In the Desert
Learning Objective: To find out about people who live in deserts.
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Despite deserts being very dry and inhospitable places, many people live in deserts all over the world.
What do you think would be some of the challenges faced by people who live in
deserts?
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The biggest challenge faced by desert dwellers is finding water. When a place gets less than 250mm of water a year, water becomes the most precious commodity there is. Having enough water to drink, wash and
clean with is a constant struggle for those living in deserts.
These African women are
collecting water from a well.
These are cacti found in the Arizona Desert.
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Because there is such little water, there is not much vegetation in deserts. This means that people cannot easily grow crops for food. Some plants have adapted to survive in deserts but most cannot
survive the heat and lack of water.
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A lack of vegetation and water also means that people cannot easily keep animals to raise for food. Animals, just like humans, need to eat and drink. Without fields of grass to graze on, raising goats, sheep and cattle
is very difficult (although not impossible).
Nguni cattle in Africa
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Temperature and climate are also challenges faced by those who live in deserts. In the Arabian and Saharan Deserts, for example, intense
heat can be difficult to bear whereas in the Gobi Desert or Antarctica, extreme cold makes life very difficult.
A bedouin family and a tent in the Arabian Desert
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Despite all these difficulties, many people make their homes in deserts and have done for thousands of years. Many desert dwellers are nomads. This means that they don’t live in one place but move around to find food and water. Nomads often live in tents that they
can move easily.
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There are some permanent towns in deserts. These towns are often used by nomads for trade. Most towns in deserts are
built up around an oasis.
Do you know what an oasis
is?
This picture shows a town
called Huacachina
which was built around an oasis
in Peru.
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An oasis is a place where water is found in a desert. This can be underground or as a river or a pool. Towns are built up around oases because there is always a supply of water.
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Some cities have been built in deserts too, such as Las Vegas, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. These cities are very large and have a big
population.
How do you think people get water in these places?
Las Vegas Dubai
Cities like Las Vegas use water from hundreds of miles away which is transported to where it is needed. However, there is a real danger that water sources for cities like this could run out. Taking water from its original location can also damage the local environment.
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Fountains in the desert city of Las Vegas
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Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Desert has a different solution. This city is on the coast of the United Arab Emirates and it uses water from the sea. The salt and other minerals are taken out using a process called
desalination.
What would be the best thing about living
in a desert?
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Plenary:
What would be the hardest thing about living in a desert?