Page 183 - SST Class 07

to feed the cattle and no water for the growth of cold with temperatures closely to zero degrees
grass. Celsius (0°C).

It is a wonder that people who live in the deserts Flora and Fauna
have learned to cope up with extremely harsh Vegetation in the Sahara Desert includes cactus,
climates. Depending on the temperature, we can date palms and acacia. We can find an oasis in
find hot deserts or cold deserts. People inhabit some places.
these lands wherever little water is available to
practice agriculture.
THE SAHARA DESERT
The Sahara Desert covers a large part of North
Africa. It has the following features :
g Sahara is the world’s largest desert. It covers
an area of around 8.54 million square
kilometers (which is more than the total area
of India!!).

g The desert touches eleven countries which
are— Algeria, Morocco, Chad, Egypt, Date Palms
Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, The animal species found here are camels,
Tunisia and Western Sahara. hyenas, jackals, foxes, scorpions and many
g It has gravel plains and elevated plateaus varieties of snakes and lizards.
with a bare rocky surface. These rocky
surfaces, at some places, are more than
2500 m high.
Climate

The climate of the Sahara Desert is scorching hot
and parched dry. It has a short rainy season.
Since the sky is cloudless and clear, the rate of
water evaporation is greater than the rate of
water accumulation. Hence, there is water
scarcity. However, the nights may be freezing
Hyena

Cactus Jackal
Social Science-7 183