The Namib Desert

The Namib Desert runs along the coast of southern Africa. It is found mostly in the country of Namibia. The Namib is one of the oldest deserts in the world. It has been dry for more than 55 million years. The desert is famous for its towering red sand dunes.

The Giant Sand Dunes

The Namib Desert has some of the tallest sand dunes on Earth. Some dunes rise more than 1,000 feet high. The sand is red because it has iron in it that rusts in the sun. A famous spot called Sossusvlei is full of dead trees surrounded by bright orange sand. Many people visit to climb the dunes and take photos.

A Strange, Dry Place

The Namib is right next to the Atlantic Ocean, but it barely gets any rain. Instead, thick fog rolls in from the sea in the mornings. Animals like beetles drink the tiny water drops from the fog to survive. Oryx antelopes, ostriches, and even desert elephants live here. The plants have deep roots to reach any water in the ground.

Fun Facts

• The Namib is believed to be the oldest desert in the world.
• The word 'Namib' means 'vast place' in a local language.
• A welwitschia plant in the Namib can live for over 1,000 years.

Did You Know?

Some parts of the Namib Desert may go several years in a row without getting a single drop of rain.