Desert

Desserts, like imaginations, are where most unusual things take shape. the desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life.

 

Desert tourism is blooming like deserts in spring, with ever more destinations, itineraries, and activities available from tour operators. Deserts can be classified by the amount of precipitation that falls, by the temperature that prevails, by the causes of desertification or by their geographical location.

Trade wind deserts occur either side of the horse latitudes at 30° to 35° North and South. These belts are associated with the subtropical anticyclone and the large-scale descent of dry air moving from high-altitudes toward the poles. The Sahara Desert is of this type. Mid-latitude deserts occur between 30° and 50° North and South. They are mostly in areas remote from the sea where most of the moisture has already precipitated from the prevailing winds. They occur in regions where large temperature differences occur between sea and land.

Beyond the cliché of sand, rock and grit that has made deserts a byword for desolation there are mountains, valleys and oases, settlements both long abandoned and thoroughly modern, fascinating societies and much rare wildlife. Considering the desert environment is pretty hostile to human existence - searing sun, minimal shade, lack of water and icy nights. In deserts we lamp, rough-camp, sandboard, stargaze, hike, ride quad bikes, ride camels, watch wildlife, toast the going down of the sun and stage festivals of cheerful abandon.