OneWorld's special focuses on desert literature. Nevertheless, while on the subject of deserts the Desert Ed (as in education) section should provide you with some practical desert information. This area is also a place holder for your input about a desert of your choice, whether the real thing or its web counterpart. In this section you will find:
1. A desert map to locate the nearest desert or arid zone,
along with some desert facts to think about.
A Desert Map
Because of the lack of moisture, desert plants are usually drought-tolerant or annuals. Some drought-tolerant features are light colored leaves, small leaves, thick leaves, waxy leaves, large root systems, and water storage systems such as cactus stems.
The vegetation of deserts around the world are quite variable. The Mojave Desert is known for its unusual Joshua Trees from the Lily Family. The Sonoran Desert, which wraps around the northern portion of the Gulf of California like an upside-down U, has the thorn-covered Ocotillo as well as the huge Saguaro Cactus. The Great Basin of the American West is covered with sagebrush. The Chihuahua Desert, which straddles Mexico and Texas, is known for its mesquite trees and Agaves. The Namib Desert of Southern Africa and the deserts of Australia have their own unique desert vegetation.Animals which live in the desert are often light-colored and blend in well with their surroundings.
Animals which live in the desert are often light-colored and blend in well with their surroundings. To avoid the heat, they are usually more active at night or around dusk and dawn. To escape the heat during the day, desert animals often hide out under rocks or in burrows. Reptiles are very common in the desert.
- Reference: College of the Siskiyous
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