- the smallest fox in the world (smaller in size than a domestic cat). Lives in burrows, where it creates a large number of secret passages. Fenechs exist in large families, the number of individuals in which reaches 10. They hunt alone and are omnivores (their diet includes small rodents, insects, plants, their leaves, fruits, roots). Fennec foxes are sometimes kept as pets.
Oryx are able to adapt to the most unfavorable conditions. They can go without water for a long time; their body temperature can reach 45 °C, which is not at all typical for other mammals. Today, oryxes are close to complete extinction.
A few more photos of Sahara:
