Difference between revisions of "Desert (range)"

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'''Deserts''' are regions where little precipitation produces hostile living conditions for plant and animal life.  The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface, intensifying weathering processes through wind and temperature changes from day to night. Resulting fragments are scattered, collecting into dust storms, level sheets of sand or piled high in billowing sand dunes.  In other parts, small particles are blown away, leavking shattered mosaics of smooth or sharp stones, forming pavements a hundred miles wide.
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[[File:Desert (range).jpg|right|560px|thumb]]
  
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Plants and animals living in the desert need special adaptations to survive.  Many of the monsters that dwell in the desert are the sort that have no need of food, or which may travel hundreds of miles in a day, in order to obtain it.  Humanoids surviving in the desert cluster around areas where water can be drawn up from below ground or collects on the surface.  This water is often harsh to taste and smell, but will nevertheless sustain life.
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'''Deserts''' are regions where little precipitation produces hostile living conditions for plant and [[Animal|animal]] life.  The lack of [[Vegetation (desert)‏‎|vegetation]] exposes the unprotected surface, intensifying weathering processes through wind and temperature changes from day to night. Resulting fragments are scattered, collecting into dust storms, level sheets of sand or piled high in billowing sand dunes.  In other parts, small particles are blown away, leavking shattered mosaics of smooth or sharp stones, forming pavements a hundred miles wide.
  
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The desert is productive in some degree, as the exposed rock reveals places where valuable minerals such as ores, salt, rare minerals and gems can be obtained.  Additionally, plants growing in the desert provide rare materials such as incense and natural resins, both of which cannot be found anywhere else.  These goods are exported out of the desert by caravans of camels.  As deserts are large geographic obstructions between civilizations, tenuous trade routes are forged, enabling goods from one climate or culture can be exchanged with another.
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[[Plant Life (sage field)|Plants]] and animals living in the desert need special adaptations to survive.  Many of the monsters that dwell in the desert are the sort that have no need of [[Food|food]], or which may travel hundreds of miles in a day, in order to obtain it.  Humanoids surviving in the desert cluster around areas where water can be drawn up from below ground or collects on the surface.  [[Dehydration]] is an important concern.  Desert water is often harsh to taste and smell, but will nevertheless sustain life.
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The desert is productive in some degree, as the exposed rock reveals places where valuable minerals such as ores, salt, rare minerals and [[Gems|gems]] can be obtained.  Additionally, plants growing in the desert provide rare materials such as incense and natural resins, both of which cannot be found anywhere else.  These goods are exported out of the desert by [[Caravan|caravans]] of [[Camel (domestic)|camels]].  As deserts are large geographic obstructions between civilizations, tenuous [[Trade System|trade]] routes are forged, enabling goods from one climate or culture can be exchanged with another.
  
 
Some arid lands that are thought of deserts are more properly thought of as [[Barrens (range)|barrens]], as these regions possess short grasses and extensive areas of scrub brush.
 
Some arid lands that are thought of deserts are more properly thought of as [[Barrens (range)|barrens]], as these regions possess short grasses and extensive areas of scrub brush.
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== Major Deserts ==
 
== Major Deserts ==
 
Below is a list of the most extensive deserts in the world:
 
Below is a list of the most extensive deserts in the world:
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<div style="column-count:3;-moz-column-count:3;-webkit-column-count:3">
 
<div style="column-count:3;-moz-column-count:3;-webkit-column-count:3">
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* [[The Arabian Desert|Arabian]]
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* [[Arabian Desert|Arabian]] - the Arabian Peninsula & Empty Quarter
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* [[The Atacama Desert & Loma Coast|Atacama & Loma Coast]]
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* [[Atacama Desert & Loma Coast|Atacama & Loma Coast]] - along the west coast of South America
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* [[The Gobi Desert|Gobi]]
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* [[Great Sandy Desert|Great Sandy]] - undiscovered Australia
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* [[The Great Sandy Desert|Great Sandy]]
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* [[Kalahari Desert|Kalahari]] - southern Africa
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* [[The Kalahari Desert|Kalahari]]
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* [[Namib Desert|Namib]] - southwest coast of Africa
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* [[The Namib Desert|Namib]]
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* [[Patagonia]] - the southern part of South America
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* [[Patagonia]]
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* [[Sahara Desert|Sahara]] - the largest desert, in northern Africa
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* [[The Sahara|Sahara]]
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* [[Syrian Desert|Syrian]] - between Palestine and the Persian Gulf
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* [[The Syrian Desert|Syrian]]
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* [[Takla Makan|Takla Makan]] - far western China
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* [[The Takla Makan|Takla Makan]]
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* [[Taldy Kurgan|Taldy Kurgan]] - northern Turkestan
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* [[The Taldy Kurgan|Taldy Kurgan]]
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* [[Thar Desert|Thar]] - west Indian subcontinent
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* [[The Thar Desert|Thar]]
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* [[The Gobi Desert|Gobi]] - north central China
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* [[Ust-Urt & The Kara Kum|Ust-Urt & Kara Kum]]
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* [[Ust-Urt & The Kara Kum|Ust-Urt & Kara Kum]] - vicinity of the Aral and Caspian seas
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</div>
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</div><br>
  
 
== Common Features ==
 
== Common Features ==
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Below is a list of elements and features that are common to alpine ranges:
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Below is a list of elements and features that are common to desert ranges:
  
 
<div style="column-count:4;-moz-column-count:4;-webkit-column-count:4">
 
<div style="column-count:4;-moz-column-count:4;-webkit-column-count:4">
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* [[Bench]]
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* [[Alkali Pool]]
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* [[Bench (landform)]]
 
* [[Black Sand]]
 
* [[Black Sand]]
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* [[Caravansary]]
 
* [[Cauldera]]
 
* [[Cauldera]]
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* [[Chasm]]
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* [[Cleft Valley]] (''modern graben'')
 
* [[Cliff Dwelling]]
 
* [[Cliff Dwelling]]
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* [[Crater]]
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* [[Crater (landform)]]
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* [[Depression]]
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* [[Dust Bowl]]
 
* [[Erg]]
 
* [[Erg]]
 
* [[Esker]]
 
* [[Esker]]
 
* [[Fossa]]
 
* [[Fossa]]
 
* [[Gorge]]
 
* [[Gorge]]
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* [[Graben]]
 
 
* [[Labyrinthus]]
 
* [[Labyrinthus]]
 
* [[Lava Flow]]
 
* [[Lava Flow]]
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* [[Sinkhole]]
 
* [[Sinkhole]]
 
* [[Stone Desert]]
 
* [[Stone Desert]]
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* [[Sunken Land]] (''modern depression'')
 
* [[Tholus]]
 
* [[Tholus]]
 
* [[Volcanic Gas]]
 
* [[Volcanic Gas]]
 
* [[Wadi]]
 
* [[Wadi]]
 
* [[Wailing Waste]]
 
* [[Wailing Waste]]
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</div>
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</div><br>
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== Desert Creatures ==
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The following monsters are common to desert ranges.
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<div style="column-count:4;-moz-column-count:4;-webkit-column-count:4">
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* [[Bat (giant)]]
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* [[Bull Ant (giant)]]
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* [[Camel (wild)]]
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* [[Cheetah]]
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* [[Chimera]]
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* [[Dog (wild)]]
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* [[Dragonis Aeriochalkos (brass dragon)]]
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* [[Dragonne]]
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* [[Eagle (giant)]]
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* [[Asiatic Elephant|Elephant (Asiatic)]]
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* [[Emu]]
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* [[Fire Giant|Giant (fire)]]
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* [[Griffon]]
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* [[Horse (wild)]]
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* [[Hyena]]
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* [[Golden Jackal|Jackal (golden)]]
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* [[Jackalwere]]
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* [[Jaguar]]
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* [[Lamassu]]
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* [[Lamia]]
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* [[Leopard]]
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* [[Leucrotta]]
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* [[Lion]]
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* [[Fire Lizard|Lizard (fire)]]
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* [[Megalania Lizard|Lizard (megalomania)]]
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* [[Sable Antelope]]
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* [[Warthog]]
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</div><br>
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See Also,<br>
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[[Blightlander (sage study)]]<br>
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[[List of Ranges]]

Latest revision as of 20:14, 3 November 2023

Desert (range).jpg

Deserts are regions where little precipitation produces hostile living conditions for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface, intensifying weathering processes through wind and temperature changes from day to night. Resulting fragments are scattered, collecting into dust storms, level sheets of sand or piled high in billowing sand dunes. In other parts, small particles are blown away, leavking shattered mosaics of smooth or sharp stones, forming pavements a hundred miles wide.

Plants and animals living in the desert need special adaptations to survive. Many of the monsters that dwell in the desert are the sort that have no need of food, or which may travel hundreds of miles in a day, in order to obtain it. Humanoids surviving in the desert cluster around areas where water can be drawn up from below ground or collects on the surface. Dehydration is an important concern. Desert water is often harsh to taste and smell, but will nevertheless sustain life.

The desert is productive in some degree, as the exposed rock reveals places where valuable minerals such as ores, salt, rare minerals and gems can be obtained. Additionally, plants growing in the desert provide rare materials such as incense and natural resins, both of which cannot be found anywhere else. These goods are exported out of the desert by caravans of camels. As deserts are large geographic obstructions between civilizations, tenuous trade routes are forged, enabling goods from one climate or culture can be exchanged with another.

Some arid lands that are thought of deserts are more properly thought of as barrens, as these regions possess short grasses and extensive areas of scrub brush.

Major Deserts

Below is a list of the most extensive deserts in the world:


Common Features

Below is a list of elements and features that are common to desert ranges:


Desert Creatures

The following monsters are common to desert ranges.


See Also,
Blightlander (sage study)
List of Ranges

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