The Sahara is the worlds largest hot desert (as a pose to cold deserts like Antarctica, which is the only larger desert). Locally known as aṣ-ṣaḥrā´ al-kubra, quite literally “The Greatests Desert” the name is quite deserved; in fact, the Sahara covers almost 10million square kilometers of Northen Africa. Compare that to Europe’s 10180000 square miles and USA’s 9,826,675 and it’s size is truly spectacular.

Photo: Luca Galuzzi – www.galuzzi.it 

The name alone “Sahara” conjures images of sea of sand, sun and dunes… Some may even immagine the scattered oasis or camel… the lives of countless individuals, groups, tribes and civilizations have revolved around the Sahara.

Photo: The World’s Work Walter Hines Page, Arthur Wilson Page Published 1908 Doubleday, Page & Company)