World's Deserts

8/6/2019 World's Deserts

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Contents

Articles

Desert ecology 1

Deserts and xeric shrublands 1

List of deserts 6

List of deserts by area 8

Desert climate 11

Afromontane 13

Arabian Desert 15

Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert 19

Atacama Desert 21

Atlantic coastal desert 26

Baja California Desert 26

Caatinga 27

Carnarvon Xeric Shrublands 31

Central Asian northern desert 32

Central Mexican matorral 34

Central Ranges xeric scrub 35

Chihuahuan Desert 36

Cuban cactus scrub 39

Deccan thorn scrub forests 40

Dzungaria 42

East Saharan montane xeric woodlands 46

Eritrean coastal desert 47

Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands 48

Geography of Somalia 49

Gobi Desert 56

Gran Desierto de Altar 65

Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub 69

Gulf of California xeric scrub 71

Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert 71

Haloxylon recurvum 73

Hamada 74

Indus Valley Desert 75

Kaokoveld 76

Kazakh semi-desert 76


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List of flora of the LCRV (birdwatching) 78

List of North American Deserts 79

Madagascar spiny thickets 81

Matorral 83

Mojave Desert 84

Monte Desert 93

Muggins Mountains Wilderness flora 94

North Saharan steppe and woodlands 96

Northwestern thorn scrub forest 97

Nullarbor Plain 98

Sahara 103

Sahara Desert (ecoregion) 115

Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago 117

San Lucan xeric scrub 122

Sechura Desert 123

Shrubland 124

Sonoran Desert 127

South Saharan steppe and woodlands 130

Southwestern Arabian montane woodlands 131

Succulent Karoo 132

Taklamakan Desert 133

Tamaulipan matorral 138

Tamaulipan mezquital 139

Tehuacn Valley matorral 140

Thar Desert 141

Tibesti-Jebel Uweinat montane xeric woodlands 158

West Saharan montane xeric woodlands 160

Western Australian Mulga shrublands 162

Xerophyte 163Yucca brevifolia 167

References

Article Sources and Contributors 171

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 176

Article Licenses

License 182


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In isolation, Hawai'i's Silverswords have adapted

to xeric microclimates within volcanic craters,

trapping and channeling dew and protecting

leaves with reflective hairs.

Desertification

The conversion of productive drylands to desert conditions is known as

desertification, and can occur from a variety of causes. One factor is

human intervention in imposing intensive agricultural tillage or

overgrazing[2] in areas which cannot support such exploitation.

Climatic shifts such as global warming or the Milankovitch cycle

(which drives glacials and interglacials) also affect the pattern of

deserts on Earth.

Desert and xeric shrublands ecoregions

AfrotropicDeserts and xeric shrublands

Aldabra Island xeric scrub Seychelles

Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

East Saharan montane xeric woodlands Chad, Sudan

Eritrean coastal desert Djibouti, Eritrea

Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan

Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert Oman, United Arab Emirates

Hobyo grasslands and shrublands Somalia

Ile Europa and Bassas da India xeric scrub Bassas da India, Europa

Kalahari xeric savanna Botswana, Namibia, South Africa

Kaokoveld desert Angola, Namibia

Madagascar spiny thickets Madagascar

Madagascar succulent woodlands Madagascar

Masai xeric grasslands and shrublands Ethiopia, Kenya

Nama Karoo Namibia, South AfricaNamib desert Namibia

Namibian savanna woodlands Namibia

Red Sea coastal desert Egypt, Sudan

Socotra Island xeric shrublands Yemen

Somali montane xeric woodlands Somalia

Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Southwestern Arabian montane woodlands Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Succulent Karoo South Africa
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southwestern_Arabian_foothills_savannahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Somaliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Somali_montane_xeric_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Socotra_Island_xeric_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Sea_coastal_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibian_savanna_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namib_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nama_Karoohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethiopiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Masai_xeric_grasslands_and_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Madagascar_succulent_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angolahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaokoveld_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Botswanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalaharihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Europa_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bassas_da_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ile_Europa_and_Bassas_da_India_xeric_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Somaliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hobyo_grasslands_and_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Somaliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethiopiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Djiboutihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eritreahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Djiboutihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seychelleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aldabra_Island_xeric_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afrotropichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Interglacialshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glacialshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Milankovitch_cyclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Global_warminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Desertificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Silversword_Haleakala.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Silversword


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AustralasiaDeserts and xeric shrublands

Carnarvon xeric shrublands Australia

Central Ranges xeric scrub Australia

Gibson Desert Australia

Great Sandy-Tanami Desert Australia

Great Victoria Desert Australia

Nullarbor Plain xeric shrublands Australia

Pilbara shrublands Australia

Simpson Desert Australia

Tirari-Sturt's Stony Desert Australia

Western Australian mulga shrublands Australia

IndomalayaDeserts and xeric shrublands

Deccan thorn scrub forests India, Sri Lanka

Indus Valley desert India, Pakistan

Northwestern thorn scrub forests India, Pakistan

Thar desert India, Pakistan

NearcticDeserts and xeric shrublands

Baja California desert Mexico

Central Mexican matorral Mexico

Chihuahuan desert Mexico, United States

Colorado Plateau shrublands United States

Great Basin shrub steppe United States

Gulf of California xeric scrub Mexico

Meseta Central matorral Mexico

Mojave desert United States

Okanagan (South) shrub steppe Canada

Snake-Columbia shrub steppe United StatesSonoran desert Mexico, United States

Tamaulipan matorral Mexico

Tamaulipan mezquital Mexico

Wyoming Basin shrub steppe United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wyoming_Basin_shrub_steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonoran_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snake-Columbia_shrub_steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Okanagan_%28South%29_shrub_steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mojave_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meseta_Central_matorralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Basin_shrub_steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorado_Plateau_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chihuahuan_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baja_California_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nearctichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thar_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northwestern_thorn_scrub_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indus_Valley_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sri_Lankahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indomalayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_Australian_mulga_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tirari-Sturt%27s_Stony_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simpson_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pilbara_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nullarbor_Plain_xeric_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Victoria_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tanami_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Sandy_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gibson_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carnarvon_xeric_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australasia_ecozone


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NeotropicDeserts and xeric shrublands

Araya and Paria xeric scrub Venezuela

Aruba-Curaao-Bonaire cactus

scrub

Aruba, Bonaire, Curaao

Atacama desert Chile, Peru

Caatinga Brazil

Cayman Islands xeric scrub Cayman Islands

Cuban cactus scrub Cuba

Galpagos Islands xeric scrub Ecuador

Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub Colombia, Venezuela

La Costa xeric shrublands Venezuela

Leeward Islands xeric scrub Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Saint Barthlemy, Saba, US

Virgin Islands

Malpelo Island xeric scrub Colombia

Motagua Valley thornscrub Guatemala

Paraguana xeric scrub Venezuela

San Lucan xeric scrub Mexico

Sechura desert Peru

Tehuacn Valley matorral Mexico

Windward Islands xeric scrub Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Peter and Saint Paul rocks Brazil

this is because it gets only ten inches of precipitation a year

PalearcticDeserts and xeric shrublands

Afghan Mountains semi-desert Afghanistan

Alashan Plateau semi-desert China, Mongolia

Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Atlantic coastal desert Mauritania, Western Sahara

Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran

Badkhiz-Karabil semi-desert Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Baluchistan xeric woodlands Afghanistan, Pakistan

Caspian lowland desert Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan

Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands Afghanistan

Central Asian northern desert Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

Central Asian riparian woodlands Kazakhstan

Central Asian southern desert Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Central Persian desert basins Afghanistan, Iran

Eastern Gobi desert steppe China, Mongolia

Gobi Lakes Valley desert steppe Mongolia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mongoliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gobi_Lakes_Valley_desert_steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mongoliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Persian_desert_basinshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uzbekistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkmenistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazakhstanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Asian_southern_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazakhstanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Asian_riparian_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uzbekistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazakhstanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Afghan_Mountains_xeric_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkmenistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazakhstanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caspian_lowland_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baluchistan_xeric_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uzbekistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkmenistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tajikistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Badkhiz-Karabil_semi-deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Georgia_%28country%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Azerbaijanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Azerbaijan_shrub_desert_and_steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_Saharahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mauritaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Desert_and_East_Sahero-Arabian_xeric_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mongoliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alashan_Plateau_semi-deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afghan_Mountains_semi-deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Palearctichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Peter_and_Saint_Paul_rockshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Luciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martiniquehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grenadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dominicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barbadoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Windward_Islands_xeric_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sechura_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Venezuelahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paraguana_xeric_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guatemalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Motagua_Valley_thornscrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colombiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malpelo_Island_xeric_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=US_Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=US_Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sabahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Barth%C3%A9lemyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Martinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guadeloupehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antigua_and_Barbudahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anguillahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leeward_Islands_xeric_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Venezuelahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=La_Costa_xeric_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Venezuelahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colombiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ecuadorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gal%C3%A1pagos_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cubahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cayman_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cayman_Islands_xeric_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atacama_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cura%C3%A7aohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bonairehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arubahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aruba-Cura%C3%A7ao-Bonaire_cactus_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aruba-Cura%C3%A7ao-Bonaire_cactus_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Venezuelahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Araya_and_Paria_xeric_scrubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neotropic


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Great Lakes Basin desert steppe Mongolia, Russia

Junggar Basin semi-desert China, Mongolia

Kazakh semi-desert Kazakhstan

Kopet Dag semi-desert Iran, Turkmenistan

Mesopotamian shrub desert Iraq, Jordan, Syria

North Saharan steppe and woodlands Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara

Paropamisus xeric woodlands Afghanistan

Persian Gulf desert and semi-desert Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

Qaidam Basin semi-desert China

Red Sea Nubo-Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Rigestan-North Pakistan sandy desert Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan

Sahara desert Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan

South Iran Nubo-Sindian desert and semi-desert Iran, Iraq, Pakistan

South Saharan steppe and woodlands Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan

Taklimakan desert China

Tibesti-Jebel Uweinat montane xeric woodlands Chad, Egypt, Libya, Sudan

West Saharan montane xeric woodlands Algeria, Mali, Mauritania, Niger

References

[1] Merriam-Webster.com (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xeric) Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of xeric

[2] C.Michael Hogan. 2009. Overgrazing (http://www.eoearth.org/article/Overgrazing). Encyclopedia of Earth. Sidney Draggan, topic ed.;

Cutler J. Cleveland, ed., National council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC

External links

Deserts and xeric shrublands (World Wildlife Fund) (http://www.panda.org/news_facts/education/university/

habitats/index.cfm?habitatID=13)

Map of the ecozones (http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/ecoregions/maps/index.cfm)

Index to Deserts & Xeric Shrublands at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu (http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/

ecoframe-list.htm)

Xeric World (http://www.xericworld.com/forums/) Online Community focused on the study of Xeric Plant

Species.
http://www.xericworld.com/forums/http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/ecoframe-list.htmhttp://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/ecoframe-list.htmhttp://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/ecoregions/maps/index.cfmhttp://www.panda.org/news_facts/education/university/habitats/index.cfm?habitatID=13http://www.panda.org/news_facts/education/university/habitats/index.cfm?habitatID=13http://www.eoearth.org/article/Overgrazinghttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xerichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mauritaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mauritaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Iran_Nubo-Sindian_desert_and_semi-deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mauritaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rigestan-North_Pakistan_sandy_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Sea_Nubo-Sindian_tropical_desert_and_semi-deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Qaidam_Basin_semi-deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Qatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuwaithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bahrainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Persian_Gulf_desert_and_semi-deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paropamisus_xeric_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_Saharahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tunisiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moroccohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mesopotamian_shrub_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkmenistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kopet_Dag_semi-deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazakhstanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mongoliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mongoliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Lakes_Basin_desert_steppe


8/184

List of deserts 6

List of deserts

This is a list of deserts sorted by the region of the world in which the desert is located.

Regions

Africa

Algerian Desertpart of the Sahara localk Algeria

Arabian Deserta desert stretching from Eastern Egypt to Iraq

Blue Deserta desert in Egypt

Kalahari Desertcovering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa

Karooa semi-desert region in South Africa

Libyan Desertpart of the Sahara located in Libya

Namib Deserta desert in present day Namibia

Nubian Deserta desert in present day Sudan Owami Deserta desert in Nigeria

Sahara Desertthe world's largest hot desert

Sinai Deserta desert located on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt

White Deserta desert in Egypt

Antarctica

Antarctica Desert - largest tundra/desert in the world.

Arctic Basin

Arctic Desert - large tundra in the artic

North American Arctic - large tundra on the North America* Russian Arctic - the large tundra in Russia

Asia

Akshi Desert - a desert in India

Badain Jaran - a desert located in China

Betpak-Dala - a desert located in Kazakhstan

Cholistan - a desert in India and Pakistan

Dasht-e Kavir - a desert in center

Dasht-e Lut - a large salt desert in southeastern Iran Gobi - a desert in Mongolia and China

Indus Valley Desert - a desert located in Pakistan

Kara Kum - a large Central Asian desert

Kharan desert - a desert located in Pakistan

Kyzyl Kum - a desert in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

La Paz Sand Dunes - a desert in northern Philippines

Lop Desert - a desert in China

Ordos - a desert in northern China

Rub' al Khali - a desert located in Saudi Arabia

Taklamakan - a desert located in China Thal Desert - a desert in Punjab of Pakistan
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Punjab%2C_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thal_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Taklamakanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rub%27_al_Khalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ordos_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lop_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=La_Paz_Sand_Duneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uzbekistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazakhstanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kyzyl_Kumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kharan_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kara_Kumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mongoliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gobihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dasht-e_Luthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dasht-e_Kavirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cholistan_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazakhstanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betpak-Dalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Badain_Jaran_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Akshi_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russian_Arctichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_American_Arctichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arctic_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antarctica_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sinai_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sahara_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nigeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Owami_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nubian_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namib_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libyan_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karoohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Botswanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalahari_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Algerian_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Desert


9/184

List of deserts 7

Thar Desert - a desert in Pakistan and India

Australia & New Zealand

Central Desert - a central Australian desert

Gibson Deserta central Australian desert

Great Sandy Deserta northwestern Australian desert Great Victoria Desert

Little Sandy Deserta western Australian desert

Rangipo Deserta barren desert-like plateau (with 1.5-2.5 m/yr rainfall) on the North Island Volcanic Plateau in

New Zealand

Simpson Deserta central Australian desert

Strzelecki Deserta south-central Australian desert

Tanami Deserta northern Australian desert

Europe

Accona Desert - a semi-Desert in Southern Italy Bardenas Reales - a semi-desert in Navarra, Spain (455 km)

Bdowska Deserta desert located in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland (32 km)

Deliblatska Peara - a desert located in Vojvodina, Serbia (300 km)

Highlands of Icelandthe interior plateau of Iceland; not a desert by climate, but effectively one because

precipitation penetrates the volcanic soil so quickly that it is unavailable to plants

Monegros Desert - a semi-desert in Aragn, Spain

Oleshky Sands - a desert located in Ukraine near Askania-Nova biosphere reserve (15 km in diameter)

Oltenian Saharaa desert spanning approximately 80.000 hectares or 800 km in the Romanian historical

province of Oltenia

Piscinas - a desert located in South-West Sardinia, Italy (5 km)

Stranja Sahara - a desert in southeastern Bulgaria near the city of Burgas. It is about 80,000 hectares, sometimes

estimated to about 850 km sqaured. It is near the borders of Turkey and northwestern Greece.

Tabernas Deserta desert in Almera, Spain (280 km)

Middle East

Arabian Deserta vast desert complex on the Arabian Peninsula comprising the Al-Dahna Desert, Empty

Quarter, Nefud Desert and other deserts

Dasht-e Kavira desert in central Iran

Dasht-e Luta large salt desert in southeastern Iran Judean Deserta desert in eastern Israel and in the West Bank

Maranjab Deserta desert in central Iran

Negeva desert located in southern Israel

Ramlat al-Sab atayn- a sand desert in central & northeastern Yemen, part of the Empty Quarter

Wahiba Sandsa desert in Oman
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wahiba_Sandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ramlat_al-Sab%60ataynhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Negevhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maranjab_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Bankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Judean_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dasht-e_Luthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dasht-e_Kavirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nefudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Empty_Quarterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Empty_Quarterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Al-Dahna_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Peninsulahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Almer%C3%ADa_%28province%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tabernas_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stranja_Saharahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sardiniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Piscinashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Olteniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oltenian_Saharahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biosphere_reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Askania-Novahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ukrainehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oleshky_Sandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arag%C3%B3nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monegros_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Icelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Highlands_of_Icelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Serbiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vojvodinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deliblatska_Pe%C5%A1%C4%8Darahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lesser_Poland_Voivodeshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=B%C5%82%C4%99d%C3%B3w_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Navarrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bardenas_Realeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Italyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Accona_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tanami_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strzelecki_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simpson_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Zealandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_Island_Volcanic_Plateauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rangipo_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Little_Sandy_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Victoria_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Sandy_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gibson_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Desert


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List of deserts 8

North America

Central Valley of California (which is divided into the Sacramento Valley in the north, and the San Joaquin

Valley in the south). This area has largely been transformed, due to irrigation canals, to an agricultural area. It is

technically a semi-arid climate.

Chihuahuan Desert

Colorado Desert Mojave Desert

Sonoran Desert

South America

Atacamaa desert in Chile and Peru, the driest place on Earth

La Guajira Deserta desert in northern Colombia

Monte Desertin Argentina, a smaller desert above the Patagonian

Patagonian Desertthe largest desert by area in the Americas, located in Argentina and Chile

Sechura Desert

List of deserts by area

This is a list of deserts in the world ordered by area. It includes all deserts with an area greater than 50000 square

kilometres (19300 sq mi).

Some of the Earth's biggest deserts

Deserts over 50 000 km
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Deserts.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patagonian_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colombiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=La_Guajira_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atacamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorado_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Semi-arid_climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=San_Joaquin_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=San_Joaquin_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sacramento_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Valley


11/184


Rank Deserts Name Type of

desert

Image Area

(km)

Area

(sq mi)

Location

1 Antarctic Desert Polar 13,829,430[1] 5,339,573 Antarctica

2 Sahara Subtropical 9100,000+

[2] 3,320,000+ Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco,Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara

3 Arctic Polar 2,600,000+[3] Alaska (United States), Canada, Greenland (Denmark),

Iceland and Russia

4 Arabian Desert Subtropical 2,330,000[4] 900,000 Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab

Emirates, Oman and Yemen

5 Gobi Desert Cold Winter 1,300,000[2] 500,000 Mongolia and China

6 Kalahari Desert Subtropical 900,000 360,000 Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa

7 Patagonian

Desert

Cold Winter 670,000[2] 260,000 Argentina and Chile

8 Great Victoria

Desert

Subtropical 647,000[3] 250,000 Australia

9 Syrian Desert Subtropical 520,000[3] 200,000 Syria, Jordan and Iraq

10 Great BasinDesert

Cold Winter 492,000[3] 190,000 United States

11 Chihuahuan

Desert

Subtropical 450,000[3] 175,000 Mexico and United States

12 Great Sandy

Desert

Subtropical 400,000[3] 150,000 Australia

13 Karakum Desert Cold Winter 350,000[3] 135,000 Turkmenistan

14 ColoradoPlateau

Cold Winter 337,000[3] 130,000 United States

15 Sonoran Desert Subtropical 310,000[3] 120,000 Mexico and United States

16 Kyzyl Kum Cold Winter 300,000[3] 115,000 Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

17 Taklamakan

Desert

Cold Winter 270,000[2] 105,000 China
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=People%27s_Republic_of_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Taklamakan.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uzbekistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkmenistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazakhstanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kyzyl_Kum.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kyzyl_Kumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Mojave-sonoran_deserts.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Four_corners.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorado_Plateauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorado_Plateauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkmenistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Karakum.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karakum_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Australia_deserts.PNGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Sandy_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Sandy_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Chihuahua_desert.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Greatbasinmap.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Basin_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Basin_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Syrian_Desert.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Syrian_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:IBRA_6.1_Great_Victoria_Desert.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Victoria_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Victoria_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Argentinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Patagonian.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patagonian_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patagonian_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Botswanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angolahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kalahari.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalahari_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mongoliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Gobi.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Qatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuwaithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Arabian_Desert.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Icelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kingdom_of_Denmarkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greenlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Canadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alaskahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Arctica_surface.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arctichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_Saharahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tunisiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moroccohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mauritaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sahara_satellite_hires.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antarcticahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Antarctica_6400px_from_Blue_Marble.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antarctica


12/184


18 Thar Desert Subtropical 200,000[5] 77,000 India and Pakistan

19 Gibson Desert Subtropical 155,000 60,000 Australia

20 Simpson Desert Subtropical 145,000[3] 56,000 Australia

21 Atacama Desert Cool Coastal 140,000[3] 54,000 Chile and Peru

22 Namib Desert Cool Coastal 81,000[3] 31,000 Angola and Namibia

23 Dasht-e Kavir Cold Winter 77,000[6] 30,000 Iran

24 Mojave Desert Subtropical 65,000 25,000 United States

25 Dasht-e Lut Cold Winter 52,000[6] 20,000 Iran

References

[1] Ward, Paul (2001). Antarctica Fact File (http://www.

coolantarctica.

com/Antarctica fact file/antarctica fact file index.

htm)/[2] "Planet Earth - Basic Facts and Extremes" (http://www.1world2travel. com/print. php?articleID=2830). . Retrieved 2007-10-06.

[3] "Largest Desert in the World" (http://geology.com/records/largest-desert.shtml). . Retrieved 2009-01-01.

[4] "Arabian Desert" (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110527/Arabian-Desert). . Retrieved 2007-12-28.

[5] Thar Desert - Britannica Online Encyclopedia (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9071941/Thar-Desert)

[6] Wright, John W. (ed.); Lalala and reporters ofThe New York Times (2006). The New York Times Almanac (2007 ed.). New York, New York:

Penguin Books. p. 456. ISBN 0-14-303820-6.
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9071941/Thar-Deserthttp://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110527/Arabian-Deserthttp://geology.com/records/largest-desert.shtmlhttp://www.1world2travel.com/print.php?articleID=2830http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica%20fact%20file%20index.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dasht-e_Luthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Mojave-sonoran_deserts.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kavir.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dasht-e_Kavirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namibiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angolahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Namib_desert_MODIS.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Namib_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Atacama.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atacamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Simpson-Desert-2007-12-16-NASA.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simpson_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:IBRA_6.1_Gibson_Desert.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gibson_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Thar_Desert_satellite.jpg


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Desert climate 11

Desert climate

Locations of arid climates. BWh BWk

Under the Koppen climate

classification, a desert climate (BWh,

BWk, BWn), also known as an arid

climate, is a climate that does not meet

the criteria to be classified as a polar

climate, and in which precipitation is

too low to sustain any vegetation at all,

or at most a very scanty scrub.

An area that features this climate

usually (but not always) experiences

less than 250 mm (10 inches) per year

of precipitation and in some years may

experience no precipitation at all. Insome instances an area may experience

more than 250 mm of precipitation annually, but is still considered a desert climate because the region loses more

water via evapotranspiration than falls as precipitation (Tucson, Arizona and Alice Springs, Northern Territory are

examples of this).

There are usually two or three variations of a desert climate: a hot desert climate (BWh), a cold desert climate (BWk)

and, sometimes, a mild desert climate (BWn). Furthermore, to delineate "hot desert climates" from "cold desert

climates", there are three widely used isotherms: either a mean annual temperature of 18C, or a mean temperature of

0C or -3C in the coldest month, so that a location with a "BS" type climate with the appropriate temperature above

whichever isotherm is being used is classified as "hot semi-arid" (BWh), and a location with the appropriate

temperature below the given isotherm is classified as "cold semi-arid" (BWk).

To determine if a location has an arid climate, the precipitation threshold must first be determined. Finding the

precipitation threshold (in millimeters) involves first multiplying the average annual temperature in C by 20, then

adding 280 if 70% or more of the total precipitation is in the high-sun half of the year (April through September in

the Northern Hemisphere, or October through March in the Southern), or 140 if 30%70% of the total precipitation

is received during the applicable period, or 0 if less than 30% of the total precipitation is so received. If the area's

annual precipitation is less than half the threshold, it is classified as aBW(desert climate).[1]

Hot desert climates

Regions with hot desert climates

Hot desert climates are typically found under the

subtropical ridge where there is largely unbroken

sunshine for the whole year due to the stable

descending air and high pressure. Such areas include

the Sahara, the Arabian, Syrian and Kalahari Deserts,

large parts of Iran, southern and central Pakistan,

northwest India, the southwestern United States,

Northern Mexico, and much of Australia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalahari_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Syrian_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subtropical_ridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Koppen_World_Map_BWh.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Isotherm_%28contour_line%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alice_Springs%2C_Northern_Territoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tucson%2C_Arizonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evapotranspirationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Precipitation_%28meteorology%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polar_climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polar_climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koppen_climate_classificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koppen_climate_classificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Koppen_World_Map_B_new.png


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Desert climate 12

Hot desert climates feature hot, typically exceptionally hot, periods of the year. In many locations featuring a hot

desert climate, maximum temperatures of 40C to 45C are not uncommon in summer. During colder periods of the

year, night-time temperatures can drop to freezing or below due to the exceptional radiation loss under the clear

skies. However, very rarely do temperatures drop far below freezing.

Cold desert climates

Regions with cold desert climates

Cold deserts do get the occasional blanket of

snow, like Snake Valley, Utah and Nevada

This variant of the desert climate is somewhat rare

outside of Asia. A cold desert climate is typically found

in temperate zones, almost always in the rain shadow of

high mountains which restrict precipitation from the

westerly winds, or in the case of Central Asia, from the

monsoon. The Gobi desert in Mongolia is a classic

example of a region with a cold desert climate. Though

hot in summer, it shares the very cold winters of the

rest of Central Asia. The Kyzyl Kum and Taklamakan

deserts of Central Asia and the drier portions of the

Great Basin Desert of the western United States are

other major examples ofBWk climates.

Cold desert climates can feature hot (sometimes

exceptionally hot) and dry summers, though summers

typically are not quite as hot as summers in hot desert

climates. Unlike hot desert climates, cold desert

climates usually feature cold, sometimes brutally cold,

dry winters with temperatures far below the freezing

point. Cold deserts are typically found at higheraltitudes than hot desert climates, and are usually drier

than hot desert climates.

Arctic and Antarctic regions also receive very little

precipitation during the year, owing to the

exceptionally cold dry air, but they are generally classified as having polar climates.

Mild desert climates

This variant of a desert climate is extremely rare. Mild desert climates are usually found along the west coasts of

continents at tropical or near-tropical locations, or at high altitudes in areas that would otherwise feature hot desertclimates. In North America, this type of climate can be found along the Pacific coast of the Baja California

peninsula.

Mild desert climates are characterized by more moderate temperatures than encountered elsewhere at comparable

latitudes (usually due to the nearby presence of cold ocean currents) and, in the case of coastal mild deserts, frequent

fog and low clouds, despite the fact that these places can rank among the driest on Earth in terms of actual

precipitation received. Temperatures are mild throughout the year, usually not subject to any of the temperature

extremes typically found in desert climates. Some publications do not have a "mild desert" category; in these

documents mild desert climates are sorted into either the hot desert or cold desert classifications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polar_climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Basin_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kyzyl_Kumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gobi_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monsoonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rain_shadowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Temperatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:WheelerSnow.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snake_Valley_%28Great_Basin%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Koppen_World_Map_BWk.png


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Desert climate 13

Regions of varying classification

As stated previously, there are three isotherms used to delineate between hot and cold desert climates. As a result of

this, some areas can have climates that are classified as hot or cold depending on the isotherm used.

References

[1] (http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007. pdf)

External links

Desert climate summary (http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Climate/Older/Desert_Climate. html)

Desert report/essay (http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm)

Afromontane

Afromontane is a term used to describe the plant and animal species common to the mountains of Africa and thesouthern Arabian Peninsula. The afromontane regions of Africa are discontinuous, separated from each other by

lowlands, and are sometimes referred to as the Afromontane archipelago, as their distribution is analogous to a

series of islands. Afromontane communities occur above 1500-2000 meters elevation near the equator, and as low as

300 meters elevation in the Knysna-Amatole montane forests of South Africa. Afromontane forests are generally

cooler and more humid than the surrounding lowlands.

The Afromontane archipelago mostly follows the Great Rift Valley from the Red Sea to Zimbabwe, with the largest

areas in the Ethiopian Highlands, the Albertine Rift of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the

Congo, and Tanzania, and the Eastern Arc highlands of Kenya and Tanzania. Other Afromontane regions include the

Drakensberg range of southern Africa, the Cameroon Highlands, and the Cameroon Line volcanoes, including

Mount Cameroon, Bioko, and So Tom.

Although some Afromontane enclaves are widely separated, they share a similar mix of plant species which are often

distinct from the surrounding lowland regions. Podocarps, of generaPodocarpus andAfrocarpus, are a characteristic

tree, along with Prunus africana, Hagenia abyssinica, Juniperus procera, and Olea spp.. In the higher mountains,

the Afromontane forest or woodland zone transitions to a higher Afroalpine zone of grasslands, shrublands, or

moorlands.

The plant families Curtisiaceae and Oliniaceae are Afromontane endemics and family Barbeyaceae is a

near-endemic. The tree genera Afrocrania, Balthasaria, Curtisia, Ficalhoa, Hagenia, Kiggelaria, Leucosidea,

Platypterocarpus, Trichocladus,Widdringtonia, and Xymalos are Afromontane endemics or near-endemics, as are

the plant generaArdisiandra, Cincinnobotrys, and Stapfiella.In South Africa, Afromontane forests cover only 0.5% of the country's land area. The Afromontane forests occur

along the mountainous arc of the Drakensberg Range, from Limpopo Province in the northeast to the Western Cape

Province in the southwest. The Afromontane forests generally occur in well-watered areas, including ravines and

south-facing slopes. The Afromontane forests are intolerant of fire, and the frequent fires of the surrounding fynbos,

savanna, and grassland limit the expansion of the forests. Despite their small area, the Afromontane forests of South

Africa produce valuable timber, particularly the Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius), Outeniqua Yellowwood

(Afrocarpus falcatus), and Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata).
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ocotea_bullatahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afrocarpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Real_Yellowwoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grasslandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Savannahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fynboshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_Cape_Provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_Cape_Provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Limpopo_Provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drakensberghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stapfiellahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cincinnobotryshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ardisiandrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xymaloshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Widdringtoniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trichocladushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Platypterocarpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leucosideahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kiggelariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hageniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ficalhoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Curtisiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Balthasariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afrocraniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barbeyaceaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oliniaceaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Curtisiaceaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oleahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Juniperus_procerahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hagenia_abyssinicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prunus_africanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afrocarpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Podocarpushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Podocarphttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biokohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Cameroonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cameroon_Linehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cameroon_Highlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drakensberghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eastern_Archttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tanzaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Burundihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rwandahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ugandahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albertine_Rifthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethiopian_Highlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zimbabwehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Rift_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knysna-Amatole_montane_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Peninsulahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Africahttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htmhttp://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Climate/Older/Desert_Climate.htmlhttp://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf


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Afromontane 14

Afromontane ecoregions

Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests

Albertine Rift montane forests (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda)

Cameroonian Highlands forests (Cameroon, Nigeria)

East African montane forests (Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania)

Eastern Arc forests (Tanzania, Kenya) Ethiopian montane forests (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan)

Guinean montane forests (Guinea, Cte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone)

Knysna-Amatole montane forests (South Africa)

Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests (Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea)

Montane grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands

Angolan montane forest-grassland mosaic (Angola)

Angolan scarp savanna and woodlands (Angola)

Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands and woodlands (Lesotho, South Africa)

Drakensberg montane grasslands, woodlands and forests (Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland) East African montane moorlands (Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda)

Eastern Zimbabwe montane forest-grassland mosaic (Mozambique, Zimbabwe)

Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands (Eritrea, Ethiopia)

Ethiopian montane moorlands (Ethiopia)

Highveld grasslands (Lesotho, South Africa)

Jos Plateau forest-grassland mosaic (Nigeria)

Maputaland-Pondoland bushland and thickets (Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland)

Southern Afrotemperate Forest (Western Cape Province of South Africa)

Ruwenzori-Virunga montane moorlands (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda)

South Malawi montane forest-grassland mosaic (Malawi, Mozambique) Southern Rift montane forest-grassland mosaic (Malawi, Tanzania)

Deserts and xeric shrublands

Southwestern Arabian montane woodlands (Saudi Arabia, Yemen)

References

White, F. (1983). The vegetation of Africa: a descriptive memoir to accompany the UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO

vegetation map of Africa by F. White. UNESCO, Paris.

Galley, C. & Linder, H. P. (2006) Geographical affinities of the Cape flora, South Africa.Journal of

Biogeography 33 (2), 236-250.

External links

Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot (Conservation International) [1]

Eastern Afromontane, fromHotspots Revisited(Conservation International) [2]
http://www.biodiversityscience.org/publications/hotspots/Afromontanefinal.htmlhttp://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/afromontane/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Rift_montane_forest-grassland_mosaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Malawi_montane_forest-grassland_mosaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rwenzori_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Afrotemperate_Foresthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maputaland-Pondoland_bushland_and_thicketshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jos_Plateau_forest-grassland_mosaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Highveld_grasslandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethiopian_montane_moorlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethiopian_montane_grasslands_and_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eastern_Zimbabwe_montane_forest-grassland_mosaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=East_African_montane_moorlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drakensberg_montane_grasslands%2C_woodlands_and_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drakensberg_alti-montane_grasslands_and_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angolan_scarp_savanna_and_woodlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angolan_montane_forest-grassland_mosaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Montane_grasslands_and_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Cameroon_and_Bioko_montane_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knysna-Amatole_montane_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guinean_montane_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethiopian_montane_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eastern_Arc_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=East_African_montane_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cameroonian_Highlands_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albertine_Rift_montane_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tropical_and_subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forests


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Afromontane 15

References

[1] http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/afromontane/

[2] http://www.biodiversityscience. org/publications/hotspots/Afromontanefinal. html

Arabian DesertArabian Desert

Desert

A satellite image of the Arabian Desert by NASA World Wind

Countries Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Landmarks Al-Nafd,Al-Sabatayn Dunes,l Wahbah Dunes,Rub al-Khali

Highest point Mount Al-Nab Shuayb 12336 ft (3760 m)

- coordinates 18162N 42225E

Length 2100 km(1305 mi), E/W

Width 1100 km(684 mi), N/S

Area 2330000 km(899618 sq mi)

Biome Desert
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Al-Nab%C4%AB_Shu%CA%BFaybhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Yemen.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Qatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Qatar.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Oman.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuwaithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Kuwait.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Iraq.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Jordan.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NASA_World_Windhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Arabian_Desert.pnghttp://www.biodiversityscience.org/publications/hotspots/Afromontanefinal.htmlhttp://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/afromontane/


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Arabian Desert 16

Map of the Arabian Desert. Ecoregions as delineated by the WWF. Satellite image

from NASA. The yellow line encloses the ecoregion called "Arabian Desert and

East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands",[1]

and two smaller, closely related

ecoregions called "Persian Gulf desert and semi-desert"[2]

and "Red Sea

Nubo-Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert".[3]

National boundaries are shown

in black.

The Arabian Desertis a vast desert

wilderness stretching from Yemen to the

Persian Gulf and Oman to Jordan and Iraq.

It occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula

with an area of 2,330,000 square kiliometers

or (900,000 square miles). At its centre isthe Rub'al-Khali, one of the largest

continuous bodies of sand in the world.

Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed

lizards are just some of the desert-adapted

species that survive in this extreme

environment, which features everything

from red dunes to deadly quicksand. The

climate is extremely dry, and temperatures

oscillate between extreme heat and seasonal

night time freezes. It is part of the Desertsand xeric shrublands biome and the

Palearctic ecozone. This ecoregion holds

little biodiversity, although a few endemic

plants grow here. Many species, such as the

striped hyena, jackal and honey badger have

become extinct in this area due to hunting,

human encroachment and habitat destruction. Other species have been successfully re-introduced, such as the sand

gazelle, and are protected at a number of reserves. Overgrazing by livestock, off-road driving, human destruction of

habitat are the main threats to this desert ecoregion.

Climate

Type : hyper arid

Detailed description : Most of the Rub'al-Khali is classified as hyper-arid. Rainfall is about 35 millimetres (1.4 in),

per annum and relatively dry (50% in winter, 15% in summer). Not only is the Arabian Desert extremely dry, it also

has very high evaporation, making the environment even more extreme.

Temperatures range 4050 C (104122 F) in summer, with an average temperature of 515 C (4159 F) in

winter, though it can go below 0 C (32 F).

Saudi Arabia shows lower summer temperatures 30 C (86 F) with cold winter temperature (5 C (41 F), withfrequent frost), with average rainfall of less than 80 millimetres (3.1 in).
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drivinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Overgrazinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Habitat_destructionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Huntinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Honey_badgerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jackalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_hyenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ecoregionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ecozonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Palearctichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biomehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spiny-tailed_lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spiny-tailed_lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sand_cathttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oryxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gazellehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Empty_Quarterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Peninsulahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Persian_Gulfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Arabian_Desert.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NASAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World_Wide_Fund_for_Nature


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Arabian Desert 17

Geology/Geography

Detailed geological features :

A corridor of sandy terrain known as the ad-Dahna desert connects the large an-Nafud desert (65,000 km2 or

40,389 square mile) in the north of Saudi Arabia to the Rub' al-Khali in the south-east.

the Tuwayk escarpment is a region of 800 km (500 mi) arc of limestone cliffs, plateaux, and canyons.

Brackish salt flats: the quicksands of Umm al Samim The Wahiba sands of Oman : an isolated sand sea bordering the east coast

The Rub' al-Khali[4] desert is a sedimentary basin elongated on a southwest to northeast axis across the Arabian

shelf. At an altitude of 1000 metres (3300 ft), the rock landscapes yield the place to the ar-Ruba' Al-Khali, vast

wide of sand of the Arabian desert, whose extreme southern point crosses the centre of Yemen. The sand overlies

gravel or gypsum plains and the dunes reach maximum heights of up to 250 m (820 ft). The sands are

predominantly silicates, composed of 80 to 90% of quartz and the remainder feldspar, whose iron oxide-coated

grains color the sands in orange, purple, and red.

Ecology and natural resourcesSome resources are oil, natural gas, phosphates, and sulfur.

The Rub'al-Khali has very limited floristic diversity. There are only 37 species, 20 recorded in the main body of the

sands and 17 around the outer margins. Among these 37 species, only one or two are endemic. Vegetation is very

diffuse but fairly evenly distributed, with some interruptions of near sterile dunes.

Some typical plants are

Calligonum crinitum on dune slopes

Cornulaca arabica (saltbush)

Cyperus conglomeratus.

Other widespread species are

Dipterygium glaucum

Limeum arabicum

Zygophyllum mandavillei (Mandaville 1986).

Very little trees may be found except at the outer margin (typically Acacia ehrenbergiana and Prosopis cineraria).

Other species are a woody perennial Calligonum comosum and annual herbs such as Danthonia forskallii

Political borders

The desert is mostly in Saudi Arabia, extending into the surrounding countries of Egypt (Sinai), southern Iraq and

southern Jordan. The Arabian desert is bordered by 5 countries. Bordering the Persian Gulf, there is an extension into

Qatar and, further east, the region covers almost all of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The

Rub'al-Khali crosses over from Saudi Arabia into western Oman and eastern Yemen.

People, language and cultures

The area is home to several different people, languages and cultures, with Shi'a and Sunni Islam the predominant

faiths. The major ethnic group in the region are the Arabs, with Arabic as their primary language.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabic_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sunni_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shi%27a_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abu_Dhabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Qatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Danthonia_forskalliihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calligonum_comosumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prosopis_cinerariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Acacia_ehrenbergianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zygophyllum_mandavilleihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Limeum_arabicumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dipterygium_glaucumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyperus_conglomeratushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cornulaca_arabicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calligonum_crinitumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sulfurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phosphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sedimentary_basinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rub%27_al-Khalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Umm_al_Samimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quicksandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tuwaykhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rub%27_al-Khalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nefudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ad-Dahna_desert


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Arabian Desert 18

Ecological threats

Overgrazing by camels and goats, with increased herd size, and a more sedentary lifestyle amongst the Bedouin

Human destruction of habitat

Agricultural projects

Oil and gas production

War and its impacts

Oil spills

This ecoregion was the victim of a massive economic-environmental challenge: the sabotage of Kuwait oil facilities

that caused vast oil spills and the release of toxins into the atmosphere in the 1990s.

In January 1991 during the Gulf War, Iraqi forces released about 1.7 million m (11 million barrels) of oil from

storage tanks and tankers directly into the Persian Gulf. In February, they also destroyed 1,164 Kuwaiti oil wells. It

took nine months to extinguish these oil fires. These oil spills contaminated 1000 km (620 mi) of Persian Gulf coast.

The result of the pollution was the death of thousands of water birds and serious damage to the Persian Gulf's aquatic

ecosystem, particularly shrimp, sea turtles, dugongs, whales, dolphins and fish.The damaged wells also released 10 million m (60 million barrels) of oil into the desert and formed lakes (total

surface of 49 square kilometres) which contaminated soil and ground water.

Military activity

Weaponry used by the US during the Gulf War also poses a huge risk to the environmental stability of the area. Tank

columns in the desert plains may disrupt the fragile stability that exists. In 1991, the movement of US tanks over the

desert damaged the top protective layer of the desert soil. As a result, a sand dune was released and has started

slowly moving downhill.[5] Some people fear that this dune could ultimately reach Kuwait City.[5] Another concern

is related to the use of radioactive depleted uranium munitions by the A-10 "Warthog". Some detractors claim the

ammunition to be a cancer risk and a source of water contamination. In 1991, the U.S. and NATO dropped nearly

300 tons of depleted uranium on Iraqi targets. The splinters resulting from the explosion contaminated the

surrounding soil.

Conservation

The conservation status of the desert is critical/endangered, with species including the white oryx and sand gazelle

threatened and striped hyaenas, jackals and honey badgers already extinct.

No formal protected areas exist but a number of protected areas are planned for Abu Dhabi.

References[1] PA1303 (http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1303_full. html), WWF

[2] PA1323 (http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1323_full. html), WWF

[3] PA1325 (http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1325_full. html), WWF

[4] http://www.alovelyworld. com/webyemen/htmgb/yem027. htm

[5] Environment hit the worst in Iraq - Science (http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2003/03/28/Science/

Environment. Hit.The. Worst.In. Iraq-2246692. shtml)
http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2003/03/28/Science/Environment.Hit.The.Worst.In.Iraq-2246692.shtmlhttp://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2003/03/28/Science/Environment.Hit.The.Worst.In.Iraq-2246692.shtmlhttp://www.alovelyworld.com/webyemen/htmgb/yem027.htmhttp://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1325_full.htmlhttp://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1323_full.htmlhttp://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1303_full.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abu_Dhabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Protected_areashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Honey_badgerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jackalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_hyaenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sand_gazellehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_oryxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NATOhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Water_contaminationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cancerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A-10_Thunderbolt_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Depleted_uraniumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuwait_Cityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sand_dunehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ground_waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dolphinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whalehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dugonghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sea_turtlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shrimphttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ecosystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gulf_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Petroleumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuwaithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Natural_gashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Petroleumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Habitat_destructionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bedouinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Overgrazing


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Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert

Tihama on the Red Sea near Khaukha in Yemen is part of this

ecosystem

The Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert on the

southern coasts of the Arabian peninsula is an

ecoregion which experiences thick fogs where visibility

may be reduced to 33 feet (10 metres). It is classed as a

Afrotropic fog desert [1]

Location and description

This ecosystem exists on a strip along the western and

eastern coasts of Arabia. It follows the coast of Oman

southward from Masirah Island and reaches inland to

120 km in the Jiddat al Harasisi plateau and the Dhofar

mountains. From here it continues as a very narrow

strip (only 5 km wide) along the coast of Yemen and up the 50 km wide the Tihamah plain along the Red Sea coast

of Saudi Arabia. In Oman and Yemen moisture is provided by thick fogs coming off the ocean during the summer

khareef monsoon, while the hot Tihamah plain is moisturised by some rainfall and the generally high humidity of the

Red Sea.

Flora

In this region, although it rarely rains the fog provides moisture sufficient to nurture a great deal of grassland, shrubs

and thick woodland. There are over sixty local species of plant. This coastal strip is of particular importance as

further inland where the fog does not have an influence most of the Arabian Peninsula is desert. Vegetation varies

progressively away from the coast which features dense woodland of Anogeissus dhofarica, Acacia senegal andvarious thorny Commiphora trees and shrubs. The richest flora can be found in the Dhofar mountains which have

900 plants including 60 endemic species and two endemic genera, Cibirhiza and Dhofaria. One of these plants, the

Frankincense tree (Boswellia sacra) was a source of great wealth for Dhofar in antiquity. In Yemen the side of Jabal

Urays facing the sea is covered with Euphorbia balsamifera shrubs.

Fauna

The many mammals found here include the Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) which was reintroduced to the wild after

disappearing, gazelles and the Nubian ibex, a goat antelope . Predators found on the coast include caracals, Arabian

wolf, striped hyaena and the critically endangered Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), which survives on JebelSamhan in the Dhofar mountains. The Arabian Gazelle which once lived on the peninsula is now extinct.

Threats and preservation

The main threat to this ecosystem is overgrazing by increasing numbers of cattle and other livestock as well as

off-road driving and human encroachment. Urban areas in this ecoregion include: in Oman the port of Duqm and the

Dhofar capital of Salalah: in Yemen, the Hadramaut port capital Al Mukalla, the former capital and ancient port of

Aden, the Red Sea coffee ports of Al Hudaydah (still the largest town on this coast of Yemen) and Mocha, and the

World Heritage site of Zabid; and the city of Jizan, the fruit basket of Saudi Arabia. Protected areas in Oman include

the controversial Arabian Oryx Sanctuary where the reintroduction took place, and Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve

established for the protection of the leopards. There are a number of Important Bird Areas on the coast of Yemen but

none are officially protected.[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Oryx_Sanctuaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jebel_Samhan_Nature_Reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Important_Bird_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Oryx_Sanctuaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jebel_Samhan_Nature_Reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Important_Bird_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Important_Bird_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jebel_Samhan_Nature_Reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Oryx_Sanctuaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jizanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zabidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World_Heritage_sitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mocha%2C_Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Al_Hudaydahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Al_Mukallahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hadramauthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salalahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Duqmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Gazellehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jebel_Samhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jebel_Samhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_leopardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_hyaenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_wolfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_wolfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caracalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goat_antelopehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nubian_ibexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gazelleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Oryxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Euphorbia_balsamiferahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jabal_Urayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jabal_Urayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frankincensehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dhofariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cibirhizahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commiphorahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Acacia_senegalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anogeissus_dhofaricahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Woodlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shrubshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grasslandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Foghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Khareefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tihamahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dhofarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dhofarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Masirah_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fog_deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afrotropichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ecoregionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_peninsulahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Tihama.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ecosystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Sea


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References

[1] National Geographic (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/at/at1302. html)

[2] EO Earth (http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/at/at1302_full. html)

External links

Google books (http://books.google.co.uk/

World's Deserts

Documents

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