Desert
Desert by Aliyah and Casey
A desert is an area that receives almost no precipitation. Deserts are defined as areas with an average annual precipitation of less then 250 millimeters per year, or as areas where more water is lost by evaporation then falls as precipitation. Deserts take up out one third of the Earths land surface. The largest hot desert is the Sahara desert in northern Africa, covering a million square kilometers and 12 countries. Atacama is the driest on earth and is virtually sterile because it is blocked from moisture or both sides by the Andes Mountains and by the Chilean coastal range. While deserts are well known for their lack of water, some groups have adopted ways to find water in this harsh environment. A desert is a hostile, potentially deadly environment for unprepared humans. In hot deserts, high temperatures cause rapid loss of water due to sweating, and the absence of water sources with which to replenish it can result in dehydration and death within a few days. Despite this, some cultures have made hot deserts their home for thousands of years. Modern technology, including advanced irrigator systems, desalinization and air conditioning have made deserts much more hospitable.