Sahara: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 7, 2026

News •

Oldest-known Martian meteorite, found in Sahara Desert, shows surprising history of Mars water • Nov. 6, 2026, 10:11 AM ET (Live Science)

Ancient Mars Meteorite From the Sahara Is Over 4 Billion Years Old • Nov. 3, 2026, 9:25 AM ET (Gizmodo)

A Meteorite Found in the Sahara Is a 4.1-Billion-Year-Old Piece of Mars • Oct. 30, 2026, 5:13 PM ET (New York Times)

NASA-funded Study Details One of Oldest Mars Meteorites Ever Found • Oct. 29, 2026, 2:42 PM ET (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov))

Photos and Videos

Map of northern Africa highlighting the extent of the Sahara Desert in orange, covering parts of countries including Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan. Surrounding countries and major bodies of water such as the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean are also shown for geographic context.

Map of the Sahara Desert region in northern Africa showing physical features such as mountain ranges, plateaus, major sand areas, and elevation with color shading. Country boundaries, major cities, and select spot elevations are labeled. An inset locator map highlights the Sahara's position within Africa and the Mediterranean region.

Algeria:
geography

Ahaggar plateau

Round, green-striped colocynth fruits (Citrullus colocynthis) growing on dry, sandy ground in the Sahara Desert with sparse vegetation and scattered trees in the background.

camel caravan in the Sahara

Tall, narrow minaret of the mosque at Ghardaia rises above clustered, earth-toned buildings in the M'zab oasis, central Algeria, with palm trees in the foreground.

How climate change is turning the Sahara green

How does desert dust from the Sahara affect global climate?

The journey of camel drivers from Sudan to Egypt

Journey of the Nile: The longest river in the world

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Topics

Kalahari Desert Namib Libyan Desert Ténéré Eastern Desert Nubian Desert Tanezrouft Nyiri Desert Moçâmedes Desert Kaukauveld

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Church of Saint George (Bet Giyorgis), Lalibela, Ethiopia. UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in the Sahara Desert sand dunes. (pack animal; sand; Morocco; Africa; African desert; mammal; dromedary; drought)

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Mount Kenya in Mount Kenya National Park is the highest mountain in Africa. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant Lobelia in foreground. (Mt. Kenya; Mt. Kenya National Park; mountains; rugged mountain; African geography, African landscape, stratovolcano)

Africa’s Physical Features