Do People Live in the Sahara Desert?

The Sahara Desert is as big as the United States. Ideally, this should be a good thing as it would support more human life, but it’s not! The desert has an average annual temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, sometimes reaching 40 degrees Celsius, making the conditions unbearable for human habitation.

The issue of high temperatures aside, very few plants and animals can survive there, most of which do not support human survival. However, no matter how bad the conditions in the Sahara are, a few people call it home. So, if you’ve always wondered whether there are people living in the Sahara, the answer is yes. This article provides more information about the people who reside in the largest desert in the world.

Has The Sahara Always Been a Desert?

Initially, the Sahara Desert was covered by the Tethys Sea. It eventually shrunk and left behind the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. This massive water loss reduced the rainfall experienced near the Sahara, turning it into a desert. According to archaeologists’ reports, the Sahara Desert was once full of life. They have, over time, dug up a dinosaur fossil from the region dating back to 80 million years ago.

Archeologists believe the Sahara Desert was occupied by the ancestral Berbers who resided in the Tenere region of Niger. As the Bronze Age set in Northern Africa, the Sahara played a crucial role in the trans-Saharan trade.

Who Are The People Living in The Sahara Desert?

As the sea dried up, the locals moved further away from the Sahara in a literal search for greener pastures. However, there are some nomadic tribes, such as the Tuareg, which make up the largest percentage, who remained behind. The Moors, Bedouins, and Toubout also remained.

Because the Sahara is surrounded by sand and dust, these tribes had no option but to embrace the nomadic way of life. They ride on their camels, moving from one oasis to another. To safeguard these water points, they erect fences made out of palm trees. The people living in the Sahara Desert wear loose-fitting clothing to prevent sweating, which may lead to dehydration.

Are There Plants and Animals in the Sahara Desert?

Apart from people, several plant and animal species inhabit the Sahara Desert. Plants such as the date palm thrive really well in the Sahara. It produces dates, which is a staple food for the nomads. Other plants that grow in the Sahara include acacia, desert gourd, tamarisk, doum palm, and cypress.

As for animals, camels are the main domestic animals the locals in the Sahara Desert rely on. Unlike other animals, camels can withstand harsh temperatures and go for extended periods without drinking water. The wild animals in the Sahara include the African wild dog, the hyrax, desert crocodile, and scorpions. There are also tens of birds and reptiles in the Sahara.

Urban Centers That Grew Because of the Sahara Desert and its Effects

Like any other society, the occupants of the Sahara Desert had to survive. One of the ways they achieved this was by building cities in potential areas. A good example is the City of Cairo in Egypt. Even though only a part of Cairo belongs to the Sahara, it houses many tribes whose origins can be traced back to the desert. It is built along the banks of the Nile River, so it has access to water and a population of more than 20 million people.

The other place is the city of Giza, also positioned on the west bank of the Nile River, and has a population of 8.8 million people. Moving to the capital of Sudan, Khartoum is a thriving city located within the Sahara Desert; it has a population of 6.5 million people.

What Is The Future Like for People Living in the Sahara?

As the population in the cities increases, the number of nomads in the Sahara decreases. Thanks to technology and education, many young nomads are abandoning their lifestyle and moving to the cities in search of better futures.

With only the older generation remaining steadfast to the nomadic way of life, researchers believe the number of people will dwindle significantly in the next few decades. Fortunately, as part of the earth’s wobbling axis, the Sahara grows green every 21,000 years.

Eventually, this hot and sandy desert will turn into a green and lush forest that will be more supportive of life. In the meantime, Tuaregs, Toubouts, and Moors continue to struggle with adverse living conditions as they migrate from one oasis to another.