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Deserts
A dry, often sandy region of little rainfall, extreme temperatures, and sparse vegetation
5,820 Questions
How does an Ostrich survive in the desert?
Because a desert is an arid climate with intense heat that lizards need to survive. They are cold blooded and need the terrain they live in to regulate their body temperature rather than regulate it themselves like mammals. The fact that their skin is scaly and rough helps as well because with skin like that you do not lose any moisture like other creatures, so they can go long periods of time without water, not unlike the cactus with thorns and big hollow like leaves that trap water and hold moisture for extended periods of time because obviously in a desert is does not rain all that often.
Why is the Simpson desert so attractive?
The Simpson Desert is one of several deserts in Australia, but has some unique features wch makeit an attractive place for tourists. It covers about 180,000 square kilometres in central Australia, spanning the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. It is the fourth-largest desert in Australia.
The Simpson Desert has some interesting things to see. These include:
- Dalhousie Springs, where you can enjoy hot springs
- the Birdsville Track
- the Old Ghan Heritage Track
- Chambers Pillar, a 50m sandstone pillar
- the Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve
- Poeppel Corner
- incredible sand dunes - there are over 1,100 sand dunes running parallel to each other in a north-south direction
- rich desert scenery and sunsets
Is the right side of the Red Sea a desert?
This is an interesting question involving English usage. Most English-speakers would probably say with confidence that the Red Sea is a sea and not an ocean.
The terms 'sea' and 'ocean' generally mean exactly the same thing; however, a large inland area of salt water is frequently described as a 'sea', while the word 'ocean' is more usually applied to any one of the five main divisions of the sea (or ocean) which covers most of the Earth's surface: the Antarctic, Arctic, Atlantic, Indian and Pacific, and this is why we'd be inclined to suggest the Red Sea is not an ocean.
We like to think of very large bodies of water as oceans and smaller bodies of water as seas, and this is reflected in the English names given to areas of seawater worldwide.
However, while it can be argued, especially from a literary point of view, that the Red Sea is an ocean, and the Red Sea can certainly be described as an ocean of water, we cannot say with absolute certainty that it is not, by definition, an ocean. We can, though, safely refer to it as a sea without any argument at all, because not only is it by definition a sea, it is also by popular usage a sea.
Popular usage is what, in the end, really counts when it comes to deciding which words are right or, at least, most nearly correct: at the end of the discussion the man in the street (you and me) has the final say: if a majority of people use a word or phrase in a certain way, that way must be accepted as the right way, and the term will eventually appear in dictionaries.
What I am trying, clumsily, to say, is that we cannot state the Red Sea is definitely not an ocean, but we can state that it definitely is a sea. Unless you have some special need to use the term 'ocean' in describing it, you will save possible debate by simply calling it a sea and leaving it at that.
To add some geographical information, the Red Sea is a tropical saltwater inlet between the Indian Ocean (which can also be called a sea) and the Mediterranean Sea (which few people would object to calling an ocean).
The Red Sea divides part of north-east Africa - particularly Egypt and the Sudan, to the west - from the Asian countries of Saudi Arabia and the Yemen, to the east.
The northern part of the Red Sea connects to the Gulf of Suez, which joins the man-made Suez Canal, finally linking the inlet to the Mediterranean Sea.
The southern end of the Red Sea joins the Gulf of Aden via the Bab el Mandeb strait, leading through the Arabian Sea into the Indian Ocean.
There are many theories about the origin of the Red Sea's name; one suggestion, and probably the most popular (which doesn't necessarily mean the most accurate), is that it comes from algae which sometimes give the sea a reddish appearance when in bloom.
Other suggestions include names of early peoples inhabiting its shores, as well as various geographical and other historical associations.
The waters of the Red Sea are extremely warm year-round, and high evaporation makes the inlet one of the most salty bodies of water in the world, with levels between ~36% and 41%. The average salinity worldwide is ~35%. .
The saltiest body of water on Earth is the Don Juan Pond, in Antarctica; its overall salinity level is more than 40%.
The Don Juan Pond is a lake: another example of words we use to describe bodies of water. It is worth noting that the British sometimes refer to the Atlantic Ocean, which they also call the Atlantic Sea, as The Pond.
What is the terrain like in the Sahara desert?
The topography of Africa is: Forests, lakes, rivers, mountains, hills, trees, grass, plants.
Algeria in Nth Arica.
How are the product of the desert used?
1. Sand - value depends on quality and grain size
2. Tourist appeal
3. Oil, gas & water depending on the underground resources
4. Life skills & technologies from flora & fauna that survive in the deserts.
5. Two food products come from the "Prickley Pear" cactus.
1. The large egg shaped fruit which forms after the beautiful flowers
are gone is "de-thorned," removed, peeled, and the inside has a
very sweet pulp which is used to make dessert gels and glazes.
It can also be eaten directly, but it has lots of seeds which makes
the process very time consuming, but occasionally worth the effort.
The Mexican people call this fruit "Tuna."
6. The leaves of the same Prickly Pear cactus are also edible once the
needles have been removed [generally by burning them off]. I think
Mexicans call this "Nopalito."
Also, in Texas [maybe elsewhere], when there is drought and shortage
of forage grass and water for the cattle, the cattle, in desperation, will
eat the leaves, spines or thorns and all, ruining their lips, mouths, and
and tongues, resulting in not being able to eat,and eventual starvation.
During a drought, the ranchers will carefully burn off all the catus
needles so that the cactus is then safe for the cattle to eat. Not only
are the leaves nutricous [spelling?], but they contain a great amount of
water. Often, it there is enough catus to outlast the drought, the cattle
will survive.
7. There is another cactus, in Texas commonly known as the "Century
Plant." I'm not sure of the spelling of the Spanish name, but it's
something like "Megehey." This planty has many uses, its juice is used
to make a basic beer, which I think is called "Pulque" [again, spelling?]
I think the same juice is also used to make Tequila. The fibre, once
separated from the pulp and other material, is used for thread,
weaving mats, chair seats, and other such clothlike items.
Which part of India is covered by tropical desert?
Some of the Asian deserts are classified as hot subtropical deserts, such as the Thar Desert and the Arabian Desert. Some Asian deserts are classified as cold winter deserts, such as the Taklamakan Desert and the Gobi Desert.
What places do not receive rainfall any time of the year?
Antarctica and the Atacama Desert receive virtually no precipitation each year and are the two driest regions on earth.
What is the average rainfall in patagonia desert?
it rains about 30-50 percent and the climate is windy
What are the decomposers in a hot desert?
A common misconception is that the main decomposers in deserts are Dung beetle and termites..... Dung beetles and termites are detritivores which means they feed on dead organic matter (like "dung"). The main decomposers in a desert ecosystem as in any are bacteria and fungi.
Why might it be advisable to wear sunglasses in the North African desert?
Because of the glare and the possibility of uv damage to your eyes.
What is the worlds largest desert called?
The world's largest desert is called Sahara desert in Northern Africa.
Why do floods in the desert occur even though it may not be raining?
Many deserts get no rainfall directly, but are in the path of drainage channels (dry river beds) that carry water from the mountains or higher elevations. Because there is little vegetation and limited absorption by the ground, water from a storm or melting snow can create large floods where there is ordinarily little or no year-round surface water.
How do you grow crops in the desert?
crops that grow well in the desert are mostly cacti,sugar beets, barley,prickly pears and alfalfa hay. Patato's do ok in the desert they like to heat up during the day and cool off during the night. but they can not grow in sand they have to have some soil. a non crop that grows will in the desert is sage brush.
Is a dry desert an example of a microclimate?
No, the desert climate is a major climate zone and not an example of a microclimate. There are, however, microclimates found in deserts.
What animals are in the Chihuahuan Desert in Texas?
Herbivores of the Chihuahuan Desert:
Rodents such as kangaroo rats, squirrels, mice
Jackrabbits and cottontails
Insects such as grasshoppers
Deer
Bighorn sheep
Pronghorns
Javelinas
others
What are the desert areas of Australia called?
The Outback, or the Desert.
The desert proper is rarely called the Outback; but certainly much of the territory bordering true desert and even the Nullabor Plain itself can be called the Outback
What is a large desert area found in the US?
The southwest United States is the largest region of deserts in the United States. It contains the following:
Great Basin Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
Sonoran Desert
Mojave Desert (including Death Valley)
Colorado Plateau Desert (including the Painted Desert)
What are some examples of nonliving items in the desert?
Soil, rocks, sand, gravel, water, air and light are all nonliving (abiotic) factors in the Mojave Desert.
What is the difference between the Gobi Desert and the Atacama Desert?
The Patagonian Desert (260,000 square miles) is much larger than the Atacama Desert (54,000 square miles).
