Sahara

Rating:
Summary: The best, most sweeping account of the Sahara
Review: This masterful account of the Sahara is hard to surpass. Few books detail the Sahara and when they do they usually take the form of either purely scientific accounts or purely historical accounts. This book is one part history, one part geography, one part travel journal and one part science. The authors detail separate sections on the history of the Sahara, the peoples of the Sahara, the winds, the water, the geography and the wildlife. A special chapter covers the lifestyle of the Taureg tribesman. Special mention is made of the Islamic slave trade and the salt trade. Maps cover the many tribal groups, the amazing geography made up of Massifs and a map dedicated to the underground aquifers. Many wonderful photographs detail everything from a desert Hilton to the beautiful sand dunes to the people and wildlife of the Sahara. The Sahara is as large as the United States and includes a vast array of cultures and landscapes including the Qattara depression, and has over 2 million inhabitants. A must read for anyone interested in Africa, geography or extreme places.

Rating:
Summary: The best, most sweeping account of the Sahara
Review: This masterful account of the Sahara is hard to surpass. Few books detail the Sahara and when they do they usually take the form of either purely scientific accounts or purely historical accounts. This book is one part history, one part geography, one part travel journal and one part science. The authors detail separate sections on the history of the Sahara, the peoples of the Sahara, the winds, the water, the geography and the wildlife. A special chapter covers the lifestyle of the Taureg tribesman. Special mention is made of the Islamic slave trade and the salt trade. Maps cover the many tribal groups, the amazing geography made up of Massifs and a map dedicated to the underground aquifers. Many wonderful photographs detail everything from a desert Hilton to the beautiful sand dunes to the people and wildlife of the Sahara. The Sahara is as large as the United States and includes a vast array of cultures and landscapes including the Qattara depression, and has over 2 million inhabitants. A must read for anyone interested in Africa, geography or extreme places.