Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is a huge, dry place in the north of Africa. It is the biggest hot desert on Earth. The Sahara is almost as big as the whole United States. It has tall sand dunes, rocky hills, and wide, flat plains. The sun shines very hot during the day, but the nights can be cold.

Where Is the Sahara?

The Sahara stretches across the top part of Africa. It touches 11 different countries, like Egypt, Libya, and Algeria. To the north is the Mediterranean Sea. To the south is a strip of grassland called the Sahel. The Nile River runs right through the eastern side of the desert.

Plants, Animals, and People

The Sahara may look empty, but many living things call it home. Camels, fennec foxes, scorpions, and lizards live there. Small bushes and palm trees grow near water spots called oases. People live in the Sahara too. Some groups, like the Tuareg, travel across the sand with their camels to trade goods.

Fun Facts

• The Sahara covers more than 3.5 million square miles of land.
• Sand dunes in the Sahara can grow taller than a 50-story building.
• It sometimes snows in the mountains of the Sahara during winter.

Did You Know?

Long ago, the Sahara was green and full of rivers, lakes, and animals like hippos and crocodiles.