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Nubian Desert

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Nubian Desert is a very large, dry place.

Nubian Desert NASA
Nubian Desert NASA

It sits in northeastern Sudan and northern Eritrea. This desert is part of the Sahara Desert. It lies between the Nile River and the Red Sea. The land is rocky and rugged. You can also find some sand dunes there. Many wadis, or dry paths, end before they reach the Nile.

People called Nubians live in this area. Long ago, traders from Egypt traveled across the desert. They went there to buy gold, cloth, and food. The Nile River flows through many cataracts, which are rocky parts of the river.

There are some important cities here. Port Sudan sits on the Red Sea. Atbara is near a river with the same name. Massawa is also on the Red Sea. The town of Abidiya is on the Nile.

Nubian Desert NASA
Nubian Desert NASA

This desert is home to a rare palm tree. It is called the Medemia argun. This tree only grows in small oases, which are wet spots. In 2008, a meteoroid exploded in the sky above the desert. The flash was so bright that people far away saw it.

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File:Nubian Desert NASA.jpg
Nubian Desert NASA.jpg
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