Sahara

The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert, located in North Africa. It covers about 9.2 million square kilometers (3.6 million square miles) and spans parts of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and Tunisia. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, and the Sahel to the south.

The landscape includes erg sand dunes, hamada rocky plateaus, and reg gravel plains, with oases that interrupt the aridity. Rainfall is scarce, typically well under 100 millimeters per year, and temperatures can exceed 50°C in summer; nights can be cool, and dust storms are common.

Human habitation dates to prehistoric times, evidenced by rock art and ancient settlements. The Sahara was a highway for trans-Saharan trade, linking North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa. Islam spread across the region, and later colonial borders shaped the modern states that occupy Saharan terrain.

Oases sustain pockets of life, and wildlife includes the dromedary camel, fennec fox, addax, and various lizards. Plants such as date palms and hardy shrubs thrive in microhabitats. Several national parks protect desert landscapes and archaeological sites, including regions with dune fields and mountains.

The desert contains energy and mineral resources, notably petroleum in parts of Algeria and Libya. Economic activity includes mining and some tourism, particularly desert safaris to famous dunes. Ongoing challenges include desertification, water scarcity, and adaptation to climate variability.