The Sahara Desert: A Geological Mystery

What is the Sahara desert known for?

• Rainforests

• Sand dunes

• Glaciers

• Volcanic eruptions

What evidence of the Sahara's watery past was found in the Great Pyramids of Egypt?

• Marine microorganisms

• Fossilized mangrove roots

• Freshwater shells

• Whale bones

What is the name of the remote desert valley near the pyramid stones quarry?

• Sahara Oasis

• Wadi al-Hitan

• White Desert

• Gobi Desert

What evidence of the Sahara's watery past was found in Wadi al-Hitan?

• Fossilized mangrove roots

• Marine microorganisms

• Whale bones

• Freshwater shells

What is the estimated length of the ancient whale found in Wadi al-Hitan?

• 10 feet

• 15 feet

• 25 feet

• 20 feet

What evidence suggests that the Sahara was once covered by a shallow ocean?

• Fossilized mangrove roots

• Marine microorganisms

• Whale bones

• Freshwater shells

What is the name of the ocean that once stretched almost halfway around the world and connected Asia to the Atlantic?

• Arctic Ocean

• Tethys Sea

• Pacific Ocean

• Indian Ocean

What geological event caused the Sahara to emerge from under the Tethys Sea?

• Plate tectonics

• Earthquake

• Glacial melting

• Volcanic eruption

What is the desert belt region north of the equator known for?

• Snowfall

• Tropical rainforests

• Dry air

• Humid climate

What geological feature in the White Desert holds clues to the age of the Sahara desert?

• Yardangs

• Sand dunes

• Caves

• Oasis