Geography of Western Sahara

Western Sahara is almost entirely desert and has a very small population. Among the most important mosques and kasbahs in Western Sahara are those in the town of Semara (Smara). The former colonial capital of Laayoune serves as the main city. Although there isn't much farming in the area, dried fish is shipped to the Canary Islands along with raising camels, goats, and sheep. Agracha and other locations are sources of potash and iron ore, while Bu Craa, southeast of Laayoune, is home to enormous phosphate resources.

The lack of water, however, creates issues with phosphate extraction. After 1976, during the Sahrawi guerrilla war against Morocco, a conveyor belt more than 60 miles (100 km) long that was designed to transport phosphate from the mines to the piers southwest of Laayoune was repeatedly destroyed. Despite the country's fairly flat surface, there are many motorable paths but few paved highways. Between Laayoune and Al-Dakhla (formerly Villa Cisneros), Las Palmas (in the Canary Islands), Nouakchott (in Mauritania), and Casablanca (in Morocco), there is frequent flight service.

Physical Features

Western Sahara is a nation in western Africa that borders the Atlantic Ocean. The land's overall area is 266,000 km2 (102,703 mi2), including its 1,110 km (689.7 mi) of coastline. This land area makes up roughly 66% of California's total area. Thus, Western Sahara is the 77th-ranked nation in the world and the 29th-smallest nation in Africa. It is also the most sparsely inhabited country in Africa, with 2.5 people per km2. At 256 meters above sea level on average, Western Sahara is rather low in elevation.

Aousserd, the highest point in the nation, at 701 meters above sea level. With the three neighbouring nations of Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco, there are direct international borders. New York City and the capital city El Aai'n are separated.

One of the least welcoming regions on earth is the Western Sahara. Only 2 inches (5 cm) of rain fall there annually on average. It is largely made up of hot, arid, rocky, and desert with little vegetation. The size of Western Sahara is comparable to either Great Britain or Colorado. Its shared borders with Morocco in the north are 276 miles (444 km), Algeria in the northeast is 19 miles (31 km), and Mauritius is 976 miles (1,571 km) to the east and south. The Western Sahara is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the furthest westernmost point of the Sahara Desert. The length of the coast is 660 miles (1,602 km).

A sizable portion of the shoreline is a wall of cliffs. There aren't many natural harbours, and the shoreline is hazardous due to sand banks and shallow coastal waters. A thin band of sand dunes, measuring 10 to 20 mi (16.1 to 32.2 km) wide, runs along much of the shore. The majority of the rest of the nation is made up of windswept gravel plains.

Division

There are two main regions in the Western Sahara. The Saguia El-Hamra region located in the north. It starts at the Moroccan border and stretches southward in an east-west axis from Boujdour on the coast to the Mauritania border in the north. The valley of the Seguia El-Hamra (the "Red River") river bears the name of the Saguia El-Hamra district. Rio de Oro is the southernmost region in the Western Sahara. It takes up the country's southern two thirds. The centre third of Western Sahara is located in the northern section of the Rio de Oro area. From the sand dunes along the coast until it meets the Zemmour massif in the east, where it borders Mauritania, it is a flat desert.

Laayoune (formerly El Aioun), which is in the Sekia el Hamra region, and Dakhla (previously Villa Cisneros), which is on the Rio de Oro peninsula on the Atlantic coast, are the two most significant cities. Desert winds blow over Western Sahara. The worst is a sandstorm called the irifi that blows out of the Atlantic from the southeast. The Western Sahara lacks any notable oases. Shrubs and the occasional acacia tree make up the majority of the vegetation. The Saguia el-Hamra and its tributaries contain the most of the notable vegetation.

Winter rainwater collects in a few rocky cisterns called gueltas. Western Sahara has a small, primarily nomadic population. There are mainly Arabs or Berbers, with a small number of Spaniards and Africans. The indigenous population consists of Tauregs, Reguibat, Delim, and Izarguen. Today, the population is referred to as Saharawis.

Climate

The climate in the Western Sahara is hot and arid (Köppen climatic classification BWh). Everywhere, the annual average rainfall is less than 50 mm (2.0 in). Average high and low temperatures along the Atlantic coast are consistent and moderately mild throughout the year due to the climate being significantly cooled off by cold offshore ocean currents, especially during the day. However, in the interior, where cooling sea influences are no longer felt, summer is long and very hot and winter is brief and very warm to absolutely torrid.

In the summer, high temperatures frequently exceed 40 °C (104 °F), but they can also get to 50 °C (122 °F) or higher in localities like Smara, Tichla, Bir Gandus, Bir Anzarane, Aghouinite, Aousserd, and others. Winter highs are typically over 20 °C (68 °F), although average lows in some regions can plummet below 7 °C (45 °F). Sunny weather is typical, and the sky is typically clear and bright throughout the year.

Conclusion

Northern Africa's Western Sahara is a sizable desert region with a sparse population. The North Atlantic Ocean is its neighbour, and its geography is mostly low, flat desert with stony or sandy surfaces. Exporting dried fish to the Canary Islands and rearing sheep, goats, and camels are the main economic activity. Although the area has abundant phosphate resources, water scarcity affects phosphate extraction.

Although Western Sahara lacks paved roadways, it does have a patchy network of motorable trails. The weather is hot, dry, and desert-like, with high temperatures and little rainfall, especially in the summer. The region's peculiar character is influenced by its difficult climate and distinctive geographic features.

FAQs

1. What is the geography of Western Sahara?

The Western Sahara is a sizable desert region in Northern Africa that abuts the North Atlantic Ocean. It is predominantly a low, flat desert with stony or sandy surfaces.

2. What are the economic activities in Western Sahara?

Exporting dried fish to the Canary Islands and breeding sheep, goats, and camels are examples of economic activities. It also has rich phosphate resources, but water shortage makes phosphate mining difficult.

3. What is the climate of Western Sahara?

Western Sahara has a hot, dry, desert-like environment with minimal rainfall and soaring temperatures, particularly in the summer. Summer temperatures can approach 40°C (104°F) and occasionally even 50°C (122°F), while winters can be mild to extremely hot.

4. What are the main cities in Western Sahara?

Laayoune and Dakhla are the major urban centres. Dakhla is on the Rio de Oro peninsula on the Atlantic coast, while Laayoune is in the north in the Saguia El-Hamra region.

5. What is the population of Western Sahara?

Small, mostly nomadic Arabs, Berbers, and a few Spaniards and Africans make up the majority of the population in Western Sahara, which also includes indigenous Taureg, Reguibat, Delim, and Izarguen communities.