Sahara Desert

by Leo

The Sahara desert is one of the hottest and biggest deserts in the world, being almost as big as China and having an average temperature of around 90 degrees. This place, though hot and dry, has a variety of animals. There are approximately 500 species of plants, 70 known mammalian species, 90 avian species and 100 reptilian species that live in the Sahara, plus several species of spiders, scorpions and other small arthropods that live in this desert. But this is a place where lots of plants and animals live.

This ecosystem is threatened. Plants, wildlife and the overall ecosystem of the Sahara Desert are threatened by human activities, such as overstocking livestock, an increasing demand for firewood, irrigation development and hunting for food and sport. This place has lots of life and is magnificent but global warming is increasing the incidence of drought, which dries up water holes. Higher temperatures may produce an increasing number of wildfires that alter desert landscapes by eliminating slow-growing trees and shrubs and replacing them with fast-growing grasses which is taking out the diversity in this desert.

The world is changing because of global warming and we need to protect our planet and the places and animals we care about and love to save our beautiful plants and animals.

Click here to find a video and pictures of the Sahara.