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  Spanning a vast reach across northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is one of the world's most arid environments and one of its most stunning.  A "driest non-polar desert in the world," the Atacama is a country of contrasts: massive salt lakes shimmer in the sun, craggy mountains cut through the horizon, geysers spew and steam on the cold morn, and rose-colored lagoons are inhabited by stately flamingos.  Yet, despite its seemingly inhospitable appearance, this incredible region teems with life, history, and scientific significance. It is a landscape shaped by geological processes, wind, and sheer lack of rain over many millions of years.  And yet it has been the intersection point of ancient societies, a hub of modern astronomy, and a treasure trove for daring explorers.  Traveling to the Atacama Desert is about seeking not just nature's limits, but human ones too. Geography and Climate: Atacama Desert stretches approximately 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) up the P...

  Nestled within the vast emptiness of the Mauritanian desert lies one of the most curious and striking geological formations on Earth: the Eye of the Sahara.  Also known as the Richat Structure, this enormous circular formation has mystified scientists, explorers, and even astronauts for decades.  Spanning approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) in diameter, the Eye of the Sahara resembles a gigantic bullseye in the middle of the desert and is so large it can be clearly seen from space. While originally thought to be the result of a meteorite impact, further geological studies have proposed alternate theories.  Still, many questions remain about its formation, age, and significance.  This article delves into the scientific, historical, and cultural importance of the Eye of the Sahara and explores why it remains one of Earth’s great geological enigmas. Geological Overview: The Eye of the Sahara is located near Ouadane, a small town in central Mauritania, in the S...

  Rolling across North Africa in a burnished ocean of sand, the Sahara Desert is the world's largest hot desert and one of the world's most fascinating and most unforgiving places.  Covering over 9.2 million square kilometers (3.6 million square miles), it is nearly as big as the United States or China.  The Sahara is more than seemingly infinite dunes and scorching heat its history, ecology, and influence on culture, climate, and global processes render it a compelling natural phenomenon. This article discusses the origins, climate, geography, wildlife, and cultural significance of the Sahara, along with its ongoing development under natural forces and human pressures. A Desert Born of Time: Origins and History The Sahara Desert wasn't always dry.  While it is true that 6,000 to 10,000 years ago much of the Sahara was a lush, savanna area brimming with lakes, rivers, and wildlife, it was during this period, the African Humid Period, that the climate was more humid d...