Sahara Desert Landscapes: Dunes, Plateaus, Oases, and Mountains

Varied Terrain

• Ergs (Sand Seas): Vast dune fields (up to hundreds of meters high), quartz sand, pale yellow to deep orange, constantly reshaped by wind.
• Hamadas (Rocky Plateaus): Elevated, barren bedrock surfaces from eroded sedimentary layers; extreme temperatures, sparse life.
• Regs (Gravel Plains): Gently sloping plains covered in pebbles/gravel; weathered rock remnants, difficult travel.
• Oases: Vegetated depressions around springs/wells; support agriculture (dates, olives, grains), settlements, trade.
• Mountain Ranges: Tibesti Mountains (Chad/Libya) include Emi Koussi (3,415 m), Sahara's highest peak.
• Chotts (Salt Flats): Dry lake beds with salt crusts; form from evaporated shallow waters, often near oases.

The Sahara is not a uniform sea of sand but a mosaic of extreme environments.