Sahara

Sahara is the largest desert in the world located in North Africa in the territory of Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger and Mali. Has an area of 9 million square kilometers and occupies more than one quarter of the African continent. The name comes from the Arabic word for desert - صحراء (as-ṣaḥrā). Around 1.5 million people inhabit the sand surface, most of them are in Mauritania, Morocco and Algeria. Largest city, located in the Sahara is Nouakchott - Mauritania's capital. The formation of the Sahara Desert is part of a process begun more than 8000 years ago, when the soil in that area was still fertile. Some of the fertile areas now irrigated by underground rivers and lakes. According to the study of satellite images taken of the Sahara, some researchers conclude that regular wilderness shrinks and expands. In the early 80's southernmost edge of the Sahara reached the Sahel - dry strip separating the sands of the savanna. But in the mid 80's this area was damp and covered with vegetation. Constantly making artificial channels and Transplant plants to stop the spread of the sands. Oases of the Sahara look like islands of life scattered in the ocean of desert. They are located in valleys and hollows, some of which lie below the sea level. In their greatest value is crucial and ground water gush from the earth. Near their neighborhood is becoming thanks to the diligence of Berbers and Arabs in lush gardens with ornamental plant. The hot and dry climate, irrigation and fertilization provide rich land fertility, and therefore around the springs emerge large and small settlements. Vegetation in the oases is multilevel. High-rise slender date palm. Bananas drawing out long branches with heavy yellow green fruit. Under the shadows grow, bent by gravity, large and juicy peaches, apricots, zarzali, pomegranates. And in the northern oases of the Sahara grow citrus crops, almonds and vines that wrap the trunks of trees and are transferred by a wreath from tree to tree, decorated by large, colorful clusters. Under this vegetation are excited golden wheat fields. Limited spaces are planted with potatoes and peanuts. Zeleneyat to gardens and lawns of clover and alfalfa.