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How do tamarisk trees help protect oases from drifting sand?
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Arabian Desert
The Arabian Desert, the largest desert in Asia, covering an area of about 900,000 square miles (2,300,000 square km).
Tamarisk trees, specifically the Athel tree (Tamarix aphylla), are used in desert areas as windbreaks to help protect environments like oases from the encroachment of drifting sand. By acting as a barrier against the wind, these trees reduce wind speed, which helps prevent sand from being carried into and accumulating within the oasis.1