Desert definition

A large, dry, barren region, usually having sandy or rocky soil and little or no vegetation. Water lost to evaporation and transpiration in a desert exceeds the amount of precipitation; most deserts average less than 25 cm (9.75 inches) of precipitation each year, concentrated in short local bursts. Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth's surface, with the principal warm deserts located mainly along the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, where warm, rising equatorial air masses that have already lost most of their moisture descend over the subtropical regions. Cool deserts are located at higher elevations in the temperate regions, often on the lee side of a barrier mountain range where the prevailing winds drop their moisture before crossing the range.
A Closer Look A desert is defined not by temperature but by the sparse amount of water found in a region. An area with an annual rainfall of fewer than 25 centimeters (9.75 inches) generally qualifies as a desert. In spite of the dryness, however, some animals and plants have adapted to desert life and thrive in these harsh environments. While different animals live in different types of deserts, the dominant animals of warm deserts are reptiles, including snakes and lizards, small mammals, such as ground squirrels and mice, and arthropods, such as scorpions and beetles. These animals are usually nocturnal, spending the day resting in the shade of plants or burrowed in the ground, and emerging in the evenings to hunt or eat. Warm-desert plants are mainly ground-hugging shrubs, small wooded trees, and cacti. Plant and animal life is scarcer in the cool desert, where the precipitation falls mainly as snow. Plants are generally scattered mosses and grasses that are able to survive the cold by remaining low to the ground, avoiding the wind, and animal life can include both large and small mammals, such as deer and jackrabbits, as well as a variety of raptors and other birds.

http://www.answer.com/topic/desert

Types of desert

There are 5 types of desert according to the landscapes :
Sand desert --- a wavy sand sea
Stony desert --- gravel surfaces
Rock desert --- bare rock surfaces with huge pavement that kept clear of sand or gravel by wind
Plateau desert --- rocky plateaux , deeply eroded wadis, buttes or inselbergs
(for details, please refer to Action of Rain
Mountain desert --- bare and arid arrays of jagged rock peaks
( The above landscapes can be found quite close to each other, like the desert complex in North America )

Deserts can be classified is " Hot deserts" and " Cold deserts".
Hot desert --- It has high daytime temperature for the whole year, though rather cold at night as temperature may fall below 10oC (50oF) or even below the freezing point When the maximum daytime temperature is above 40oC (104oF).
Examples : Sahara, Namib/Kalahari, Arabian, Iranian, Atacama, Australian and in North America: Sonoran, Mojave and Colorado.
Cold desert--- It has hot summers but extremely cold winters.
Examples : the desert complex in Western North America (Great Basin), Patagonian, Turkestan & Gobi Deserts

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/desert/types

Desert Animals

DesertAnimals.net, a website in The Animal Spot, is a reference to some of the animals that can be found in the desert. A desert is defined as a region that receives very little rainfall. It can be hot or cold. There are various types of deserts all around the world, from the harsh elements of the Sahara desert in Africa to the 4 deserts of the Southwestern United States. Areas in Antarctica are examples of cold deserts.The animals that live in the desert usually have special adaptations that allow them to survive the extreme temperatures and conditions that are present in a desert. A good example of an animal with special adaptations is the camel. A camel can drink very large amounts of water in one day or survive for a relatively long time without drinking any water.Some animals of the desert are also endangered, including the Lappet-Faced Vulture, which is categorized as vulnerable. The World Conservation Union, or IUCN, has a website which details the endangered status of many animals at www.iucnredlist.org.In this website there is also a section for savanna animals. The savanna is a unique ecosystem that receives more rain than a desert but receives it in large amounts and then is dry for long periods of time. At The Animal Spot we are always adding new animals and information so please stop by and see what's new. We also hope that you will check out our other websites, RainforestAnimals.net and TundraAnimals.net for great information about animals of the rainforest. Thank you for visiting and we hope you enjoy our reference to desert animals.

http://www.desertusa.com/animal.html

Camel racing

General Introduction
Camel racing is a deep-rooted traditional sport that finds its origins in the desert culture of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East. Camels, commonly referred to as "ships of the desert," have for thousands of years played a vital role in the region, influencing every aspect of daily life. Beyond providing transportation, food, and shelter, the camel also served as a means of entertainment, celebration, and competition on festivals and special occasions. Races would take place at such events, which were generally more for show than competition. Competitive races would typically take place as a result of a challenge among camel owners, therefore requiring preparation that differed from the show races.For centuries, the desert way of life remained unchanging, which included the high socio-economic importance of the camel. With the oil boom, parts of the region transformed and many aspects of traditional life disappeared. The camel maintained its symbolic significance while technology replaced the practical need for the animal. With the advent of wealth, the affected nations were introduced to Western lifestyle, technology, and luxury. The force of such powerful changes caused the gradual disappearance of time-honored traditions and customs, which awakened a sense of urgency when people realized their proud and rich history was fading away. The importance of holding on to those traditions that characterized the spirit of the region was revived, which included camel racing.As a result, camel racing became a very popular pastime, developing into a much more formalized and professional form of racing which includes specialized breeding, intensive training programs, and technique. The rise of camel racing's popularity can be seen as well in other parts of the world where the race has also begun to draw in sizeable crowds of spectators and influential patrons. The sport continues to grow and develop, spreading and gaining recognition in regions where camels are not generally common.
http://camelphotos.com/racing-camels.html

My trip

I went to desert with my family, and we took pictures.
Now I will show this pictures.