Africa is home to the Sahara, the world’s largest hot desert, stretching across much of North Africa and covering approximately 9.2 million square kilometres.
But despite its reputation for endless sand dunes, the Sahara is far more diverse than many people imagine.
The Sahara is not just sand
One of the most surprising facts about the Sahara is that sand dunes cover only a portion of its vast landscape.
Much of the desert consists of rocky plateaus, gravel plains and mountains, with some peaks rising more than 3,000 metres above sea level.
The Sahara also stretches across several countries, including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia.
The Sahara was once much greener
Thousands of years ago, parts of today’s Sahara supported lakes, grasslands and wildlife during a period known as the African Humid Period.
Ancient rock paintings found across the region depict animals such as giraffes, cattle and other species associated with wetter environments.
These discoveries offer a glimpse into a very different North African landscape.
Today, the Sahara remains one of Earth’s most remarkable natural environments, reminding us how dramatically the planet’s climate and landscapes can change over time.