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Africa Sahara Desert

Africa Sahara Desert. Sahara Desert Sand Dunes

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Page 1: Africa Sahara Desert. Sahara Desert Sand Dunes

Africa

Sahara Desert

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Sahara Desert

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Sahara DesertSand Dunes

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Satellite View

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Saharan Countries

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Saharan Countries

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Western Sahara

• Former Name: Spanish Sahara

Principal Town: El Aaiun (pop: NA)

Size: 97,344 square miles or about the size of Colorado

Internet Service Providers: NA

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Mauritania

• Official Name: Republic of Mauritania

Government Type: Republic

Capital: Nouakchott (pop: 600,000) (1987)

Size: 398,000 sq. miles or roughly three times the size of New Mexico

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Mali

• Official Name: Republic of Mali

Government Type: Republic

Former Name: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

Capital: Bamako (pop: 477,750) (1980)

Size: 482,077 sq. miles or roughly twice the size of Texas

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Morocco

• Official Name: Kingdom of Morocco

Government Type: Constitutional monarchy

Capital: Rabat (pop: 518,616) (1982)

Size: 177,117 square miles or roughly the size of California

Internet Service Providers: 27 (1999)

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Algeria

• Official Name: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria

Government Type: Republic

Capital: Algiers (pop: 1,483,000 -- 1987 est.)

Size: 919,595 square miles or 3.5 times the size of Texas

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1

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Tunisia

• Official Name: Republic of Tunisia

Government Type: Republic

Capital: Tunis (pop: 1,479,000.) (1990)

Size: 59,664 square miles or slightly larger than Georgia

Internet Service Providers: 4 (1999)

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Libya• Official Name: Socialist

People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Government Type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

Capital: Tripoli (pop: 591,062) (1988)

Size: 679,362 sq. miles or slightly bigger than Alaska

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Niger

• Official Name: Republic of Niger/République du Niger

Government Type: Republic

Capital: Niamey (pop: 392,165) (1988)

Size: 458,075 sq miles or roughly twice the size of Texas

Internet Service Providers: 1 (1999)

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Chad

• Official Name: Republic of Chad

Government Type: Republic

Capital: N'Djamena (pop: 530,965) (1993)

Size: 495,755 square miles or over three times the size of California

Internet Service Providers: 1 (1999)

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Egypt

• Official Name: Arab Republic of Egypt

Government Type: Republic

Capital: Cairo (pop: 9,900,000) (1999)

Size: 385,230 square miles or three times the size of New Mexico

Internet Service Providers: 31 (1999)

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Sudan• Official Name: Republic of the Sudan

Government Type: transitional - previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution drafted by Presidential Committee, went into effect on 30 June 1998 after being approved in nationwide referendum

Former Name: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Capital: Khartoum (pop: 1,950,000) (1990)

Size: 967, 499 sq miles or roughly one-quarter the size of the U.S.

Internet Service Providers: 1 (1999)

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PopulationPopulation For nearly 500,000 years, the Sahara For nearly 500,000 years, the Sahara

has attracted people from throughout has attracted people from throughout North Africa. Early residents came when North Africa. Early residents came when the Sahara was lush and teeming with the Sahara was lush and teeming with wildlife. As the region became desert, wildlife. As the region became desert, the Sahara's residents turned to the Sahara's residents turned to livestock herding. And, to trade caravans livestock herding. And, to trade caravans that brought gold, ivory, salt and slaves that brought gold, ivory, salt and slaves north, and commercial goods and north, and commercial goods and metals south. Now, with just 2.5 people metals south. Now, with just 2.5 people per square mile, the region's residents per square mile, the region's residents can seem afloat in a sea of sand. can seem afloat in a sea of sand. Among them are Arabs, Berbers, Among them are Arabs, Berbers, Bedouins, Fulani, Nubians and Tuareg. Bedouins, Fulani, Nubians and Tuareg. The The TuaregTuareg, a semi-nomadic group , a semi-nomadic group known for their salt caravans and known for their salt caravans and distinctive blue veils, are the region's distinctive blue veils, are the region's best-known people. best-known people.

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A Closer look…A Closer look…

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FactsFacts

The Sahara has The Sahara has mesmerized outsiders for mesmerized outsiders for centuries. The world's centuries. The world's largest desert, its size largest desert, its size defies imagination: 3.3 defies imagination: 3.3 million square miles or million square miles or around 25 percent of around 25 percent of Africa. Not surprisingly, Africa. Not surprisingly, the Sahara's name in the Sahara's name in Arabic means simply Arabic means simply "desert.""desert."

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FactsFacts

Camel caravans looking Camel caravans looking for gold, ivory, grain, salt for gold, ivory, grain, salt and slaves made the and slaves made the Sahara the world's first Sahara the world's first gateway to Africa. These gateway to Africa. These endless trains, run by endless trains, run by Tuaregs, Arabs and Tuaregs, Arabs and others, gave rise to the others, gave rise to the legendary era of trans-legendary era of trans-Saharan trade, a Saharan trade, a phenomenon that still phenomenon that still defines the Sahara to defines the Sahara to many outsiders. many outsiders.

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FactsFacts

Today, the Sahara still serves Today, the Sahara still serves as a border between the as a border between the continent's black African south continent's black African south and Arab-influenced north. Its and Arab-influenced north. Its scorching heat and size still scorching heat and size still influence the cycle of drought influence the cycle of drought and rainfall in sub-Saharan and rainfall in sub-Saharan Africa. With one of the planet's Africa. With one of the planet's lowest population densities, its lowest population densities, its people -- Tuareg, Arab, Tubu, people -- Tuareg, Arab, Tubu, Moor - can seem afloat in vast Moor - can seem afloat in vast seas of sand. Blue-robed seas of sand. Blue-robed Tuaregs still run salt caravans Tuaregs still run salt caravans and herd goat, sheep and and herd goat, sheep and camels. Moors farm date camels. Moors farm date palms. palms.

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FactsFactsBut much has changed. The Arabs But much has changed. The Arabs have retreated to Saharan cities like have retreated to Saharan cities like Cairo; at roughly 10 million people, Cairo; at roughly 10 million people, Africa's largest. Trucks are replacing Africa's largest. Trucks are replacing camels in the salt trade. Tuaregs are camels in the salt trade. Tuaregs are acting as guides to Western adventure acting as guides to Western adventure tourists and oil and gas operations tourists and oil and gas operations promise far greater riches than gold promise far greater riches than gold and ivory ever could. Political unrest and ivory ever could. Political unrest has gripped the region: In the late has gripped the region: In the late 1990s, armed Tuareg insurgencies 1990s, armed Tuareg insurgencies blazed across the desert. Nor has the blazed across the desert. Nor has the Sahara escaped the Internet Sahara escaped the Internet revolution. Rissani, Morocco, a tiny revolution. Rissani, Morocco, a tiny desert oasis, offers several Internet desert oasis, offers several Internet cafés, primarily for tourists about to cafés, primarily for tourists about to embark on their own exploration of the embark on their own exploration of the most famous of deserts. most famous of deserts.

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WildlifeWildlife

Prehistoric rock paintings in Algeria's Prehistoric rock paintings in Algeria's Tassili-N'Ajjer park show that giraffes, Tassili-N'Ajjer park show that giraffes, elephants and lions once roamed a green elephants and lions once roamed a green Sahara. These days, animal life is based Sahara. These days, animal life is based on what can best survive the heat and on what can best survive the heat and lack of water. Rodents, snakes and lack of water. Rodents, snakes and scorpions thrive here. scorpions thrive here.

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WildlifeWildlife

SMALL FENNEC FOX SMALL FENNEC FOX (Fennecus zerda):(Fennecus zerda): This tiny carnivore -- at 17 This tiny carnivore -- at 17 inches long and less than three inches long and less than three pounds, it's about the size of a pounds, it's about the size of a cat -- sports large floppy ears that cat -- sports large floppy ears that give off heat from its body, give off heat from its body, allowing it to thrive in desert allowing it to thrive in desert conditions. At home in tunnels conditions. At home in tunnels dug into sand dunes, the small dug into sand dunes, the small fennec fox prowls the Sahara at fennec fox prowls the Sahara at night in search of rodents like the night in search of rodents like the jerboa. Its fellow Saharan jerboa. Its fellow Saharan carnivores include the jackal and carnivores include the jackal and several types of hyaenas. several types of hyaenas.

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WildlifeWildlife

JERBOA (Jaculus):JERBOA (Jaculus): The jerboa, kin to the mouse, rat and The jerboa, kin to the mouse, rat and squirrel, is one of 40 species of rodents squirrel, is one of 40 species of rodents that inhabit the Sahara. To keep cool, the that inhabit the Sahara. To keep cool, the jerboa burrows underneath the desert's jerboa burrows underneath the desert's sands to more humid soils where sands to more humid soils where temperatures are roughly 10 to 20 degrees temperatures are roughly 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the outside world. cooler than the outside world. Handicapped by weak forelimbs, the Handicapped by weak forelimbs, the jerboa uses its entire body - even its jerboa uses its entire body - even its nostrils - to build its subterranean home. nostrils - to build its subterranean home. Attached emergency exits allow it to Attached emergency exits allow it to escape predators like the small fennec fox. escape predators like the small fennec fox. The jerboa scavenges for food - plants and The jerboa scavenges for food - plants and seeds - at night. Its kidneys produce a seeds - at night. Its kidneys produce a highly concentrated urine that minimizes highly concentrated urine that minimizes water loss. water loss.

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WildlifeWildlife

ADDAX (Addax nasomaculatus):ADDAX (Addax nasomaculatus): The Sahara's largest indigenous The Sahara's largest indigenous mammal, the addax travels in mammal, the addax travels in small herds throughout the small herds throughout the Western Sahara, Mauritania and Western Sahara, Mauritania and Chad. A creature of the dunes, Chad. A creature of the dunes, the addax rarely drinks water. the addax rarely drinks water. Instead, it sucks moisture from Instead, it sucks moisture from the desert grasses and bushes the desert grasses and bushes that make up its daily food that make up its daily food requirements. Its oversized requirements. Its oversized hooves make the addax adept at hooves make the addax adept at moving through the Sahara's moving through the Sahara's loose sand. loose sand.

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WildlifeWildlife

CAMELS (Camelus dromedarius): CAMELS (Camelus dromedarius): The animal most frequently associated The animal most frequently associated with the Sahara, camels were first with the Sahara, camels were first introduced to the Sahara around 200 AD introduced to the Sahara around 200 AD as part of trade caravans from the Arabian as part of trade caravans from the Arabian Peninsula. Unlike the horses it replaced, Peninsula. Unlike the horses it replaced, the camel is perfectly suited to the the camel is perfectly suited to the Sahara's harsh climate. Its soft feet are Sahara's harsh climate. Its soft feet are aligned so that it can move quickly and aligned so that it can move quickly and easily through sand. Its two or three easily through sand. Its two or three humps store enough water to last for up to humps store enough water to last for up to five days. It can go for days - as long as five days. It can go for days - as long as 17 -- without drinking water or eating. Its 17 -- without drinking water or eating. Its food requirements are limited to the dry, food requirements are limited to the dry, brittle grass found throughout the Sahara. brittle grass found throughout the Sahara. The Sahara's camels can move at speeds The Sahara's camels can move at speeds between 8 and 10 mph for 18 hours. between 8 and 10 mph for 18 hours.

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WildlifeWildlife

SCORPION (Scorpionida):SCORPION (Scorpionida): The insect most commonly The insect most commonly associated with deserts, scorpions in associated with deserts, scorpions in the Sahara come in 30 different the Sahara come in 30 different varieties, most from the family varieties, most from the family Buthidae. Four of the Sahara's Buthidae. Four of the Sahara's scorpion species are lethal to scorpion species are lethal to humans. In humans, their venom can humans. In humans, their venom can cause temporary paralysis, cause temporary paralysis, convulsions, cardiac arrest or convulsions, cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. In some species, respiratory failure. In some species, the scorpion's venom is as toxic as the scorpion's venom is as toxic as that of a cobra. The scorpion limits its that of a cobra. The scorpion limits its activities to the night, burrowing into activities to the night, burrowing into the cooler sands beneath the desert's the cooler sands beneath the desert's surface during the day. It absorbs surface during the day. It absorbs water from the flesh of its prey. water from the flesh of its prey.

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WildlifeWildlife

HORNED VIPER (Cerastes HORNED VIPER (Cerastes cerastes):cerastes): One of the most venomous One of the most venomous desert snakes, the sand-colored desert snakes, the sand-colored horned viper conceals itself horned viper conceals itself beneath the desert floor to spring beneath the desert floor to spring suddenly on rodents and birds. suddenly on rodents and birds. Only its horns betray its Only its horns betray its presence. It uses a sidewinding presence. It uses a sidewinding motion to skim effortlessly across motion to skim effortlessly across the desert and burrows beneath the desert and burrows beneath the surface to shield itself from the surface to shield itself from the desert sun. The horned viper the desert sun. The horned viper can grow to lengths of up to 2 ft. can grow to lengths of up to 2 ft.

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Credits

• Pictures Courtesy of Google• Information courtesy of

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/index_flash.html

• Video Courtesy of• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzfqioJ-uZo&feature=PlayList&p

=527D191E477A38C9&playnext=1&index=6