how deep is the sahara desert?

Answer 1

In the Eastern Erg of Algeria, toward the Libya/Tunisia border, the dunes are about 200m high, getting higher southward. The sand then stops abrubtly near the Libya/Algeria/Tunisia triple-point, on a line running roughly southwest-northeast. Beyond that the desert is largely rocky mountains. In fact in most of the world's deserts, "sand seas" form only about 10% of the surface area.

In the Eastern Erg, in the flats between the big dunes, the loose sand is only about 10 - 20m thick; there is then a series of weakly cemented gravels, sands and gypsum beds, before "bedrock is hit at about 50 - 100m. Water, some of it pure and drinkable, is usually within 50m.

Curiously, although the sand moves all the time in the wind, the dunes themselves stay in one place, like a standing wave in a river. If you cut through a dune to build a road, within 6 months it rebuilds itself right across the road if you don't keep it clear.
Early 1960s satellite photos show almost exactly the same dune pattern as modern ones.

This isn't the case in all sand seas though; in some areas the dunes are steadily migrating.

Paul

Answer 2

The Sahara Desert is a great desert area, North Africa, the West portion of the broad belt of parched land that extends from the Atlantic Ocean eastward past the Red Sea to Iraq. The entire desert, the largest in the world, is about 1600 km wide and about 5000 km long from East to West.

The total domain of the Sahara Desert is more than 9,000,000 sq. km, more than 3,500,000 square miles. Of which some 200,000 square km. Some 80,000 square miles, consist of partially fertile oases.

The limits of the Sahara Desert are the Atlantic Ocean on the West, the Atlas Mountains. and the Mediterranean Sea in the North. The Red Sea and Egypt on the East, and the Sudan and the valley of the Niger River. in the South. The boundaries, however, are not clearly defined, and have been shifting for a thousand years. The Sahara was once a fertile area; millet and other grains were cultivated there over 8000 years ago. As conditions progressively became drier, however, and desertification set in, farmers abandoned their land.

Geographically distinct is the West Sahara, which is sometimes called the Sahara Proper; the central Ahaggar Mountains and the Tibesti Massif, are plateau regions.

The Libyan Desert is in the East. The West Sahara Desert is an area of rock-strewn plains and sand deserts of varying elevation. The land is presently almost entirely without rainfall or surface water but possesses a number of underground rivers that flow fast from the Atlas and other mountains. Occasionally the waters of these rivers find their way seeping to the surface; in these naturally irrigated oases, plants grow freely. The soil of this region of the Sahara is highly fertile and, where irrigation is possible, produces excellent crops.

The central plateau region of the Sahara Desert runs for about 1600 km, about 1000 miles in a Northwest to Southeast direction. The plateau itself varies in height, from about 600 to 750 m (about 1900 to 2500 ft). Peaks in the several mountain ranges that rise from the plateau are from about 1800, to more than 3400 m (about 6000 to more than 11,200 ft) high.

Notable peaks include Emi Koussi (3415 m/11,204 ft), in the Tibesti Massif, and Tahat (3003 m / 9852 ft), in the Ahaggar Range. Although rainfall is scant in the area, several of the central Saharan peaks are snow-capped during part of the year.

The Libyan Sahara Desert is considered the most arid part of the Sahara. Moisture is almost totally absent and few oases exist. The land is characterized by sandy wastes and large dunes of sand 122 m (400 ft) or more in height.

The valley of the Nile River and the mountainous area of the Nubian Desert to the East of the Nile are geographically, part of the Sahara. However, the irrigation afforded by the Nile transforms the desert into fertile agricultural land throughout much of Egypt.

Answer 3

Highest dunes in Sahara and in the world

Isaouane-n-Tifernine Sand Sea, Algerian Sahara
1526'/465m

Huge areas of the Sahara have no dunes at all.

Answer 4

no longer very deep, yet adequate to be faraway from cities. that's probably going considered one of the main cool journeys to savour .. once you pass faraway from all gadgets and toxins of the cities particularly interior the Egyptian barren region. this is greater prevalent with some Egyptians now than till now, yet foreign places travelers have been continuously involved. in case you like i will advise you some exciting safaris. between the suitable is the white barren region that Balsam suggested and close to maximum Oasis specifically [Siwa, - Frafra - Dakhla - Kharga - Bahraya etc.] and [Wadi El Gemmal - Abu Galoum - colored canyon - Wadi Ghazala etc] there are various solid safari sites in Egypt with diverse atmospheres and various distances or intensity faraway from cities. In all of those barren region safaris the fa99c98cde8e5c346d2ccba29974a3085he close to ones you do no longer see cities in any respect, merely sand or small mounts and rocks.

Answer 5

interesting question, but seeing as the sands are constantly on the move, then it varies as dunes get bigger and smaller. Water is available from wells at about 50-60m down, which would be where the water table is and not so much loose sand. it would probably be about 40 - 50m deep in places as a guess.

Answer 6

I agree, it is an interesting question. I had read (I believe in Ripley's "Believe it or Not") that in the past, there have been cities of old time buried beneath those sands. It would make a very interesting research project.

Answer 7

You mean, how deep is the sand? That's a really interesting question. I'll be watching to see if anyone knows.

Answer 8

Deeper than the bee gee's voices

Answer 9

It goes all the way down to Australia.

Answer 10

Sorry, I've never been there nor would like to.