Arabian Desert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arabian Desertٱلصَّحْرَاء ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة |
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Desert near Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Map of the Arabian Desert ecoregion
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | deserts and xeric shrublands |
| Borders |
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| Geography | |
| Area | 1,855,470 km2 (716,400 sq mi) |
| Countries |
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| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | critical/endangered |
| Protected | 4.368% |
The Arabian Desert (called ٱلصَّحْرَاء ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة in Arabic) is a huge desert in West Asia. It covers almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. This desert is about 2,330,000 square kilometers (900,000 square miles) in size.
It stretches across many countries, from Yemen to the Persian Gulf, and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. It is the fourth largest desert in the world and the biggest in Asia. In its middle is a place called Ar-Rub' al-Khali, which means "The Empty Quarter." This is one of the largest areas of continuous sand on Earth. The Arabian Desert is actually connected to the famous Sahara Desert.
Even though it's a very tough place to live, many amazing animals call it home. You can find Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards here. These animals have special ways to survive the extreme heat and dry conditions. The desert also has red sand dunes and even dangerous quicksand.
The weather here is mostly dry, with most areas getting only about 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain each year. Some very dry spots get even less, sometimes as little as 50 millimeters (2 inches). Temperatures can be extremely hot during the day and sometimes drop below freezing at night. This desert is part of a type of environment called deserts and xeric shrublands.
Sadly, some animals like the striped hyena, jackal, and honey badger are no longer found here. This happened because of hunting, losing their homes (habitat destruction), too much grazing by farm animals, off-road driving, and people moving into their areas. But there's good news too! Animals like the Arabian sand gazelle have been brought back to protected areas and are now safe.
Contents
Exploring the Arabian Desert's Geography
Most of the Arabian Desert is in Saudi Arabia, covering a large part of that country. It also reaches into other nearby countries. These include southern Iraq, southern Jordan, central Qatar, and much of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. You can also find parts of it in western Oman and northeastern Yemen. Even the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and the Negev desert in southern Israel are part of this huge desert area.
The Empty Quarter: Rub' al-Khali
The Rub' al-Khali desert, also known as "The Empty Quarter," is a massive sandy area. It stretches from the southwest to the northeast across the Arabian landmass. As you travel, rocky areas eventually turn into this vast sea of sand. The sand dunes here can be incredibly tall, reaching up to 250 meters (820 feet) high!
The sand is mostly made of tiny bits of quartz, about 80% to 90%. The rest is feldspar. These sand grains have a coating of iron oxide, which gives the desert its beautiful orange, purple, and red colors.
Other Unique Desert Features
There's a sandy pathway called the Ad-Dahna desert. It links the An-Nafud desert in northern Saudi Arabia to the Rub' al-Khali in the southeast. The An-Nafud desert itself is about 65,000 square kilometers (25,000 square miles).
Another interesting feature is the Tuwaiq escarpment. This is a long, curved line of limestone cliffs, flat plateaus, and deep canyons, stretching for about 800 kilometers (500 miles). You can also find salty, muddy areas called brackish salt flats. Some of these even contain dangerous quicksand, like the area known as Umm al Samim. On the eastern coast of Oman, there's a separate sandy area called the Wahiba Sands.
Understanding the Arabian Desert's Climate
The Arabian Desert has a subtropical, hot desert climate. This means it's very hot and dry, much like the famous Sahara Desert. In fact, the Arabian Desert is like an extension of the Sahara, stretching across the Arabian Peninsula.
Rainfall and Sunshine
The weather here is mostly dry. Most parts of the desert receive about 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain each year. Some very dry spots, called hyperarid areas, get even less. These rare places might only see 30 to 40 millimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) of rain annually.
The Arabian Desert gets a lot of sunshine! It has clear skies for most of the year, with very few cloudy days. You can expect around 3,400 hours of sunshine every year. However, even with all that sun, it can sometimes be hard to see far because of dust and moisture in the air.
Temperatures in the Desert
Temperatures stay high throughout the year. In summer, the average high temperatures are usually above 40°C (104°F). In some very low areas, especially near the Persian Gulf, summer temperatures can even reach 48°C (118°F).
Even at night in summer, it stays warm, usually above 20°C (68°F). In the southern parts, night temperatures can sometimes be over 30°C (86°F). Many areas in the desert have recorded extreme temperatures above 50°C (122°F). This is partly because the desert is not very high above sea level.
Amazing Plants and Animals of the Arabian Desert
The Arabian Desert is home to about 900 different kinds of plants. Even in the very sandy Rub' al-Khali ("Empty Quarter"), you can find some plant life. About 37 plant species grow there, with a few found only in that area. These plants are spread out, even on the sandy dunes.
Desert Plants and Their Survival
Some common plants you might see include Calligonum crinitum on dune slopes. There are also saltbushes like Cornulaca arabica and Salsola stocksii. Another plant is Cyperus conglomeratus. Other plants found widely are Dipterygium glaucum, Limeum arabicum, and Zygophyllum mandavillei.
Trees are rare in most of the desert. You'll mostly find them at the edges, such as the Acacia ehrenbergiana and Prosopis cineraria trees. There's also a woody plant called Calligonum comosum, and small annual herbs like Danthonia forskallii. These plants have special ways to survive with very little water.
Desert Animals and Their Life Cycle
The Arabian Desert is home to 102 different kinds of native mammals. Some of these amazing animals include the beautiful Arabian oryx, the speedy sand gazelle, and the mountain gazelle. You might also spot the Nubian ibex, the Arabian wolf, and the striped hyaena. Smaller predators like the caracal (a type of wild cat) and the tiny sand cat also live here. The clever red fox and the quick Cape hare are also part of this desert ecosystem.
Long ago, animals like the Asiatic cheetah and Asiatic lion also roamed the Arabian Desert. Sadly, they are no longer found here. Besides mammals, the desert is a home or a stopover for 310 different kinds of birds.
People and Cities of the Arabian Desert
The Arabian Desert region is home to many different cultures and languages. Most people here follow the Islamic faith. The main group of people are the Arabs, and their main language is Arabic.
Major Cities
Right in the middle of the desert is Riyadh, which is the capital city of Saudi Arabia. It's a very big city with over 7 million people living there. Other large and important cities are found along the coast of the Persian Gulf. These include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait City. These cities are modern hubs in the desert landscape.
Important Natural Resources
The Arabian Desert holds many valuable natural resources deep underground. These include important fuels like oil and natural gas. Other resources found here are phosphates and sulfur, which are used in many industries.
Protecting the Arabian Desert: Conservation and Threats
The Arabian Desert faces several challenges that threaten its wildlife and natural beauty. These include too many farm animals (like camels and goats) eating the plants, illegal poaching (hunting animals without permission), and damage to plants from off-road driving.
Why Conservation is Important
The desert's natural environment is considered to be in a critical or endangered state. For example, in the United Arab Emirates, the sand gazelle and Arabian oryx are at risk. Sadly, animals like honey badgers, jackals, and striped hyaenas have already disappeared from these areas.
Special Protected Areas
To help protect this unique environment, about 4.37% of the Arabian Desert is set aside as protected areas.
Saudi Arabia has created several reserves to protect its wildlife. These are managed by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD).
- The Harrat al-Harrah Reserve is a large area of 12,150 square kilometers (4,691 square miles). It was created in 1987 near the borders with Jordan and Iraq. This reserve protects a part of the stony Harrat al-Sham desert, which has black volcanic rocks. It's home to over 250 plant species, 50 bird species, and 22 mammal species.
- The 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve covers 12,000 square kilometers (4,633 square miles) on the western edge of the Rub’ al-Khali. In 1995, Arabian oryx and sand gazelle were successfully brought back to live here.
- The Ibex Reserve is smaller, about 200 square kilometers (77 square miles), and is located south of Riyadh. It helps protect the Nubian ibex and a group of mountain gazelle that were reintroduced.
- The Al-Tabayq Special Nature Reserve in northern Saudi Arabia also protects a population of Nubian ibex.
The United Arab Emirates also has important protected areas. These include the Al Houbara Protected Area (2492.0 km2), Al Ghadha Protected Area (1087.51 km2), Arabian Oryx Protected Area (5974.47 km2), Ramlah Protected Area (544.44 km2), and Al Beda'a Protected Area (417.0 km2). These places are vital for keeping the desert's unique plants and animals safe for the future.
See also
In Spanish: Desierto de Arabia para niños
- ʿĀd
- Iram of the Pillars
