Nubian Desert

Coordinates: 20°30′N 33°00′E / 20.5°N 33°E / 20.5; 33

Fragment of Nubian Desert seen from space

The Nubian Desert (Arabic: صحراء النوبة, Şaḩrā’ an Nūbyah) is in the eastern region of the Sahara Desert, spanning approximately 400,000 km² of northeastern Sudan between the Nile and the Red Sea. The arid region is rugged and rocky and contains some dunes, it also contains many wadis that die out before reaching the Nile. The average annual rainfall in the Nubian Desert is less than 5 inches (125mm).[1] The native inhabitants of the area are the Nubians. The River Nile goes through most of its cataracts while traveling through the Nubian Desert. This is right before the Great Bend of the Nile. The Nubian Desert affected the civilization in ancient Egypt in many ways.

The town of Abidiya is located nearby.

This desert is the only habitat for the critically endangered palm Medemia argun, which only appears rarely in some oases in the desert.[2]

On October 7, 2008 the meteoroid 2008 TC3 exploded above the Nubian Desert. The sky became so bright, people hundreds of miles away reported seeing the flash.[3]

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