Sahara Desert on the Map: North African Span

[Image of North Africa map showing the countries surrounding the Sahara desert: Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger and Mali]

Geographic Scope

The Sahara spans ~9.2 million km² (3.6M sq mi) across 11 countries:

• North: Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt
• Sahel fringe (south): Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan

Key Features Visible on Map

• Ergs (sand seas): Grand Erg Oriental (Algeria), Grand Erg Occidental (Algeria), Erg Chebbi (Morocco)
• Hamadas (rock plateaus): Hamada du Guir, Hamada de Tinrhert
• Mountain massifs: Ahaggar (Hoggar, Algeria), Tibesti (Chad, 3,415 m), Aïr (Niger)
• Depressions: Qattara (Egypt, −133 m), Sebkha Tah (Algeria)
• Oases chains: Siwa (Egypt), Ghadames (Libya), Timimoun (Algeria), Bilma (Niger)

Boundaries

• North: Atlas Mountains / Mediterranean climate zone
• South: Sahel transition (~200 mm isohyet)
• East: Red Sea / Nile Valley
• West: Atlantic Ocean