In Arabic, Sahara means "wilderness," "wild," or "desert." It is a fitting name given to the large sand mass that covers much of North Africa. The Sahara Desert is typically known for being hot. While this is true during the day, it gets really cold during the night. Travelers that sleep in the Sahara must bring extra coats or blankets to stay warm. Since there aren't lights in the Sahara Desert, the stars shine very brightly and it is incredibly beautiful. The Sahara doesn't have many animals, but the ones I saw were camels, scorpions, snakes, and the cats and dogs in Merzouga, a small town where I began my journey into the Sahara Desert. There are roughly ten Moroccan towns that are either in the Sahara or right on its border.
There are several things about the Sahara Desert that make it unique. To help you put the size of the Sahara Desert in perspective, did you know it is roughly the size of the United States of America? Yes, can you imagine all of the U.S. being just sand? Also, the Sahara Desert is one of the hottest regions in the world. During the hottest months of the year, temperatures in the Sahara Desert can get over 120 degrees Farenheight! Travelers need proper clothing to protect from the sun, and also lots of water! There is only one river that flows through the Sahara Desert: the Nile River.
