African Desert Facts for Kids

The continent of Africa encompasses many deserts including the Sahara Desert, Kalahari Desert, Namib Desert, Nubian Desert, Libyan Desert, Karoo Desert, Blue Desert, Western Sahara, Algerian Desert and Atlas Mountains. The Sahara Desert is present across the majority of North Africa and is the biggest hot desert in the world. Experts originally believed that the formation of the African Deserts began 3-4 million years ago. However, the recent discovery of a 7 million year old sand dune has since led us to believe that the history of the African deserts may have started millions of years earlier.

Check out our printable fact sheets on African Deserts for the most interesting facts for kids. Learn important information about desert ecosystems, biomes, wildlife, birds, plant life and vegetation, climate, temperature, rainfall, history, formation, size and locations of the amazing African Deserts.

Interesting Facts about African Deserts for Kids:- Factsmania's printable facts sheet about the African Deserts are ideal for kids and school teachers looking for a list of fun facts for homework help or as a useful information guide to some of the hottest places on Earth. Did you know that the African Deserts formed millions of years ago? Did you know that many species of plants and animals exist in African Desert biomes? Did you know that the term 'desertification' can be defined as the process by which fertile land becomes desert and it is a problem that occurs largely in the Sahara Desert?

Interesting Facts about African Deserts for Kids:- Our list of Interesting African Desert Facts for Kids is free to print and includes key facts about the African Deserts including the Sahara Desert, Kalahari Desert, Namib Desert, Nubian Desert, Libyan Desert, Karoo Desert, Blue Desert, Western Sahara, Algerian Desert and Atlas Mountains?

Interesting Facts about African Deserts for Kids

African Deserts Fact File for Kids:- Name of African Deserts: Sahara Desert, Kalahari Desert, Namib Desert, Nubian Desert, Libyan Desert, Karoo Desert, Blue Desert, Western Sahara, Algerian Desert and Atlas Mountains ***Average Temperature in North Sahara: 36 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) *** Average Temperature in South Sahara: 31.5 degrees Fahrenheit (17.5 degrees Celsius) *** Average Climate and Weather Conditions of the African Deserts: Hot and dry, low precipitation ***

Interesting Facts for Kids 1:- What are the names of the African deserts and where are they located?
Being the second largest continent in the world, Africa has 10 vast deserts. The Sahara Desert is both the largest desert in Africa and the entire world. The names of Africa's major desert biomes include the Sahara Desert, Kalahari Desert, Namib Desert, Nubian Desert, Libyan Desert, Karoo Desert, Blue Desert, Western Sahara, Algerian Desert and Atlas Mountains (a desert mountain).

Interesting Facts for Kids 2:- The Sahara Desert stretches across 3.3 million Sq miles of land. Reports reveal that the Sahara is still growing and expanding due to desertification. The Sahara forms around 25% of the African continent and occupies areas of numerous countries of North Africa including Algeria, Niger, Sudan, Morocco, Mali Libya, Egypt, Mauritania and Tunisia.

The Kalahari Desert occupies 362,500 Sq Miles towards Southern Africa including Botswana and Namibia. The Namib Desert occupies around 2000 kilometers along the coastal side of countries like Angola, Namibia and South Africa. The Nubian desert covers an area of 400,000 Sq Km and is located towards the eastern side of Sahara and runs between the Nile and Red Sea. Shaped like a rectangle at 1100km by 1000 km dimension, the Libyan desert covers an area of 1,100,000 sq km. The Karoo Desert receives some rainfall during the winter and therefore it is a semi-dessert. It occupies an area of 400,000 sq km in the form section, the Greater Karoo and the Lesser Karoo located towards the north and south respectively. The Blue Desert is a rather small area and has been named after the blue painted rocks by artist Jean Verame to commemorate a peace treaty. It is located near the Red Sea. The Sahara is divided into Western and Eastern sections by Highlands. The north eastern part that lies near to the River Nile is known as Western Sahara and covers approximately 102,700 sq miles. The Algerian desert, as the name suggests, covers most of Algeria and forms part of Sahara located towards the northern side of Central Africa. The Atlas Mountains has a height of 4,165 m on its highest peak and it is a desert mountain.

Interesting Facts for Kids 3:- What is the average temperature in the African deserts?
The temperature of the African deserts vary from the rest of Africa. The average temperature is about 30 degrees C annually. The mean summer temperature is approximately 40 degrees C and during summer it can rise up to 47 degrees C. The highest temperature recorded in Africa occurred in Libya in Africa on 13th September, 1922 at a 136 degree Fahrenheit at Al'Aziziya. For many years, it was considered the highest temperature in the world on record.

Interesting Facts for Kids 4:- What is the climate of the African Deserts?
There are several climate zones in Africa and the arid deserts have the highest temperatures. The day and night temperatures vary greatly. The African deserts mainly cover the northern part of the continent and receive approximately 500mm of rainfall annually. Africa is the hottest continent of the world and the vast stretch of deserts are a proof to this. Approximately 60% of the African continent is covered by dry deserts. Dust storms are very common in the deserts and drought situations occur during the summer months. The summers are unbearable along the coastal lines due to high temperatures and intense heat, as opposed to the mountains areas which typically experience moderate temperatures. Sand storms and wind occur mostly during the spring season. The month of August typically produce the hottest days in the year.

Interesting Facts for Kids 5:- African Deserts Rainfall
The African deserts receive an average of 500mm rainfall in a year. Rainfall is a rare scene on the arid deserts of Africa. Precipitation is very low and studies reveal that the maximum rain received by the largest desert of Sahara doesn't exceed 100mm in a year. The deserts are hyper arid almost all through the year and there are places which haven't seen even a drop of rain for years. Most of the annual rainfall comes to the southern region during the hot summers when the area comes in the InterTropical Convergence Zone (the climate equator).

Interesting Facts for Kids 6:- How big are the African Deserts?
The biggest African desert is the Sahara which is approximately 9,400,000 square kilometers (3,600,000 square miles). The second biggest is the Kalahari desert which is 938,870 square kilometers (362,500 square miles).

Interesting Facts for Kids 7:- What animals live in the African deserts?
The African deserts are home to many species of animals including the African Desert Tortoise, African Desert Cat, African Desert Lizard, Barbary sheep, oryx, baboon, hyena, gazelle, jackal and sand fox. The African deserts provide a home to over 70 species of mammals, 90 types of birds, 100 reptile species and several arthropods. The most popular animal found living in the African deserts is the Dromedary camel. This hardy animal provides an important mode of transport. There are birds such as ostriches which are native to the African continent, bustards and secretary birds. There are many types of reptiles such as cobras, chameleons, skinks, crocodiles and arthropods including spiders, beetles and ants.

Interesting Facts for Kids 8:- What adaptations do animals have to make in the African deserts?
The animals of the African deserts have to make many adaptations in order to avoid predators and to survive its extreme climate conditions. The weather is always hyper arid and they often have to face strong sand storms as well as extreme temperature changes between day and night. The wildlife that survive in African biomes have a lot to contend with, to survive the hot climate of the day, most of the animals stay in burrows where they can shelter from intense heat. These animals tend to venture out to hunt for food at night when the climate is colder. Wildlife species make many adaptations to life in the African Deserts which suffer lack of vegetation and water sources. Some animal species, such as the dromedary camel, are hardy and resilient to extreme temperatures and are able to survive for days without consuming food or water. The wildlife create habitats in shaded areas where they can hide during the day whilst the African deserts experience the highest temperatures. Animals of lighter color are less susceptible to heat and can usually withstand higher temperatures for longer.

Interesting Facts for Kids 9:-  What is the main source of water for African deserts?
The main source of water for the African deserts come from two main river sources: the River Nile and Rile Niger. There are intermittent streams known as wadis that originate from the mountains. The oases also serve as water sources. Most of Africa's desert lands suffer drought conditions during the summers as rainfall is very low. Water resources such as rivers and oasis are sparse.

Interesting Facts for Kids 11:- What plants grow in the African deserts?
Many species of plant life can be found growing in the African deserts including trees, shrubs, cacti, herbs and grasses. Some of the most popular African desert plant names are the African Peyote cactus, date palms, tamarisks and acacia. These species grow near the oasis and have deep roots to reach the underground water. Plants are very rare in the deserts and only about 500 species of them have been found growing in the African deserts. To survive life in hot biomes, plants must be robust and resilient enough to adapt to the heat which often results in dry, nutritionally poor soils. The African Deserts can experience drought conditions, particularly during summertime when rainfall is low. Water resources such as rivers and oasis are sparse.

Interesting Facts for Kids 12:- How do plants adapt to the African deserts?
 Some types of African desert plants can survive extreme temperatures and salty conditions as they are equipped with thickly built stems which assist in retaining water for long periods of time. The leaves on many African desert plants are reduced to sharp spikes to help them retain moisture. The plants have had to adapt more so over the years as the land has become drier and therefore less fertile, and temperatures have risen. Plants have had to adapt to surviving on less water.

Interesting Facts for Kids 13:- African Desert Biome?
The African deserts form an important biome and provide an ecosystem vital to the survival of plants and animals. The flora and fauna of the African deserts support unique and rare species. Some of the oldest species can be found in these deserts. A huge reserve of dinosaur fossils have been recovered from this area. All plants and animals which exist in the African Deserts have had to adapt to harsh climates in order to survive. There are over 40 species of rats alone that exist in the African deserts. The herbivores such as the Dorcas Gazelle and the Camel feed on the sparse vegetation, and the food that they consume also serve as a water source. One of the most prominent omnivores is the desert fox that feeds on rodents and plants. The Viper snake, hyena and other reptiles form the carnivores in the African food chain. The African biome is a very subtle one and a small disruption can cause major harm to the ecosystem.

Interesting Facts for Kids 14:- African desert tribes
There are mainly two tribes which exist in the African deserts. The names of the tribes are the Tuareg tribe and the Bedouin tribe. The Tuareg tribe have Berber roots and speak Berber language. They are of nomadic origin and follow the ancient trade routes. The Bedouin tribe are Arabs and speak the language of Arabic. They follow the Islamic religion and are mostly camel raisers or nomads.

Interesting Facts for Kids 15:- How did the African deserts form?
The formation of the African deserts was thought to have began around 3-4 million years ago. Studies are still underway to determine exactly how the African deserts formed and how old they are. A recent discovery leads us to believe that the African deserts are older than we initially anticipated. The existence of a 7 million year old sand dune has been discovered which could change the true age of the African deserts as we believed it to be. It has been attributed to the shrinking of the giant river of Tethys. Over 7 million years ago, the landscape of Africa is thought to have been a lush Greenland. There are some reports suggesting that the excessive settling of humans along the coast of Tethys river led to excessive grazing and also contributed to desertification.

Interesting Facts for Kids 16:-  African Deserts unusual facts
Experts have noted that a small shift in the Earth's axis may have contributed to the expansion of the African Deserts as it brought the Earth closer to 30 degree axis and thus increased the temperature in the area leading to lesser precipitation. The Pleistocene glacial stand may have also affected the climate in North Africa.

Interesting African Deserts Facts for Kids