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Where Is the World's Oldest Desert?

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Quick Answer

The Namib Desert in southwestern Africa has been arid for at least 55 million years.

The Full Story

The Namib Desert, stretching along the Atlantic coast of Namibia, Angola, and South Africa, is generally considered the world's oldest desert, with semi-arid to arid conditions persisting for at least 55 million years and hyper-arid conditions for about 5 million years. Its towering red sand dunes — some exceeding 300 metres — are among the tallest on Earth. The desert's extreme age has allowed unique species to evolve, including the Welwitschia plant, which can live over 1,500 years, and the fog-basking beetle, which collects moisture from Atlantic fog.

Key Facts

1.The Namib covers about 81,000 square kilometres.
2.Sossusvlei's dunes are iconic, with some reaching over 300 metres.
3.The cold Benguela Current along the coast creates the fog that sustains life in the desert.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The Namib — Surviving in the World's Oldest Desert"

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