Physical Features of the Sahara and the Sahel Answers

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information:The Sahel region is a dry grassland area that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. This area is a transition zone between the Sahara Desert in the north and the tropical savannas to the south. It is more heavily populated than the Sahara, and rainfall varies greatly from year to year. Some years, it never rains. This is known as a drought or dry period.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information:The Sahara covers most of northern Africa. It is the largest desert in the world and is about the same size as the US. Sand dunes and ridges reach more than a thousand feet high, and some mountains are as high as 13,000 ft. tall. The desert is home to important minerals, including oil. The climate is very dry and very hot. On average, the Sahara gets less than three inches of rain per year, and the highest temperature ever recorded was 136 degrees, in Libya. Very few people live in the Sahara, but some live near one of more than 90 oases.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Africa is thought by some to be the birthplace of humankind. The oldest human fossils ever discovered were found here, and it is also home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information:The Nile is the longest river in the world, at more than 4,000 miles long. It flows north through Egypt and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The river is the only source of water for Egypt and Sudan, and is extremely important for agriculture. The river irrigates the surrounding farmland and allows farmers to grow crops like cotton. Most people in Egypt live in the river valley, and the largest cities, like Cairo, are located on its banks. It makes up just 3% of the land area of Egypt, but about 99% of the people live there.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information:Oases are small, isolated, fertile areas that lie throughout a desert. The water generally comes from wells or springs. In the Sahara, for example, there are about 90 large oases. Oases attract settlers, and people often live in villages and grow grains and fruits such as dates and melons.