Arabian Desert

The Arabian Desert is an extensive and vast desert that reaches from Yemen to the Persian Gulf and Oman to Jordan and Iraq. The Arabian Desert encompasses most of the Arabian Peninsula that covers an area of 2,330,000 square kilometers. Rub'al-Khali, in the Arabian Desert, is one of the largest continuous bodies of sand in the world. Some of the desert-adapted species that survive in the extreme environment of the Arabian Desert are gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards. The desert also has deadly quicksand. The climate is extremely dry, and temperatures fluctuate between extreme heat and seasonal freezes. The Arabian Desert holds little biodiversity, although a few plants do grow here. Many animal species, such as the hyena, jackal and honey badger have become extinct in the Arabian Desert due to over hunting, human encroachment and habitat destruction. Other Arabian Desert species have been successfully re-introduced, such as the endangered white oryx and the sand gazelle. The Arabian Desert was also the victim of a massive economic-environmental challenge: the sabotage of Kuwait oil facilities that created vast oil spills and the release of deadly toxins into the atmosphere in the early 1990s. In January 1991 during the Gulf War, Iraqi forces released about 11 million barrels of oil from storage tanks and tankers directly into the Persian Gulf. This had huge environmental effects on the region. It took 9 months to extinguish these oil fires that released toxic fumes into the area and surrounding Arabian Desert. The result of this pollution was the death of thousands of water birds and serious damage to the Persian Gulf's ecosystem. This directly affected areas of the Arabian Desert. Trips to the Arabian Desert and surrounding regions can be very risky depending on the political and social status of the surrounding regions. Before you take any trip to this region, it is best to consult with your embassy and any travel companies who specialize in trips to this region. The Arabian Desert can be a very beautiful place and incredible adventure but make sure you are prepared before planning a trip.