What are Africa’s largest deserts? Because the vast portion of Africa is covered in desert, you will have no difficulty finding one to visit. The African deserts, which run from the Mediterranean Sea to South Africa and from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, contain some of the world’s harshest and most breathtaking landscapes and conditions.
While deserts may appear to be a bleak wasteland, they actually provide a window into hundreds or millions of years of ancient societies and environments. Additionally, several deserts offer excellent animal viewing possibilities, and as such, we shall explore Africa’s Largest Deserts.
Top 10 Largest Deserts in Africa
The Sahara Desert
The Sahara is thought to be Africa’s largest desert. There is no denying that this is the world’s most popular dessert. It is the world’s largest desert, covering an area of 3.3 million square miles and continuing to grow.
This region encompasses a quarter of the continent, including Tunisia and Mauritania, as well as the Sahel and Niger regions of Africa. The terrain is made up of mountains, dunes, and salt flats.
To the north are the Atlas Mountains, to the east are the Mediterranean Sea, to the east is the Red Sea, and to the west is the Atlantic Ocean. They collectively define the Sahara’s limits. Each region of the Sahara has its own climate, rainfall, flora, and fauna, which distinguishes it from the others.
As a result, there are dunes, volcanoes, rocky plateaus, and an oasis, all of which facilitated the formation of economic linkages between North African ports and the inhabitants of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Kalahari Desert
It had already achieved prominence prior to its inclusion in the film “The Gods Must Be Crazy.” The video featured just the nomadic people of Botswana who resided in the area, as well as their habits and ways of life.
The Kalahari Desert, which is found in southern Africa, covers a large portion of Botswana, as well as parts of Namibia and South Africa. Due to the fact that the Kalahari receives more than ten inches of rain each year, some scientists argue that it is not a true desert.
Acacia trees, spiky bushes, and tough grasses may all grow in the desert with an annual rainfall of between 4 and 20 inches.
The Namib Desert
Africa’s southernmost region is characterized by coastal deserts. Its name alludes to a vast territory. Angola, Namibia, and South Africa share a 2,000-kilometer-long coastline with the desert. It is the world’s oldest desert.
We are 55 million years removed from its emergence. It’s a barren landscape dotted with sand dunes and a few mountains. Succulent plants and lichens can be found along the desert’s bleak and devoid of vegetation coast.
The Namib’s arid winds combine with the Atlantic’s Benguela current to create an extremely arid climate. Numerous desert plants and animals rely on dense fogs created by these extreme pressures as their primary supply of water.
Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia’s largest conservation area, is located in the dry desert.
Nubia’s Desert
Africa’s fourth-largest desert is the Nubian Desert. It is located between the Red Sea and the Nile in the eastern Sahara desert, covering an area of around 400,000 square kilometers. On the sandy plains, just a few patches of flora can be observed.
The Nubians were the land’s original occupants. Turtles are well-known for their ability to move from one location to another. The Nubian Desert is home to the majority of the Nile’s cataracts. It is located immediately before the Nile’s Great Bend.
Egypt’s civilization was impacted in numerous ways by the Nubian Desert. In the prehistoric past, trade and commerce between Egypt and Nubia’s ancient civilizations occurred over the Nubian Desert.
The Libyan Desert
Libya’s desert covers a significant chunk of Africa’s continent. The Libyan Desert is rectangular in shape and is approximately 1,100,000 square kilometers in size. In contrast to the Sahara, this region is covered in rocks, sand, and Hamda.
Due to the lack of rivers, inflow and outflow are impossible. The Libyan desert, legend has it, is the most deadly place on Earth. Temperatures can climb to nearly 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer and plunge to zero in an instant at night, making it one of Africa’s Top 10 Hottest Countries.
Temperatures can drop as low as 9 °C (16 °F) at night, with an average daily temperature of roughly 27 °C (81 °F).
The Karoo Desert
South Africa is home to the Karoo Desert, one of Africa’s largest with massive sand dunes. It is located in the semi-arid region of South Africa. This huge region is comprised of the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south.
The Succulent Karoo, located in the west, receives its yearly winter rains from the Atlantic Ocean. It covers an area of 400,000 square kilometers and is composed of igneous and sedimentary materials.
The Succulent Karoo is thought to have more succulent species than any other region on Earth. For decades, residents have drawn water from the Karoo’s subterranean water supply, allowing Nama Karoo to be utilized for sheep and goat herding.
The Blue Desert
The “Blue Desert” is an area of the Sinai desert near Dahab, Egypt, where a large proportion of the rocks are blue in color. In contrast to the Black and White Deserts, the Blue Desert is a man-made structure.
The artist made this work of art following the signing of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty in 1980. During the Blue Desert, Egyptian President Mohamed Anwar Al Sadat granted Belgian artist Jean Verame permission to paint the Sinai desert rocks blue as a sign of peace.
Western Sahara
The 102,700-square-mile land, formerly known as the Spanish Sahara, is predominantly desolate and dry, with little flora.
Only Berbers and Arabs dwell in this region, both of whom are accustomed to the region’s deplorable conditions.
The territory’s northern and southern portions may have phosphate reserves.
The Algerian Desert
Algerian desert is located in northern central Africa, inside the Saharan region. This desert, which covers approximately half of Algeria, is characterized by massive sand dunes reminiscent of those found in the Sahara.
The Tassulin’Ajjer mountain range is a popular tourist destination in the southwest section of the desert.
The Desert of The Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains, often known as the Atlas Desert, are located in North Africa. Given its position, a mountain range is logically anticipated to be covered in lush flora.
On the other hand, the exposed Saharan wind side of the mountain is arid. The Atlas Mountains reach a height of 4 165 meters (this being its highest peak). Additionally, it is one of Africa’s largest deserts.
