It is often accepted, that the desert is an average annual rainfall area below 250 millimeters. The deserts around the world differ significantly, depending on the location, shaping the surface and climate zone, in which they occur. It can be covered with rock scrap metal scoundrels or the endless sea of sands with dunes. Rocky hills can rise in the desert, or grow it rarely clumps of spiky vegetation, It can also be flat, uniformly dead rag of the earth.
Types of the desert
Rock desert.
Its surface is horizontal, solid rocks, which were a thousand years ago in the seas. The deserts appearing in different regions of the world are very inhospitable, There is no shelter and strong winds blow.
Desert with cacti.
The plant specially adapted to these conditions occurs in some deserts, such as cacti, which can store water. We meet them in the Americas, Australia and Asia.
Erg.
This is a vast hot sandy desert with characteristic dunes and barchans (Rogalica -shaped dunes). Such deserts occupy significant areas of North Africa, Australia and Asia.
Semi -desert.
Suchorost and bushes grow in these areas, But it's too dry, so that the grass could be. Occur in a moderate zone. They are also found in the Americas, Central Asia and Australia.
Protection during a sandstorm.
1. Sandstorms are very troublesome, They can change the appearance of the desert in the blink of an eye. Therefore, you should mark the direction of travel with sticks or stones.
2. Try to find any shelter from the wind. Cover completely the face and neck. Calmly wait for the end of the storm. Move on the road only when the wind completely quiet.
Traveling in the desert
If we have to travel through the desert in search of water or place, in which you can count on the rescue, you should only go at night and, if possible, with the moonlight. In the deprived of the landscape points, it is extremely difficult to properly set the direction, oasis.
Shade
In the desert you can get some shade by hanging a string of a sleeping bag or blanket. The string is attached to the sticks stuck in the ground or stones built into the mound. In the sand you need to dig a cavity, so that you can slip under the blanket.
How long will you last without water?
Man needs 4-5 liters of water a day, so that he can travel without exposure to the body on foot. Avoid water loss in the desert at all costs, Therefore, any physical effort should be made at night, to sweat as little as possible. A man at a temperature of 50 ° C without drinking water is able to survive at most five days, not doing anything, Only resting in the shade. This time is shortened by half, if you go, Even at night. Therefore, being in the desert, you should always think well, Before you make a move or make an effort, unless you have large water supply.
