Sahara

Lore & Background

The Sahara covers 31% of the African continent and is one of three distinct physiographic provinces of the African massive physiographic division. It is so large and bright that, in theory, it could be detected from other stars as a surface feature of Earth with near-current technology. The desert is highly diverse, composed of hamada (rocky plateaus), ergs (sand seas), gravel plains, dry valleys, dry lakes, and salt flats, with many sand dunes rising over 180 metres.

Reader's Guide

The Sahara's significance lies in its vast scale and extreme aridity, shaping the climate and ecology of North Africa. The central Sahara is hyperarid, with areas such as the Tanezrouft, Ténéré, Libyan Desert, and Nubian Desert often receiving no rain for years. The desert's climate is dominated by the subtropical ridge, which prevents cloud formation and rainfall, making the Libyan Desert one of the sunniest and driest places on Earth. Important cities within the Sahara include Nouakchott, Tamanrasset, Timbuktu, Agadez, and Ghat.

Did You Know?

• The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world and the third-largest desert overall, after Antarctica and the Arctic.
• The highest peak in the Sahara is Emi Koussi, a shield volcano in the Tibesti range of northern Chad.
• The Sahara covers 31% of the African continent.
• The name 'Sahara' is derived from the Arabic word ṣaḥrā', meaning 'desert'.