The Sahara Desert

Created by Dave Belczak

About the Sahara

• The Sahara Desert, covering most of North Africa, is the largest desert in the world.

• From north to south the Sahara is between 800 and 1,200 miles and is at least 3,000 miles from east to west.

• The Sahara in the Arabic language means “The Great Desert.”

Environmental conditions

• The Sahara is one of the hottest places on Earth. Even though temperatures there may rise to 136 F, its dryness, not heat, that makes a place like the Sahara a desert.

• The Sahara receives less than three inches (7.6 cm) of rain a year.

The Human Body

• The major body systems affected by the Sahara desert.– Muscular– Nervous– Integumentary

• The loss of salt due to excessive sweating causes heat cramps. Symptoms are moderate to severe muscle cramps in legs, arms, or abdomen.

• A large loss of body water and salt causes heat exhaustion. Symptoms are headache, mental confusion, irritability, excessive sweating, weakness, dizziness, cramps, and pale, moist, cold (clammy) skin.

• The intense rays of the sun can cause painful sunburns.

Human Adaptations

• The human body begins sweating to cause evaporative cooling.

• The body has developed salt and water deposits in case of dehydration.

• The natives adapted fat deposits around their heart to withstand the cold of the night.

• Native people have developed darker skin to protect against the intense rays of the sun

Safety Precautions

• Drink water at least once an hour.

• Get in the shade when resting; do not lie directly on the ground.

• Do not take off your shirt and work during the day.

• Check the color of your urine. A light color means you are drinking enough water, a dark color means you need to drink more.