Editing Sahara

'''Sahara'''

The '''[[Sahara]]''' is the largest hot [[desert]] and the third largest desert overall after [[Antarctica]] and the [[Arctic]]. Its area of 9,200,000 square kilometers is comparable to the area of [[China]] or the [[United States]]. The desert comprises much of [[North Africa]], excluding the fertile region on the [[Mediterranean Sea]] coast, the [[Atlas Mountains]] of the [[Maghreb]], and the [[Nile Valley]] in [[Egypt]] and [[Sudan]]. It stretches from the [[Red Sea]] in the east and the [[Mediterranean]] in the north to the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the west, where the landscape gradually changes from desert to coastal plains. To the south, it is bounded by the [[Sahel]], a belt of semi-arid tropical savanna around the [[Niger River]] valley and the [[Sudan Region]] of [[Sub-Saharan Africa]].

==Geography==

The Sahara can be divided into several regions including: the western Sahara, the central [[Ahaggar Mountains]], the [[Tibesti Mountains]], the [[Aïr Mountains]], the [[Ténéré]] desert, and the [[Libyan Desert]]. The highest peak in the Sahara is [[Emi Koussi]], a shield volcano in the Tibesti range of northern [[Chad]].

==Climate==

The Sahara's climate consists of basically two sub-climates, a dry subtropical climate in the north and a dry tropical climate in the south. The southern part of the Sahara is characterized by high temperatures that can exceed 50 °C (122 °F) while the northern part, due to its higher altitude, is a bit cooler.

==Flora and Fauna==

Despite the harsh conditions, several life forms have adapted to the extreme conditions of the Sahara. Some of the plant species in the Sahara include the [[Acacia]] tree, the [[date palm]], and several species of [[cactus]]. Animal life includes the [[dromedary camel]], the [[fennec fox]], and the [[monitor lizard]].

==Human History==

The Sahara has been inhabited by various human groups since prehistoric times. Occupying the Sahara has presented significant challenges to those living in its fringes since the climate is extremely dry and the vegetation sparse. Several cultures have developed and fallen in the Sahara.

==See Also==

* [[Deserts of the World]]
* [[Climate of the Sahara]]
* [[Flora and Fauna of the Sahara]]
* [[History of the Sahara]]

[[Category:Deserts]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Geography]]

{{stub}}
== Sahara ==
<gallery>
File:Sahara.svg|Sahara
File:Vegetation_Africa.png|Vegetation Africa
File:Sahara_satellite_hires.jpg|Sahara satellite hires
File:Hoggar8.jpg|Hoggar
File:Algeria_Sahara_Desert_Photo_From_Drone_5.jpg|Algeria Sahara Desert Photo From Drone
File:Sunset_in_Sahara.jpg|Sunset in Sahara
File:Journal.pone.0076514.g004.png|Journal pone 0076514 g004
File:Village_Telly_in_Mali.jpg|Village Telly in Mali
File:Great_green_wall_map.svg|Great green wall map
File:Saharan_topographic_elements_map.png|Saharan topographic elements map
File:GueltaCamels.jpg|Guelta Camels
File:Libya_5391_Ubari_Lakes_Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg|Libya 5391 Ubari Lakes Luca Galuzzi 2007
</gallery>