TRIVIA - THE SAHARA

Camels in the Sahara Desert

The largest desert in the world--the Sahara, the very word, in Arabic, for "desert"--is as large in area as the U.S. The Sahara wasn't always a sahara. Twenty thousand years ago, glaciers covered much of Europe, and cool winds brought moisture to northern Africa. What is now desert was then a pleasant land with rivers and lakes, forests and grasslands.



Sahara shimmers

THE DESERT TRANSPORT

Are camel humps filled with water?

Camels can cross the deserts because their humps are filled with water; this is what we know! Well, we are all wrong. A camel’s hump is actually filled with fat. The bloodstream, where most of the 150 liters of water it drinks in a single go is stored, is the main source of its water.

Unlike other mammals, which have round blood cells, camels’ blood cells are oval, so they can slip easily through veins and arteries even when they are dehydrated, and they can also absorb lots of water without rupturing.

Camels also protect themselves against desert conditions by sweating far less than most animals; closing their elongated nostrils so that a large amount of water vapor in their exhalations is trapped and returned to their body fluids, reducing the amount of water lost through respiration producing dry feces and little urine, and reflecting sunlight from their coats. Even that fatty hump comes in handy. As the fat is converted to energy, it produces water as a byproduct. Although, the myth is false, it is half true in the long term.

THE GREAT DATES OF SAUDI ARABIA

It’s March and soon the days of great dates come!

For long times, dates have played significant roles in the lives of Arabian Peninsula residents. Dried dates were a basic part of their nourishment.

The world famous dates sought after by many come in different types, such as rothanah, heliah, baidh, rabiaah, and helwah. Each territory of Saudi Arabia is famous for its distinctive kind of dried dates. The western area produces Al-Mabrook, Al-Khalas are produced in the eastern area, Al-Surri and Al-Safri dates in the southern area, while the middle and northern areas produce Al-Sukkah and Al-Burhi dates. The produce is priced at reasonable levels as the market is oversupplied following a good harvest spawned by very warm weather conditions. Dates harvest is subject to changing temperatures. The higher the temperature, the more produce the farmers get.

The biggest palms farm in the world is the Al-Qaseem territory located in the middle of Saudi Arabia. The area has 4 million date palms. The Hail territory in the north has 1.5 million date trees and produces 53,000 tons of dates annually.

The date palm is considered to be one of the most adaptable trees in the world and is able to withstand the dry, hot days and cold nights of the harsh desert climate. It is especially important to Saudis not only for its myriad uses, but also as a national symbol of wealth and health.

Let us enjoy a plateful of delicious dates with coffee or tea!