Deserts are some of the hottest and driest places on earth. In the summer you could fry and egg on the ground in Death Valley, California. But at night the temperature in most deserts drop so low that it is possible that you could freeze to death. There is little rain fall and hardly anything grows, because of this not many people live in the worlds deserts, but some people call the desert home.
Homes
People whole live in deserts have to find ways to make life there work. People who live in the deserts of North America build homes of adobe. Adobe is a kind of brick made of clay mixed with straw. It is dried in the sun until it hardens. In the Sahara and Arabian deserts people called Bedouins (BE-duh-wuhnz), live in tents made of cloth. When they move they take all their tent with them.
Transportation
Most Bedouins do no drive cars or trucks because there are few roads in the desert. They ride horses or camels.
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JobsThe main occupation of the people in desert is agriculture and animal husbandry. Due to difficult farming conditions, animal husbandry is more popular. The living standard of the people in the desert is low. They have to face water scarcity and difficult climate. Some people who live in or near the desert work in mines. Many deserts are rich in minerals, such as salt., and natural resources like oil and gas.
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Recreation
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Geography
Where are deserts located around the world?
Bedouin Culture
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Bedouin life is generally pastoral, herding camels, sheep, goats and cattle. In winter, when there is some rain, they move deeper into the desert. In the hot, dry summer time, they camp around water sources. Traditionally, the Bedouin's home, the tent, is divided into three sections by curtains: the men's section, the family section and the kitchen. In the men's area, guests are received around the hearth where the host prepares coffee on the fire. This is the center of Bedouin social life. Tea is served as a welcome drink; coffee is usually prepared after the meal and is the last drink before the guest leaves. The serving of food and drink represents the generous hospitality of the host.
The men pass the evening trading news and discussing their animals. Separated from them by a curtain, the women gather in the family area and kitchen along with their small children to bake bread and prepare the main meal. The traditional foods of the Bedouin are dairy products and meat. A dinner of rice and chunks of mutton or lamb are then served to the gathered guests. Women occupy a very important position in Bedouin society. Not only do they raise the children, herd the sheep, milk the animals, cook, spin yarn and make the clothes, but they also weave the cloth that constitutes the tent. The Bedouin men gather around the fire, sharing stories and sipping coffee. Traditionally, one of the men recites poetry or sings. Poetry has been a central cultural form of expression for the Bedouins throughout their history. To mark the end of the evening, the host burns incense in a mabkhara (incense burner) passing it to each of his guests to inhale and fan their clothes. children are expected to assume a considerable amount of responsibility in order to help their families survive such as looking after the sheep and goats. tgirls and small children spend parts of their time collecting brushwoods for fire at night and bring it home in bundles. Although modernization has changed the Bedouin lifestyle somewhat, emphasis is placed on teaching children to carry on traditional ways of life. |