How do oases occur?

Oases are fertile areas in the deserts where the water is stored underneath the surface. Sand is very porous, so when it rains most of the water runs right through the sand and goes down to the bedrock, usually several hundred feet below the surface. There are also river-water oases, for example, the one along the river Nile in Egypt. Earlier the oases were important trading places for passing caravans. The conventional oasis economy provided cereals, pomegranates, and figs as well as dates that grew on the high palm trees. But now the oasis products are no longer in demand because of the globalization. The oases are now being abandoned, and are gradually drying up.

What do the antelopes living in the desert drink?

Many antelopes, such as the White Oryx found in the Arabian peninsula, have adapted themselves to a life in the desert. They do not drink water, but eat when it is cooler and when the plants are wet with dewdrops. They pass very little moisture out of their bodies because their bodies have a  system of cooling the blood before it reaches the brain. Their fur is generally paler on their underside to reflect ground heat away from the stomach. Even humans such as the San people living in the Kalahari in South Africa have adapted themselves to the desert life. They are experts at finding juicy melons and water-storing roots. They also bury sealed ostrich eggs filled with water for use during the dry season.

Why are sandstorms dangerous?

Dry, hot winds that whirl up and carry the desert sand are called sandstorms. They can rage for days and can carry so much of dust that nothing is visible. The sandstorm appears as a solid wall of sand that could be as high as 1.6 km. Animals and people caught in it can lose their orientation and die.

Desert nomads stack sandbags around their tents and protect themselves with the help of veils over their heads and faces. Camels can close their nostrils and they have extra-long eyelashes that cover their eyes.