Geography and History Activity Copy rrigh...The Sahara The Sahara is the world’s largest desert. It stretches across much of North Africa. For many years, the Sahara and other deserts

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NAME    DATE    CLASS 

African Civilizations

Geography and History Activity

Lesson 1 The Rise of African Civilizations

Understanding Location: The SaharaThe Sahara is the world’s largest desert. It stretches across much of North Africa. For many years, the Sahara and other deserts limited travel and trade across the African continent. People in Africa were forced to travel along the coastal areas to avoid the deserts. Though transportation across the Sahara improved over time, the vast desert remains a harsh environment. The Sahara strongly affects the lives of people who live in and around it.

Sahara Elevation Map

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DOPW (Discovering our Past - World)

RESGChapter 15Map Title: The SaharaFile Name: C15_L1_wsgh_01A.aiMap Size: 39p6 x 18p6Date/Proof: Feb 10, 2011 - First Proof

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Land and ClimateThe landscape of the Sahara includes many different types of landforms. Plains, plateaus, mountains, and shallow basins all appear in the desert. Sand sheets, or thin, wavy surfaces of sand, and sand dunes also cover about 25 percent of the desert’s area. Sand dunes in the Sahara can form in a number of different shapes. Some of these dunes are believed to reach up to 1,000 feet (305 m) high. These landforms also span a wide range of elevation. The highest point in the desert reaches more than 11,000 feet (3353 meters) high. Meanwhile, the lowest point in the Sahara sits at more than 400 feet (122 meters) below sea level. 

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NAME    DATE    CLASS 

African Civilizations

Geography and History Activity Cont.

Scientists believe that the area of the Sahara has had a desert climate for about five million years. The Sahara averages only a few inches of precipitation a year. Temperatures can vary a great deal, even within the same day. In the northern part of the Sahara, the average low temperature is around 36 ºF  (20 ºC). High temperatures in the summer months have reached as hot as 136 ºF (58 ºC). On the other hand, mountain areas with high elevations have experienced temperatures as cold as 5 ºF (–15 ºC). 

PeopleThe Sahara covers an area about the same size as the United States. However, the harsh conditions have limited the number of people who can live there. In fact, only about 2.5 million people live in the desert today. Many groups move from place to place as their animals graze on the scarce vegetation. People can only settle permanently near oases in the desert. In these locations, irrigation allows settlers to raise some crops for food. Even in these oasis areas, the supply of water in the Sahara is limited. People must take steps to make sure that they do not overuse the water found there.

TransportationAs in early African times, transportation in the Sahara remains very limited. Today, most camel caravans have stopped. A few caravans do still carry salt through the desert. Most present-day travel in the Sahara uses trucks. These trucks have special equipment to make them suitable for desert travel. Like the caravans of early Africa, these trucks often travel in groups along old trade routes. Away from these main trade routes, four-wheel drive vehicles are required for most travel. Travelers venturing into the open desert are encouraged to bring two vehicles, spare tires, and emergency supplies of food, water, and fuel. Maps cannot be used to navigate large portions of the desert. In these places, navigational aids, such as GPS devices, must be used.

Scholars have learned a great deal about the Sahara in recent times. However, in many ways it remains as it was in early African times—a barrier to settlement and migration.

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NAME    DATE    CLASS 

African Civilizations

Geography and History Activity Cont.

Directions Answer the following questions.

Understanding the Concept1. Identifying What types of landforms are found in the Sahara? 

2. Locating In what parts of the Sahara have groups been able to settle permanently?

3. Describing How would you describe the temperatures of the Sahara? 

Applying the Concept4. Predicting What do you think might happen if people were to overuse the few sources of water found in the Sahara? 

5. Making Connections What are some other geographical features that have limited settlement and migration of people in history? 

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