When humanity set foot on this weeping land, mountains, and forests used to be its abodes. Gradually, as the search for sustenance led to migration, the plains became its dwelling. For a while, it remained sheltered by the mountains, as they provided ample resources compared to the desolate deserts. Eventually, moving away from the forests, the focus shifted to the plains. Here, the individual learned the art of agriculture, adapting to the lighter, fertile soils. This transition marked the beginning of settlements and cities.
While historical records may not provide evidence of ancient humans dwelling in deserts, it is speculated that people of that era likely avoided settling in deserts due to perennial water scarcity. According to experts, 33% of the Earth's land is engulfed by deserts. Scientifically, the term "desert" refers to the region where annual average rainfall is less than 25 millimeters, or areas where water is lost through evaporation more than the precipitation received.
Deserts are generally classified into two types: hot deserts and cold deserts. Examples of hot deserts include the Sahara, while Antarctica is a notable cold desert. Warm deserts cover 53% of the Earth's surface, while 47% are dominated by cold deserts. Currently, the largest desert by area is the "Sahara," also known as the "Great Desert," covering an area of approximately 9 million square kilometers, almost equivalent to the total land area of the Americas.
Contrary to common belief, the Namib Desert is considered the world's oldest desert. Spanning an area of 81,000 square kilometers, it is estimated to be 55 million years old. The unique orange hues of the "Sossusvlei" area make it stand out among global deserts. Tourists from afar witness this distinct landscape, often comparing it to the surface of Mars due to its reddish tones. The orange sand dunes are found only in the vicinity of Sossusvlei within the Namib Desert.
The orange color is attributed to the high iron content in the sand. Besides its unique coloration, the Namib Desert boasts other remarkable features, such as the "Big Daddy" dune with a height of 400 meters, holding the record for the world's tallest sand dune.
However, what truly astounds observers is the extreme temperature during the summer. Daytime temperatures reach an average of 45 degrees Celsius, while at night, the temperature occasionally drops to freezing. Situated along the southwestern coast of Africa, from southern Angola to Namibia, and further stretching over 2,000 kilometers into the northern part of Africa, the Namib Desert is the driest desert on Earth.
"After that, it presents a strange sight on the coast of the long Atlantic Ocean in Namibia, which tourists describe as 'This thirsty desert has finally quenched its thirst at the end of the Atlantic Ocean.' The place where this desert meets the sea is known as the 'Skeleton Coast,' 'Dhanchon Ka Qabristan' (Cemetery of Ships), 'Dhanchon Ka Sahil' (Coast of Ships), or 'Cape Cross Beach.' The name is famous for the remains of shipwrecks and the skeletons of individuals who perished in the desert after colliding with rocks and wandering into the desert.
Most of this desert is uninhabited and inaccessible. What makes this desert unique is the astonishing mineral treasures it holds, including iron, salt, diamonds, and tungsten. Tungsten is considered a valuable metal that is rarely found in many places. The secret treasures in this desert leave viewers and readers amazed, while circular, mysterious holes on scattered sandy terrain are found here. These circular holes are not very deep but range in diameter from 1.5 meters to 6 meters in central Namib, while in northwest Namib, sizes of up to 25 meters have been observed.
When viewed from a height, these holes appear beautiful. These holes are scattered throughout the vast and expansive desert of Namib, resembling scars from a distance. For a long time, these holes have bewildered the locals, giving rise to various stories among the people here. For a while, the residents here were so firmly convinced that these circles are essentially imprints of fairies that dance here at night. Some believe these holes bear the mark of their deity, Mucuro, while others think that in the late hours of the night, flying chariots descend here.
A few years ago, some mathematicians attempted to investigate the reality of these holes by creating models. The positive outcome of this research was hindered due to the need for more definitive results. Scientists at the Namib Research Institute, including researcher Maris, state that there can be multiple reasons for the formation of these circles, some of which are still puzzling mysteries."