The Sahara Desert: The Largest Desert in the World
The Sahara Desert is recognized as the largest hot desert in the world, covering an extensive area across North Africa.
Key Characteristics of the Sahara Desert:
- Size: The Sahara spans approximately 9.2 million square kilometers (3.6 million square miles), making it larger than the entire United States.
- Location: It stretches across several countries, including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, and Tunisia.
- Climate: The Sahara is characterized by extreme temperatures, with daytime highs often exceeding 50°C (122°F) in summer and can drop below freezing at night in winter.
- Ecosystem: Despite its arid conditions, the Sahara is home to various flora and fauna adapted to its environment, including camels, scorpions, and various plant species.
Comparison with Other Deserts:
- Thar Desert: Located in India and Pakistan, it covers around 200,000 square kilometers, significantly smaller than the Sahara.
- Kalahari Desert: Found in Southern Africa, it covers about 900,000 square kilometers, again much smaller than the Sahara.
- Namib Desert: Located along the coast of Namibia, it spans approximately 81,000 square kilometers, making it the smallest among the options.
Conclusion:
Given the vast size and unique features, the Sahara Desert stands out as the largest desert in the world. Its significance in geography and ecology makes it a crucial area of study for understanding desert environments. Thus, option 'C', the Sahara, is indeed the correct answer.