Negev Desert Facts for Kids

The Negev Desert is located in the Middle East in the country of Israel. It covers a large area of approximately 13,000 square kilometers (4,700 square miles) and accounts for around half of Israel's landform. The Negev Desert is an ancient desert steeped in history, it has seen the rise and fall of many empires, having seen ancient civilizations including the Roman, the pre-historic, and Biblical times.

Factsmania has compiled printable fact sheets covering the most important and interesting facts about the Negev Desert for kids with key information about Israel's efforts against the global trend of desertification, the Negev Desert formation, ecosystem of plants, animals and birds, climate conditions, average temperatures, precipitation, landscape and vegetation, history, size and location of the Negev Desert in Southern Israel.

Interesting Negev Desert Facts for Kids:- Our interesting facts sheet about the Negev Desert can be used as a free, printable guide to the deserts of Israel for schools and teachers. Our list of fun facts about the Negev Desert in Israel can help kids with homework or can be used as an informative guide to the structure of the Negev Desert. Did you know that the people of Israel plan to expand the use of renewable energy and are building solar farms in the Negev Desert to provide electricity to the entire country? Did you know that the Israelis may one day succeed in reversing the global trend of desertification and make the Negev Desert landscape fertile again.? Did you know that the term 'desertification' can be defined as the process by which fertile land becomes desert? Did you know that the Negev Desert is very popular with tourists?

Interesting Negev Desert Facts for Kids:- Teachers and kids can print out our Interesting Negev Desert Biome Facts for free. Discover some of the most important facts about the country of Israel including how the Israelis are creating more renewable energy sources through solar farms, how the landscape of the Negev Desert is formed, why it is important, how desertification is being tackled in the Negev Desert in Israel, where the Negev Desert is located, what the climate and weather conditions are like, the average temperature of the Negev Desert region, which plants and animals are able to survive the arid weather conditions of the Negev Desert which determine its harsh climate, lack of vegetation and water resources?

Interesting Negev Desert Facts for Kids

Negev Desert Fact File for Kids:- Location Facts: Southern Israel *** High Daytime Temperature: 38 degrees Celsius during summer months *** Average winter temperature: 21 degrees Celsius *** Precipitation: Low *** Size of the Negev Desert: 13,000 square kilometers (4,700 square miles) ***

Interesting Facts for Kids 1:- Where is the Negev Desert located?
The Negev is a large desert and semi desert region located in Southern Israel on the continent of Asia. This biome accounts for approximately half of Israel’s land area. The town of Be’er Sheva is the largest town situated in the Negev Desert. Due to its natural habitat, the town is a sparsely populated area. The Gulf of Aqaba and the resort city of Eilat lie to the south of the Negev Desert region.

Interesting Facts for Kids 3:- What is the temperature in the Negev Desert?
Like other types of deserts, the Negev Desert is subject to extreme temperature changes. The daytime temperature during the summer months can reach at high as 38 degrees Celsius and during the winter months, can fall a low as 4 degrees Celsius at night. The summer months in the Negev Desert experience an average temperature of around 34 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperatures experienced during the summer months are typically around 28 degrees Celsius. The winter months see an average temperature of around 21 degrees Celsius.

Interesting Facts for Kids 4:- What is the climate of the Negev Desert?
The climate in the Negev Desert is hot and dry like many other biomes of this type. However, when compared to other deserts in the world, such as the Thar Desert which is subject to much hotter weather conditions, the climate of the Negev Desert is bearable, particularly during the winter months between November and February when the climate can in fact, be very pleasant. The summer months in the Negev Desert are less bearable as the daytime temperature is much higher.

Interesting Facts for Kids 5:- Negev Desert Rainfall
Most of the year, the Negev Desert doesn't receive adequate rainfall. However, thunderstorms can occur during the month of October bringing much welcomed rainfall. Otherwise, for the most part of the year, rainfall is scanty and usually comes as a drizzle or light rain as opposed to heavy rainfall. The precipitation in the Negev Desert is very low and the region has never experienced an instance of snowfall.

Interesting Facts for Kids 6:- How big is the Negev Desert?
The Negev Desert covers a large area of approximately 13,000 square kilometers (4,700 square miles) and occurs throughout half of Israel. The Negev Desert takes on the shape of an inverted triangle with the western side bordering the Sinai Peninsula and the Eastern side bordering the Arabah valley.

Interesting Facts for Kids 7:- What animals live in the Negev Desert?
The Negev Desert is home to many species of animals including carnivorous as well as herbivorous animals. The types of wildlife found living in the Negev Desert include the vulture, Nubian Ibex, Hyrax, Hawk, as well as the camel. You can find the one-humped as well as the two-humped camel living in this biome, although, the Arabian camel, i.e. the one-humped camel, is more predominant in this region. The Nubian Ibex is a desert goat that requires water on a daily basis. It is also possible to spot Arabian leopards living in the Negev Desert as well as the Negev tortoise which is an endangered species found living in the western and central Negev Desert.

Interesting Facts for Kids 8:-  How do Negev Desert animals survive?
Animals living in the Negev Desert have to make many adaptations in order to survive. The vulture is the most common predator in this ecosystem and dominates the food chain. The vulture scavenges and feeds on the carcasses of dead animals. The Hyrax is a small rabbit-like animal without any ears. it is found living in the Negev Desert and cleverly uses the rocks to regulate its body temperature. Of course, no desert biome would be complete without the proverbial camel. The camel adapts to life in the Negev Desert region very well. The animal has thick lips which allows it to feed on thorny under bushes which are typical of the vegetation growing in the Negev Desert.

Interesting Facts for Kids 2:- Arabian Camel facts
The most common type of camel found living in this biome is the Arabian camel; a big, hardy animal perfectly adapted to the harsh climate of the Negev Desert. This mammal has many characteristics which helps it survive life in biomes like this: Camels store fat in their humps and can drink up to 46 litres of water in one day! This big animal is able to store a lot of energy which enables it to travel for days without food or water, a fantastic advantage as vegetation and water can be sparse in this type of biome. The Arabian Camels are herbivores so their diet consists of plants and grasses,  they have thick lips so they are not deterred by thorny plants! The Arabian Camel has three sets of eyelids and thick eyebrows which help protect their eyes from sand and dust. Even their nostrils are adapted well to harsh environments! Arabian Camels can open and close their nostrils in order to prevent sand from entering their nose. They have hair inside their ears which also protect them from sand and dust. Arabian camels have wide feet so they can walk across the sand comfortably without sinking.

Interesting Facts for Kids 9:- Negev Desert food chain facts
The Negev Desert food chain consists of the producers, consumers and the predators as in other types of deserts. The herbivorous animals feed on the plants. The carnivorous animals, on the other hand, feed on small insects as well these herbivorous animals. The vultures and hawks are the predators of the Negev Desert feeding on the dead remains of these animals.

Interesting Facts for Kids 10:-  What plants grow in the Negev Desert?
There are many types of plants growing in the Negev Desert including trees, shrubs, cacti, herbs, and grasses. Some of the most popular Negev Desert plant names include the Acacia, Pistacia, Retama, Urginea maritima, and Thymelaea. The doum palm can also be found growing in the Southern Negev Desert regions.

Interesting Facts for Kids 11:- Negev Desert plant adaptations
The plants of the Negev Desert have to adapt to its harsh climate which is subject to low precipitation and thus, nutritionally poor soil conditions. The climate is arid and dry throughout the year, hence, the plants do not have many leaves. The leaves develop into thorns that help the plant to retain water in adequate quantities.

Interesting Facts for Kids 13:-  Negev Desert landscape and vegetation facts
The formation of the Negev Desert consists mainly of sand and hilly terrain. However, this largely unpopulated desert, which accounts for around half of Israel, is slowly becoming green and fertile with tremendous enterprise shown by the Israeli people. Like many other biomes of this type, its formation consists of rocky and sandy mountains. The arid climate adds to the dryness of the area making it very difficult for vegetation to grow. Nevertheless, Israel is trying its best to reverse the global trend of desertification by trying to cultivate parts of the Negev Desert.

Interesting Facts for Kids 12:- Negev Desert tourism facts
The Negev Desert is popular with tourists from all over the world who visit to experience the stunning landscape and wildlife on organized guided tours or safari. The Negev Desert is full of wonderful surprises for the tourist and is a great place to visit for an activity or adventure holiday. There are a number of historical sites to experience as well as the Timna National Park that has the oldest copper mines in the world. Tourists can enjoy sand boarding on the dunes as well as rappelling down the cliffs of the Ramon crater. The Negev Desert has many biking and hiking trails. This has become the new adventure for tourists today.

Interesting Facts for Kids 14:- Why is the Negev Desert important?
The Negev desert is an ancient desert having seen many civilizations including the Roman, the pre-historic, and Biblical times. During the pre-historic times, it's thought that the region was very fertile as it received abundant rainfall. It has seen the rise and fall of many Empires. After the Romans took over, they converted the nomadic Nabateans to Christianity marking the beginning of the Byzantine period. Once the empire fell, the trading caravans deserted the Negev Desert leaving behind the Arabian nomads, the Bedouins. In more recent times, the 1990s saw the setting up of wine farms as well as solar parks later during the first decade of the 21st century. The Israelis plan to create sufficient solar parks in the Negev Desert to meet the electricity demands of the entire country.

Interesting Negev Desert Facts for Kids