The Sahara desert is quite a challenge, surely one of the hottest and deadliest places on the planet where year after year hundreds of dehydrated people die trying to cross it. It is located in North Africa and is so large in extension that it occupies a quarter of the African continent, encompassing no less than 11 countries.
What do you need to survive in the desert?
The Sahara desert or Sahara “the Great Desert” is the largest warm desert in the world and the third-largest after Antarctica and the Arctic. With more than 9,065,000 km2 of surface, it covers most of North Africa, occupying an area almost as large as that of China or the United States. The Sahara extends from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coast, to the Atlantic Ocean. To the south, it is delimited by the Sahel, a semi-arid tropical savanna belt that makes up the regions that cover northern Sub-Saharan Africa. Some of the Sahara sand dunes can reach 193 m in height.
How to survive
If you get lost in a desert the chances of survival are one in a million, you will die dehydrated or from heatstroke. No person could resist it, certain death in a matter of hours.
If you want to fight for your life and not give up, the first thing you have to do is cover your head to avoid heatstroke. That is the first step to survival. Remember that this is the hottest desert in the world and in summer 58 degrees are easily reached.
Diet is also important, you must do it often and in small amounts, if you eat too much the digestion will absorb all the water in your body, you will get dizzy and you will not be able to avoid dehydration that will leave you dry.
If it is your lucky day and you come across a palm tree, take the opportunity to eat a date and then protect yourself from the sun in the shade by digging a bit in the sand. Rest there until the sun begins to set. Take a breather, regain strength and never falter. The power is in your mind, not in the body. Don’t get carried away by the situation. We know you are on the edge.
High temperatures often cause headaches, if you stop sweating and tides you are probably suffering the consequences of heatstroke. Calculate that in the desert you can lose up to a litre of water per hour. Recover liquids as soon as possible.
Orient yourself in the Sahara
Orientation in a desert-like the Sahara is not easy, the only guide is the sun, always head in the same direction taking the sun as a reference.
If you find a bird hovering over your head, follow it. Birds are always close to where there is water, perhaps an oasis. So start looking that surely there is a source nearby to hydrate yourself to continue.
Lastly, as long as you have good orientation, advance at night, you will avoid the effects of the devastating heat, but be careful, there may be poisonous snakes lurking. They also like to go out for a walk at this time. The key to avoiding them is to stomp on the ground to cause vibrations and drive them away.
Now you are ready for adventure. Good luck!
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