Kalahari Desert

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kalahari-desert

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is the Kalahari Desert?Approximately 900,000 km² (350,000 sq mi)
2. What is the location?Southern Africa, predominantly within Botswana, extending into Namibia and South Africa
3. What is the climate type?Semi-arid savanna with annual rainfall between 100-500 mm, concentrated in summer
4. Why does the Kalahari have animals like lions and meerkats?The Kalahari gets enough rain in summer to support a savanna, so many animals can live there. Lions hunt on the open plains, while meerkats live in groups and dig burrows to stay cool.
5. Where do animals get water in the Kalahari?Water is scarce, so animals rely on temporary rivers and shallow lakes called pans that fill after big rains. These water spots are very important for all the plants and animals.

Physiographic region: An area of the Earth's surface that has a distinct landform and geological history.
Aeolian processes: Geological processes driven by wind, such as sand dune formation and erosion.
Ephemeral rivers: Watercourses that flow only intermittently, typically after significant rainfall events.