This appendix provides brief descriptions of
notable deserts of the world. Detailed information can be obtained
from a terrain analysis from the Defense Intelligence Agency and
the relevant volume of the DA Pamphlet 550-series. See Figure A-1 for desert locations of the world.
NOTABLE DESERTS OF THE WORLD
| ARABIAN (EASTERN) | 70,000 square miles | In Egypt between the Nile River and Red Sea, extending southward into the Sudan |
| ATACAMA | 600 miles long | In northern Chile |
| CHIHUAHUA | 140,000 square miles | In New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Mexico |
| COLORADO | 7,500 square miles | South of the Mojave desert, along the Colorado River in southern California |
| DEATH VALLEY | 3,300 square miles | In eastern California and southwest Nevada |
| GIBSON | 120,000 square miles | In the interior of western Australia |
| GOBI | 500,000 square miles | In Mongolia and China |
| GREAT SANDY | 150,000 square miles | In western Australia |
| GREAT VICTORIA | 150,000 square miles | In western and southern Australia |
| KALAHARI | 225,000 square miles | In southern Africa |
| KARA-KUM | 120,000 square miles | In Turkmenia (former Soviet Union) |
| KAVIR | 400 miles long | In central Iran |
| KYZL KUM | 100,000 square miles | Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (former Soviet Union) |
| LUT | 20,000 square miles | In eastern Iran |
| MOJAVE | 15,000 square miles | In southern California |
| NAFUD | 40,000 square miles | Near Jawf in Saudi Arabia |
| NAMIB | 800 miles long | Along the southwest coast of Africa |
| NUBIAN | 100,000 square miles | In the Sahara in northeast Sudan |
| PAINTED DESERT | 150 miles long In northern Arizona | In northern Arizona |
| SAHARA | 3,500,000 square miles | In Northern Africa extending westward to the Atlantic (largest desert in the world) |
| SIMPSON | 40,000 square miles | In central Australia |
| SONORAN | 70,000 square miles | In southwest Arizona and southeast California |
| SYRIAN | 100,000 square miles | In northern Saudi Arabia eastern Jordan, southern Syria, and western Iraq |
AUSTRALIA
| DESERTS: GIBSON, GREAT SANDY, GREAT VICTORIA, SIMPSON | |
| AUSTRALIA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 2,967,895 sq mi |
| Population Growth | 1.17 % |
| Population Density | 5/sq mi |
| Capital City | CANBERRA |
| AUSTRALIA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| CANBERRA | 274,000 | 35.18S, 149.08E |
| Sydney | 3,441,000 | 33.53S, 151.10E |
| Melbourne | 2,949,000 | 37.45S, 144.58E |
| Brisbane | 1,169,000 | 27.30S, 153.00E |
| Perth | 1,001,000 | 31.57S, 115.52E |
| Adelaide | 987,000 | 34.56S, 138.36E |
| Newcastle | 423,000 | 17.20S, 133.21E |
| Wollongong | 238,000 | 17.13s, 137.57E |
| Gold Coast | 208,000 | 27.59S, 153.22E |
| Hobart | 180,000 | 42.54S, 147.18E |
| Geelong | 150,000 | 38.10S, 144.26E |
| AUSTRALIA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | English | |
| Aborigine | ||
| Ethnic Groups | White | 95% |
| Asian | 4% | |
| Aborigine and Other | 1% | |
| Religions | Anglican | 26% |
| Catholic | 26% | |
| Other Christian | 24% | |
| Other | 24% | |
SOUTH AMERICA
| CHILE | |
| DESERTS: ATACAMA | |
| CHILE - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 756,945 sq km |
| Population Growth | 1.49 % |
| Population Density | 17 /sq km |
| CHILE - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| SANTIAGO | 4,320,000 | 33.30s, 70.40W |
| Vina del Mar | 320,000 | 33.02S, 71.35W |
| Valparaiso | 273,000 | 33.05s, 71.40W |
| Talcahuano | 225,000 | 36.40S, 73.10W |
| Conception | 281,000 | 36.50S, 73.03W |
| Antofagasta | 203,000 | 23.40S, 70.23W |
| Temuco | 175,000 | 38.45S, 72.40W |
| Rancagua | 157,000 | 34.10s, 70.45W |
| Talca | 145,000 | 35.28S, 71.40W |
| Chillan | 130,000 | 36.37S, 72.10W |
| Arica | 158,000 | 18.30S, 70.20W |
| CHILE - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Spanish | |
| Ethnic Groups | European and Mestizo | 95 % |
| Native American | 3% | |
| Other | 2% | |
| Religions | catholic | 89% |
| Protestant and Other | 11 % | |
ASIA
| CHINA | |
| DESERTS: GOBI | |
| CHINA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 9,600,000 Sq km |
| Population Growth | 1.24 % |
| Population Density | 113 /sq km |
| Capital City | BEIJING |
| CHINA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| BEIJING | 6,000,000 | 39.55N, 116.26E |
| Shanghai | 7,000,000 | 31.06N, 121.22E |
| Tianjin | 5,400,000 | 39.08N, 117.12E |
| Shenyang | 4,200,000 | 41.50N, 123.26E |
| Wuhan | 3,400,000 | 36.45N, 114.15E |
| Guangzhou | 3,300,000 | 23.08N, 113.20E |
| Chongqing | 2,800,000 | 29.30N, 106.35E |
| Harbin | 2,630,000 | 45.45N, 126.41E |
| Chengdu | 2,580,000 | 30.37N, 104.O6E |
| Nanjing | 2,250,000 | 32.03N, 118.47E |
| CHINA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Mandarin | |
| Cantonese | ||
| Shanghainese | ||
| Fuzhou | ||
| Minnan and Other | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Han Chinese | 94% |
| Other | 6% | |
| Religions | Atheist and Eclectic | 97 % |
| Other | 3% | |
MONGOLIA
| DESERTS: GOBI | |
| MONGOLIA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 1,564,619 sq km |
| Population Growth | 2.76 % |
| Population Density | 1 /sq km |
| Capital City | ULAN-BATOR |
| MONGOLIA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| ULAN-BATOR | 511,000 | 47.54N, 106.52E |
| Darhan | 75,000 | 46.29N, 109.24E |
| Erdene | 46,000 | 46.18N, 100.35E |
| Choybalsan | 23,000 | 48.02N, 114.32E |
| Nalayh | 15,000 | 47.40N, 107.12E |
| Ulangom | 15,000 | 49.59N, 92.00E |
| Uliastay | 14,000 | 47.42N, 96.52E |
| MONGOLIA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Khalkha Mongol | |
| Turkish | ||
| Russian | ||
| Chinese | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Mongol | 90% |
| Kazakh | 4% | |
| Chinese | 2% | |
| Russian | 2% | |
| Other | ||
| Religions | Tibetan Buddhist | 94% |
| Muslim | 4% | |
| Other | 1% | |
PAKISTAN
| DESERTS: THAR | |
| PAKISTAN - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 803,943 sq km |
| Population Growth | 2.70 % |
| Population Density | 134 /sq km |
| Capital City | ISLAMABAD |
| PAKISTAN - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| ISLAMABAD | 270,000 | 33.40N, 73.08E |
| Karachi | 5,400,000 | 24.51N, 67.02E |
| Lahore | 3,132,000 | 31.34N, 74.22E |
| Faisalabad | 888,000 | 31.25N, 73.09E |
| Rawalpindi | 810,000 | 33.40N, 73.08E |
| Hyderabad | 770,000 | 25.23N, 68.24E |
| Multan | 750,000 | 30.10N, 71.36E |
| Gujranwala | 700,000 | 32.06N, 74.11E |
| Peshawar | 600,000 | 34.01N, 71.40E |
| Sialkot | 31O,OOO | 32.29N, 74.35E |
| Sargodha | 300,000 | 32.0IN, 72.40E |
| PAKISTAN - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Urdu | |
| English | ||
| Punjabi | ||
| Sindhi | ||
| Pashtu and Other | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Punjabi | 66% |
| Sindhi | 13 % | |
| Pashtun | 9% | |
| Baluchi and Other | 12% | |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim | 77 % |
| Shi'a Muslim | 20 % | |
| Other | 3% | |
AFGHANISTAN
| DESERTS: KAR KUM | |
| AFGHANISTAN - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 249,999 sq mi |
| Population Growth | 2.35 % |
| Population Density | 58 /sq mi |
| Capital City | KABUL |
| AFGHANISTAN - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| KABUL | 1,127,000 | 34.31N, 69.12E |
| Qandahar | 195,000 | 31.35N, 65.45E |
| Herat | 156,000 | 34.20N, 62.12E |
| Mazar-i-Sharif | 115,000 | 36.42N, 67.06E |
| Jalalabad | 111,000 | 34.26N, 70.28E |
| Qonduz | 110,000 | 36,45N, 68.51E |
| Baghlan | 109,000 | 36.11N, 68.44E |
| Maymana | 40,000 | 35.53N, 64.38E |
| Pul-i-Khomri | 35,000 | 35.55N, 68.45E |
| Ghazni | 32,000 | 33.33N, 68.26E |
| AFGHANISTAN - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Pashtu | |
| Dari | ||
| Turkish Languages | ||
| Baluchi | ||
| Pashai | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Pashtun | 50 % |
| Tajik | 25 % | |
| Uzbek | 9% | |
| Hazara | 9% | |
| Other | 7 % | |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim | 74% |
| Shi'a Muslim | 15 % | |
| Other | 11 % | |
SOUTHWEST ASIA
EGYPT
| DESERTS: SAHARA | |
| EGYPT - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 1,001,449 sq km |
| Population Growth | 2.65 % |
| Population Density | 53 /sq km |
| Capital City | CAIRO |
| EGYPT - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| CAIRO | 11,000,000 | 30.03N, 31.15E |
| Alexandria | 2,905,000 | 31.13N, 29.55E |
| Giza | 1,640,000 | 30.01N, 31.10E |
| Shoubra El-Kheima | 497,000 | 30.06N, 31.15E |
| El Mahalla El Koubra | 355,000 | 30.59N, 31.10E |
| Tanta | 344,000 | 30.48N, 31.00E |
| Port Said | 364,000 | 31.17N, 32.18E |
| El-Mansoura | 260,000 | 31,03N, 31.23E |
| Asyut | 257,000 | 27.14N, 31.07E |
| Zagazig | 256,000 | 30.35N, 31.30E |
| Suez | 274,000 | 29.59N, 32.33E |
| EGYPT - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Arabic | |
| English | ||
| French | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Eastern Hamitic | 90% |
| Other | 10% | |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim | 94% |
| Other | 6% | |
IRAN
| DESERTS: KAVIR, LUT | |
| IRAN - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 1,648,000 sq km |
| Population Growth | 3.23 % |
| Population Density | 32 /sq km |
| Capital City | TEHRAN |
| IRAN - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| TEHRAN | 6,028,000 | 35.40N, 51.26E |
| Mashad | 1,120,000 | 36.41N, 52.39E |
| Isfahan | 930,000 | 32.41N, 51.41E |
| Tabriz | 855,000 | 38.05N, 46.18E |
| Shiraz | 801,000 | 29.38N, 52.34E |
| Bakhtaran | 535,000 | 31.28N, 54.54E |
| Karaj | 527,000 | 35.48N, 50.58E |
| Ahwaz | 471,000 | 31.17N, 48.43E |
| Qom | 425,000 | 34.39N, 50.57E |
| Abadan | 329,000 | 30.20N, 48.15E |
| IRAN - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Farsi | |
| Turkish | ||
| Kurdish | ||
| Arabic | ||
| English | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Persian | 63 % |
| Turkish | 18% | |
| Kurdish | 3% | |
| Arab and Other | 16% | |
| Religions | Shi'a Muslim | 93% |
| Sunni Muslim | 5% | |
| Bahai and Other | 2% | |
IRAQ
| DESERTS: ARABIAN | |
| IRAQ - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 434,924 sq km |
| Population Growth | 3.53 % |
| Population Density | 40 /sq km |
| Capital City | BAGHDAD |
| IRAQ - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| BAGHDAD | 3,250,000 | 33,20N, 44.26E |
| Basra | 1,600,000 | 30,30N, 47.50E |
| Mosul | 1,250,000 | 36,21N, 43.08E |
| Kirkuk | 535,000 | 35.28N, 44.26E |
| An Najaf | 141,000 | 31.59N, 44.19E |
| Erbil | 99,000 | 36.12N, 44.01E |
| IRAQ - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Arabic | |
| Kurdish | ||
| Assyrian | ||
| Armenian | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Arab | 75 % |
| Kurdish | 17 % | |
| Other | 8% | |
| Religions | Shi'a Muslim | 62% |
| Sunni Muslim | 35 % | |
| Christian and Other | 3% | |
LIBYA
| DESERTS: SAHARA | |
| LIBYA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 1,759,540 sq km |
| Population Growth | 3.08 % |
| Population Density | 2 /sq km |
| Capital City | TRIPOLI |
| LIBYA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| TRIPOLI | 610,000 | 32.49N, 13.07E |
| Misurata | 320,000 | 32.07N, 20.04E |
| Benghazi | 103,000 | 32.23N, 15.06E |
| Azzawiya | 94,000 | 32.45N, 12.44E |
| Al-Beida | 77,000 | 32.49N, 12.45E |
| Agedabia | 51,000 | 30.48N, 20.15E |
| Dama | 48,000 | 32.40N, 22.35E |
| Sebha | 41,000 | 27.09N, 14.29E |
| Tubruq | 35,000 | 32.05N, 20.30E |
| A1-Marj | 30,000 | 32.25N, 20.30E |
| Zeleiten | 26,000 | 32.28N, 14.34E |
| LIBYA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Arabic | |
| Italian | ||
| English | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Arab Berber | 97% |
| Other | 3% | |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim | 97% |
| Other | 3% | |
SYRIA
| DESERTS: SYRIAN | |
| SYRIA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 185,180 sq km |
| Population Growth | 3.74 % |
| Population Density | 62 /sq km |
| Capital City | DAMASCUS |
| SYRIA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| DAMASCUS | 1,250,000 | 33.30N, 36.19E |
| Aleppo | 1,200,000 | 36.14N, 37.10E |
| Helms | 430,000 | 34.44N, 37.17E |
| Latakaia | 240,000 | 35.31N, 35.47E |
| Hama | 200,000 | 35.05N, 36.40E |
| Deir ez-Zor | 106,000 | 35.20N, 40.05E |
| Rakka | 90,000 | 35.57N, 39.03E |
| Hasakeh | 74,000 | 36.32N, 40.44E |
| Tartous | 53,000 | 34.55N, 35.52E |
| Edleb | 52,000 | 35.56N, 37.21E |
| Dera'a | 50,000 | 32.37N, 36.06E |
| SYRIA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Arabic | |
| Kurdish | ||
| Armenian | ||
| French | ||
| English | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Arab | 90% |
| Kurdish and Other
| 10% | |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim | 74 % |
| Other Muslim | 16 % | |
| Christian | 10% | |
JORDAN
| DESERTS: SYRIAN | |
| JORDAN - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 91,880 sq km |
| Population Growth | 3.62 % |
| Population Density | 31 /sq km |
| Capital City | AMMAN |
| JORDAN - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| AMMAN | 813,000 | 31.57N, 35.56E |
| Zarqa | 277,000 | 32.04N, 36.06E |
| Irbid | 141,000 | 32.33N, 35.51E |
| Ajhm | 47,000 | 32.20N, 35.45E |
| Jarash | 32,000 | 32.17N, 35.45E |
| Madaba | 26,000 | 31.44N, 35.48E |
| JORDAN - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Arabic | |
| English | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Arab | 98% |
| Circassian | 1% | |
| Armenian | 1% | |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim | 95% |
| Christian | 5% | |
| DESERTS: ARABIAN | |
| SAUDI ARABIA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 2,149,690 sq km |
| Population Growth | 4.16 % |
| Population Density | 7 /sq km |
| Capital City | RIYADH |
| SAUDI ARABIA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| RIYADH | 1,976,000 | 24.39N, 46.46E |
| Jeddah | 1,084,000 | 21.30N, 39.10E |
| Mecca | 810,000 | 21.26N, 39.49E |
| Taif | 300,000 | 21.15N, 40.21E |
| Medina | 250,000 | 24.30N, 39.35E |
| Dammam | 175,000 | 26.25N, 50.06E |
| Hufuf | 120,000 | 25.20N, 49.34E |
| Tabouk | 80,000 | 28,22N, 36.32E |
| Buraidah | 75,000 | 26.20N, 43.59E |
| Al-Mobarraz | 60,000 | 25.26N, 49.37E |
| Kharmis-Mushait | 54,000 | 18.19N, 42.45E |
| SAUDI ARABIA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Arabic | |
| Ethnic Groups | Arab | 90% |
| Afro-Asian | 10% | |
| Religions | Muslim | 99% |
| Other | 1% | |
SOUTH AFRICA
BOTSWANA
| DESERTS: KALAHARI | |
| BOTSWANA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 231,804 sq mi |
| Population1988 | 1,190,000 |
| Population Growth | 3.49 % |
| Population Density | 5 /sq mi |
| Capital City | GABORONE |
| BOTSWANA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| GABORONE | 95,000 | 24.45S, 25.55E |
| Francistown | 34,000 | 21.07S, 27.32E |
| Selebi-Phikwe | 33,000 | 21.58S, 27.48E |
| Serowe | 25,000 | 22.25S, 26.44E |
| Mahalapye | 22,000 | 23.05S, 26.51E |
| Molepolole | 21,000 | 24.25S, 25.30E |
| Kanye | 20,000 | 24.59S, 25.19E |
| Lobatse | 20,000 | 25.11S, 25.40E |
| Mochudi | 19,000 | 24.28S, 26.05E |
| Mauri | 15,000 | 20.00S, 23.25E |
| Ramotswa | 14,000 | 24.56S, 25.50E |
| BOTSWANA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | English | |
| Setswana | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Batswana | 95 % |
| Bushmen | 4% | |
| European | 1% | |
| Religions | Indigenous Beliefs | 50 % |
| Christian | 50 % | |
NAMIBIA
| DESERTS: KALAHARA | |
| NAMIBIA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 318,261 sq mi |
| Population Growth | 5.30 % |
| Population Density | 4 /sq mi |
| Capital City | WINDHOEK |
| NAMIBIA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| WINDHOEK | 100,000 | 22.34S, 17.06E |
| Tsumeb | 13,000 | 19.13S, 17.42E |
| Keetmanshoop | 11,000 | 26.36S, 18.08E |
| Otjiwarongo | 9,000 | 20.29S, 16.36E |
| Luderitz | 8,000 | 26.38S, 15.10E |
| Swakopmund | 7,000 | 22.40S, 14.34E |
| NAMIBIA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Languages | Afrikaans | |
| German | ||
| English | ||
| African Languages | ||
| Ethnic Groups | Black | 86% |
| White | 7% | |
| Mixed | 7% | |
| Religions | Christian | 60% |
| Indigenous Beliefs | 40% | |
SOUTH AFRICA
| DESERTS: KALAHARI | |
| SOUTH AFRICA - GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| Area | 471,443 sq mi |
| Population Growth | 2.20 % |
| Population Density | 74 /sq mi |
| Capital City | PRETORIA |
| SOUTH AFRICA - MAJOR CITIES | ||
| Population | Latitude, Longitude | |
| PRETORIA | 800,000 | 25.45S, 28.12E |
| Cape Town | 860,000 | 33.56S, 18.28E |
| Durban | 810,000 | 29.53S, 31.00E |
| Johannesburg | 770,000 | 26.10S, 28.02E |
| Port Elizabeth | 300,000 | 33.58S, 25.36E |
| Roodepoort | 210,000 | 26.10S, 27.53E |
| Umhlazi | 180,000 | 29.53S, 31.00E |
| Germiston | 140,000 | 26.15S, 28.10E |
| Pietermaritzburg | 130,000 | 29.36S, 30.24E |
| Boksburg | 120,000 | 26.13S, 28.15E |
| Bloemfontein | 110,000 | 29.07S, 26.14E |
| SOUTH AFRICA - LANGUAGES, ETHNIC GROUPS AND RELIGIONS | ||
| Language | Afrikaans | |
| English | ||
| Zulu | ||
| Xhosa | ||
| Sotho and Other | ||
| Ethnic Groups | African | 70% |
| White | 18% | |
| Mixed | 9% | |
| East Indian | 3% | |
| Religions | Christian | 60% |
| Hindu | 2% | |
| Muslim and Other | 38% | |
|
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