Desertification in the Sahara Region Web-Quest

You have been hired by a company to do research on desertification in the Sahara region. The company is counting on you to find information on the Sahara and what is causing desertification in the region. Using your research, you will report back to the company (Mr. Sgrignoli or Mr. Lawhead) about what you have found and offer your recommendations on how to prevent desertification here in the United States. Using the online resources provided, answer the following questions in their entirety. Be sure to provide as many details as possible when answering the questions (complete sentences). When you are finished with the questions, you will type a 1 page paper on what you have discovered during your research. What is the Sahara region like? What causes and effects of desertification? How can people stop desertification?
1. Where is the Sahara Desert located? http://geography.about.com/od/locateplacesworldwide/a/saharadesert.htm 2. How big is the Sahara Desert? http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_overview.html 3. How many countries make up the Sahara region of Africa? List the countries. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_eco.html 4. Describe the topography of the Sahara region. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_eco.html 5. What is the average rainfall for the Sahara region? http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_eco.html 6. What is the average temperature in the Sahara region? http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_eco.html 7. What is the weather today in Edchera, Western Sahara? http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/local/WIXX0001

8. List and describe 3 plants that thrive in the Sahara region. Include details about how these plants can be used by people and animals. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_vegetation.html 9. List and describe 3 animals that thrive in the Sahara region. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_animals.html 10. Describe the importance of the veil for the Tuareg men living in the Sahara. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_traditions.html 11. What is the population of Africa? What percentage of Africas landmass is made up of the Sahara Desert? http://library.thinkquest.org/16645/the_people/population.shtml 12. What is desertification? http://www.wordreference.com/definition/desertification 13. What are some of the causes of desertification? http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/envFacts/facts/desertification.htm 14. What are some of the negative effects of desertification on the people, plants, and animals in the Sahara region? http://www.fao.org/sd/EPdirect/EPan0005.htm 15. What are some of the ways to prevent (halt) desertification? http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/envFacts/facts/desertification.htm 16. What can be done to reverse the effects of desertification? http://www.greenfacts.org/en/desertification/#6 17. What does the name Sahara mean in Arabic? http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_overview.html