A sahara is a desert. It is usually a dry area with little or no rainfall. Some deserts are covered in sand and gravel, while others have bare rock surfaces. A desert may have very few plants or animals because of the lack of water, but it does support some life due to its warmth and shelter from the wind.

Sahara is a region in Africa that covers about 3 million square miles (7 million square kilometers). This is the largest hot desert in the world. It is located in northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nile River valley. The Sahara has been home to many ancient civilizations including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Berbers and Tuaregs.

The name “Sahara” comes from an Arabic word meaning “desert.” In Arabic there are three words that mean “desert”: sardj (a sandy plain), sahil (an extensive tract of sandy country), and sawahil (a barren plain).

Last modified: October 30, 2022