Sahara Desert

I am a giant, sandy blanket. I stretch out under the big, bright sun. The wind tickles my sand and makes wavy lines, just like the ocean. I am so big, so very big. I reach farther than your eyes can see. I am a quiet and sunny place, full of warm, soft sand. Do you know who I am?

I am the Sahara Desert. But I have a secret. A very, very long time ago, around 6,000 years ago, I was not sandy at all. I was green. I had rivers that giggled as they flowed and shiny lakes that sparkled in the sun. Tall giraffes ate leaves from my trees, and splashy hippos played in my cool water. I was so happy with all my animal friends. But the world changed, just like you change and grow. The rain clouds stopped visiting me as much, and slowly, slowly, my green coat turned into this warm, sandy blanket you see today.

Even though I am sandy, I am still full of wonder. At night, the stars come out to play. They twinkle like a carpet of diamonds just for me. Brave people learned to cross my sandy waves on friendly camels. They call camels the ‘ships of the desert.’ And I am home to clever animals, like the fennec fox with its big, big ears that help it listen for little snacks. I am a special place. I show how much our world can change, and I remind everyone to always look for beauty, even in the quietest, sunniest places on Earth.