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Sahara Desert

There's something magical about the desert that captures the imagination of children and adults alike. Have you ever dreamed of riding a camel across an endless sea of sand or counting the stars, in absolute silence? Have you ever pictured yourself sitting by the fire, in the company of weary travelers dressed in long robes and turbans, or sleeping in an authentic nomadic tent? All are possible in the Sahara. And because the environment is sterile, there are no particular health risks to inhibit family travel here.... Read More

Politically divided, the Sahara Desert is a single environment that is best characterized by the complete absence of water. And it is the best place from which to fully appreciate the nature of water as an element. Here, one can witness the small miracle that takes place each time it appears: Life both plant and animal.

Yet this harsh, inhospitable environment is hauntingly beautiful. Wadis (rivers) snake at the foot of sand covered mountains and plateaus. Elegant and engaging sculpted rock adorns the horizon. The splendor of the continuously changing shape of the dunes. All are the result of the wind and become almost insignificant when compared to what has occurred over the centuries. At one time, the Sahara was fertile and populated by the large animals of Africa. Giraffe, lions, rhinoceros and even crocodile once roamed here.

But there is more to a trip to the Sahara than nature and the elements. Experiencing the desert through the eyes of a Tuareg provides an additional dimension to any journey. Kids will find mystery in their traditional way of dress and watch spellbound as they pour tea. Their knowledge of animal tracks and the many usages of desert plants will keep even the youngest children engaged throughout any trek. And those old enough to follow the eyes of these men of the desert will be dazzled by their keen sense of observation. Accustomed to an unmoving and completely mineral landscape, the Tuareg are able to detect even the slightest movement and least significant variation on the horizon.

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Erg Awbari, Libya

Giancarlo Salvador courtesy Harmattan

Libya

Carlo Natali courtesy Harmattan

Azalai, Mali

Giancarlo Salvador courtesy Harmattan

Algeria

Giancarlo Salvador courtesy Harmattan

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Fun Facts About Sand Dunes

Linear Sand Dunes, Great Sand Sea

Alfredo De Simone

There are lots of fun facts about sand dunes. Did you know that?

Sand dunes are classified by their shape. Crescentic, linear and star are the three basic dune forms. All other types of sand dunes are a subset of one of these.
The strength and direction of the wind is one of the most important factors in determining the shape of a sand dune. But it isn't the only. Moisture, vegetation and landforms affect shape too.
Sand dunes migrate and can move as much as 100 meters a year. The wind carries fine grains of sand and bounces heavier sand grains along. And while the wind isn't strong enough to move really heavy grains of sand, bouncing sand push the heaviest grains forward.
Sand dunes have two faces. Sand builds up on a dune's windward face and slips down its leeward side, also known as the slipface.
When a sand dune gets too steep it collapses under its own weight. A sand dune's angle of repose, the maximum slope before it starts to slide, is 34 degrees.
Sand sheets and giant ripples are also formed by wind but they are not the same as sand dunes. Sand sheets, flats plains of sand, form when the grains are too heavy for wind to carry or bounce. Giant ripples, also called Zibars, don't have a crest they are rounded like the hump of a whale.
Sand dunes exist on other planets too. There are sand dunes on Mars, Venus and Titan, Saturn's moon.