ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel The Infographics Show Antarctica vs Sahara – Could You Survive 1 Year In Extreme Temperatures
Planning a vacation can be tricky, right? Do you want to go somewhere hot or cold? Are you in the mood for busy sightseeing or just some peace and quiet? Sometimes, it feels great to escape from everything and everyone, taking a long break from life’s troubles. If that sounds good to you, maybe you should think about visiting either the Sahara Desert or Antarctica. These are two of the largest deserts on Earth!
But before you pack your bags, there are some important things to know about surviving in these extreme places. Let’s dive into the question: could you survive for a year in either the Sahara Desert or Antarctica, and which one would be tougher?
Let’s start with the Sahara Desert, the warmer of the two. A desert is a place that doesn’t get much rain, snow, mist, or fog. Any area with little precipitation is usually called a desert. There are different types of deserts, like subtropical, coastal, and polar, but they all have something in common: they are tough places for plants, animals, and people to live.
The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world, stretching 3,000 miles from east to west. It covers over 3 million square miles, which is almost as big as China! You could fit the entire United States in the Sahara and still have room left over. The Sahara spans nearly all of northern Africa, touching eleven countries. It’s bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlas Mountains to the north, the Red Sea to the east, and the Sahel region to the south, where it turns into more humid savannas.
The Sahara isn’t just sand; it has fields of sand dunes, formed by winds piling up sand grains. These dunes can be almost 600 feet tall and cover about a quarter of the desert. Most of the Sahara is made up of rocky plateaus, salt flats, mountains, and dry valleys. The highest point is Emi Koussi, a volcano in the Tibesti Mountains, standing over 3,400 meters tall.
Living in the Sahara for a year would be tough. Surprisingly, it wasn’t always a dry desert. Thousands of years ago, it was greener, with lakes, rivers, and forests. But changes in Earth’s orbit led to periods of humidity followed by drought, turning it into the desert we know today.
The Sahara is the hottest desert on Earth, with an average temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit. On really hot days, temperatures can soar to 136 degrees Fahrenheit, and the sand can reach 170 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to burn your feet if you walk barefoot. Surviving there means finding shade and keeping cool, especially during the hottest part of the day.
The Sahara gets very little rain, with half of it receiving less than an inch each year. Winds can dry out the air, and dust storms can make it hard to see, making navigation nearly impossible. Nights can be freezing, dropping to 21 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause hypothermia if you’re not careful.
Despite these challenges, some people do live in the Sahara. Nomads move from place to place, often traveling at night and resting in the shade during the day. To survive the cold nights, they camp near rocks to stay warm and wear layers of clothing to keep heat in.
Water is scarce in the Sahara, and while there are rivers and lakes, most are saltwater. Humans can only survive a few days without water, so nomads keep moving. Staying hydrated is crucial, and with the right preparation, you could survive for two to four weeks, depending on various factors.
Now, let’s talk about Antarctica. Located at the southern pole of our planet, Antarctica is a cold continent covered in ice and is considered a polar desert. It gets even less rain than the Sahara, averaging only 10 millimeters over the last 30 years. It’s also the coldest place on Earth, with the lowest temperature ever recorded at -135 degrees Fahrenheit.
Like the Sahara, Antarctica wasn’t always frozen. Millions of years ago, it was warmer and had large forests. Today, it’s the least populated continent, with no permanent residents. The people there are mainly researchers working in scientific stations, studying the environment and climate change.
Surviving in Antarctica is extremely hard because of the cold. Even in summer, temperatures inland are around -4 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause frostbite and hypothermia in minutes. In winter, it gets even worse, making survival nearly impossible without the right gear and supplies.
When comparing the two deserts, living in the Sahara for a year would mean dealing with extreme heat and the need to stay hydrated. In Antarctica, the extreme cold presents its own set of challenges. Overall, your chances of surviving for a year are probably higher in the Sahara than in the icy plains of Antarctica.
For more information, check out “What’s Actually Hiding Under the Sands of Sahara” or watch this video instead!
Imagine you are about to spend a year in either the Sahara Desert or Antarctica. Create a detailed survival plan that includes what you would pack, how you would find food and water, and how you would protect yourself from the extreme temperatures. Present your plan to the class and explain your choices.
Conduct an experiment to understand how different materials insulate against heat and cold. Gather materials like wool, cotton, aluminum foil, and plastic. Wrap a thermometer in each material and place them in a warm area and a cold area. Record the temperature changes and discuss which materials would be best for surviving in the Sahara and Antarctica.
Create a diorama of either the Sahara Desert or Antarctica. Include elements like plants, animals, and geographical features. Research how these elements interact and survive in such extreme environments. Present your diorama to the class and explain the ecosystem’s dynamics.
Participate in a role-playing game where you are a researcher in Antarctica or a nomad in the Sahara. Work in groups to overcome challenges like finding water, dealing with weather changes, and navigating the terrain. Reflect on the experience and discuss what strategies were most effective.
Engage in a debate about the impact of climate change on the Sahara Desert and Antarctica. Research how climate change is affecting these regions and prepare arguments for how it might alter their ecosystems and human survival. Present your findings and debate with classmates on potential solutions.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Planning a vacation can be quite challenging, can’t it? Do you want to go somewhere hot or cold? Are you looking for busy days of sightseeing or some quiet rest and relaxation? Sometimes, it’d be nice to just get away from everything and everyone, taking a long break from all of life’s troubles. If that sounds appealing to you, then maybe you should consider booking your next trip to either the Sahara or Antarctica, each home to two of the largest deserts on the planet.
However, there are a few things you should know before deciding to visit either of them, particularly regarding your chances of survival! So, join us as we explore the question: could a human being survive for a year in Antarctica or the Sahara Desert, and which one would be more challenging?
Let’s start with the warmer of the two, the Sahara Desert. A desert is defined by the lack of rain, snow, mist, or fog that an area experiences. Any region that doesn’t receive much precipitation is generally classified as a desert. While there are various subcategories, including subtropical, coastal, and polar deserts, they all share certain traits. These areas are usually barren, windswept landscapes where plants, animals, and even humans struggle to survive.
The Sahara Desert is considered the largest hot desert in the world, covering a staggering 3,000 miles from east to west, with a total area of over 3 million square miles, making it almost the same size as China! In fact, you could fit the entirety of the US in the Sahara Desert and still have some space left over. The Sahara fills nearly all of northern Africa, spanning eleven countries in total. It’s bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlas Mountains to the north, the Red Sea to the east, and the Sahel region to the south, where the Sahara transitions into more humid savannas.
The Sahara is not just sand; it features fields of sand dunes, which are formed when winds move grains of sand, piling them on top of each other until a mound forms. These dunes can sometimes reach almost 600 feet tall and cover around a quarter of the entire desert. However, most of the Sahara consists of barren, rocky plateaus, salt flats, mountains, and dry valleys. The highest peak in the desert is Emi Koussi, a volcano in the Tibesti Mountains that stands over 3,400 meters tall.
Living in the Sahara for a year would be quite challenging. Surprisingly, the Sahara wasn’t always the dry, inhospitable desert we know today. Thousands of years ago, it was much greener and home to various plants and animals, with lakes, rivers, and even forests. However, a gradual change occurred due to the tilt of the Earth’s orbital axis, leading to periods of humidity followed by drought.
The Sahara Desert is the hottest desert in the world, with an average annual temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit. On particularly hot days, temperatures can soar much higher, with some areas reaching 136 degrees Fahrenheit. The sand can exceed 170 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cause severe burns if you walk barefoot. Surviving there would require finding shade and regulating your body temperature, especially during the intense midday heat.
The Sahara receives very little rainfall, with half of the desert getting less than an inch of rain each year. Winds can strip moisture from the air, and dust storms can reduce visibility to zero, making navigation nearly impossible. Nights in the Sahara can be extremely cold, dropping to lows of 21 degrees Fahrenheit, which can lead to hypothermia if proper precautions aren’t taken.
Despite these challenges, some people do live in the Sahara, primarily nomads who move from place to place, often traveling at night and finding shade to sleep during the day. To survive the cold nights, setting up camp near rocks can help retain warmth, and wearing multiple layers of clothing can prevent heat loss.
Water is scarce in the Sahara, and while there are rivers and lakes, most of them are saltwater. Humans can only survive a few days without water, which is why nomadic peoples keep moving. Staying hydrated is crucial for survival in the Sahara, and with proper preparation, one could potentially survive for two to four weeks, depending on various factors.
Now, let’s shift our focus to Antarctica. Located at the southern pole of our planet, Antarctica is a cold continent covered in ice and is classified as a polar desert. It receives less annual rainfall than the Sahara, averaging only 10 millimeters over the last 30 years. The continent is also the coldest on Earth, with the lowest temperature ever recorded at -135 degrees Fahrenheit.
Much like the Sahara, Antarctica wasn’t always frozen. Millions of years ago, it was much warmer and home to large forests. Today, however, it is the least populated continent, with no permanent residents. The population consists mainly of researchers working in scientific stations, studying the environment and climate change.
Surviving in Antarctica is extremely difficult due to the low temperatures. Even in the summer, temperatures inland hover around -4 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to frostbite and hypothermia within minutes. In winter, conditions worsen significantly, making survival nearly impossible without proper gear and supplies.
When comparing the two deserts, living in the Sahara for a year would mean dealing with intense heat and the need to stay hydrated, while in Antarctica, the extreme cold presents its own set of challenges. Ultimately, your chances of surviving for a year would likely be higher in the Sahara than in the icy plains of Antarctica.
For more information, check out “What’s Actually Hiding Under the Sands of Sahara.” Or watch this video instead!
Sahara – The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world, located in North Africa. – The Sahara is known for its vast stretches of sand dunes and extreme temperatures.
Antarctica – Antarctica is a continent located at the southernmost part of the Earth, known for its icy landscape and cold climate. – Scientists travel to Antarctica to study its unique environment and wildlife.
Desert – A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs, making it difficult for most plants and animals to survive. – The Gobi Desert in Asia is known for its harsh conditions and unique rock formations.
Temperature – Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is, often influencing the climate of a region. – The temperature in the Arctic can drop to extremely low levels during the winter months.
Precipitation – Precipitation is any form of water, such as rain, snow, or sleet, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface. – The Amazon Rainforest receives a high amount of precipitation, which supports its diverse ecosystem.
Survival – Survival refers to the ability of organisms to continue living and thriving in their environment. – Camels have adapted to ensure their survival in the harsh conditions of the desert.
Climate – Climate is the long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular area. – The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
Nomads – Nomads are people who move from place to place, often in search of food, water, or grazing land for their animals. – The Bedouins are nomads who have traditionally roamed the deserts of the Middle East.
Water – Water is a vital resource for all living organisms and is essential for survival and growth. – Conserving water is crucial in areas where it is a scarce resource, such as in arid regions.
Environment – The environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally, influencing the survival and development of organisms. – Protecting the environment is important to ensure a healthy planet for future generations.
