Sahara Desert
Definition
The Sahara Desert is the world's largest hot desert, located in North Africa. It spans over 3.6 million square miles and includes several different environments such as sand dunes, gravel plains, and mountain ranges.
Analogy
Think of the Sahara Desert like a giant sandbox that stretches across multiple countries. Just like how a sandbox can have different toys (representing different environments), the Sahara has various landscapes from sand dunes to mountains.
Related terms
Biome: A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat. In this case, the Sahara Desert is an example of a desert biome.
Desertification: The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. This term relates to how parts of the Sahara may have become desert over time.
Climate Zone: A division of the Earth's climates into general climate zones according to average temperatures and average rainfall. The Sahara falls into the arid climate zone.
"Sahara Desert" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (5)
Where is the Sahara Desert primarily located?
Where is the Sahara desert located?
What country does Sahara Desert, an area with a sparse population, primarily occupy?
Where would you find the large physical feature known as the Sahara Desert?
Which African country has a boundary predominantly marked by the Sahara desert?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.