DESERT
A desert is a dry, barren place where rain rarely falls. Some are flat, stony plains where a few scrubly plants grow. Others are bare, rocky, and mountainous. The hottest deserts are near the Equator. Only a few animals and plants can survive the harsh desert climate.
An oasis (oh-AY-sis) is an area in a desert with a supply of water from underground. People grow food there. Date palm trees shade the plants that produce other fruits, vegetables, and grains such as wheat and barley.
Desert plants often store rainwater that lasts through long dry spells. Some grow only when it rains. Their seeds sprout quickly, and flowers bloom for several days. The plants soon die, but millions of new seeds lie waiting for the next rainfall.
>Cactus- is a desert plant with roots that spread over a wide area, to catch as much rain as possible.
Animals found in desert
>Sidewinder rattlesnake-uses its head and tail to support its body as it moves sideways.
>Camels- are well adapted to desert life. The humps on their backs store fat. That way they can keep going for many days without food or water. Their wide, flat feet do not sink into the desert sand.
> Scorpions- use the poisonous sting at the end of their tails to kill the small desert animals thay they haunt.
