Moroccan Times
By Natalie Reynolds
Sand! Sand! Sand!
An erg is a huge area of shifting sand dunes in the Sahara. Inbetween the Atlas Mountains and the Ahaggar mountains lies a range of ergs. Ergs have at least 125 square kilometers of wind-blown sand. The large amounts of sand are blown because there is little to no vegetation to keep it held in the ground.
Underground Ocean
An aquifer is an underground rock layer that water flows through. Since Libya has no permanent rivers, their people rely on aquifers hidden under the surface. The water is found under deserts. In the 1990's the government built pipelines to carry the water to the surface and coastal areas.
You Shall Not Pass!
An embargo is an order that restricts or prohibits trade with another country. The United Nations has an embargo with Iraq due to Iraq's refusal to get rid of destructive weapons. In the early 2000's America sent experts to check if their leader Saddam got rid of the weapons, then consequently started a war with them in 2003.
Why are we fighting with Iraq?
Baghdad is the capitol of Iraq. The United States and Great Britian invaded Iraq in March 2003 for several different reasons like human rights but mainly because they were keeping and supporting terrorists. They overthrow their leader Saddam Hussein who was dictator from 1979-2003. They believed he was holding very destructive weapons.
Where is their Money Going?
Libya makes a lot of money due to oil production. It was first discovered in 1959 and brought a lot of wealth to the area. Their government has decided to use the oil production money towards several things including importing food, building new schools and hospitals, and lastly maintaining a strong military.
Can you Say Sand?
The Sahara Desert is actually only the third largest desert compared to Antarctica and the Arctic. But it is the largest hot desert. The area is about 3.3 square miles, or about the size of the continental United States. The Sahara has extreme temperatures, with an average of about 86°F. But in the summer it ranges from 104°F-116°F. The Sahara can also have extreme changes like going from 100°F-31°F in the span of one day. I don't even think Nebraska could pull that off.