Can you believe that where we now see vast stretches of sand, there once existed immense oceans? The Earth’s history spans millions of years, constantly evolving through rapid geological activity, continental
shifts, and climate change. These changes have led to the draining of many oceans, leaving behind deserted landscapes. Scientists assert that many large deserts of today were once underwater. Even now, fossils of marine life, salt deposits, and marine remains in rocks provide evidence of this transformation. Let’s explore five significant deserts that were once oceans.
1. Sahara Desert (Africa)
Currently the world’s largest hot desert, the Sahara was a vast seabed millions of years ago. Approximately 100 million years ago, it was submerged under the Tethys Sea. Fossils of ancient whales, sharks, and other marine life are still found in Egypt’s Western Desert and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wadi al-Hitan (Whale Valley). The presence of limestone, shells, and ancient coral reefs further indicates that a deep sea once flowed here.
2. Arabian Desert (Middle East)
The Arabian Desert, which stretches across Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, was once covered by shallow seas linked to the Indian Ocean. Due to tectonic plate movements, the land gradually rose and the waters dried up. Today, salt flats and marine sedimentary rocks tell the story of its maritime past.
3. Mojave Desert (North America)
The Mojave Desert in California, USA, was once part of a vast inland sea. Areas like Death Valley once hosted lakes such as Lake Manly and Lake Mohave. Today, traces of dried lakes, fossils of aquatic life, and thick salt crusts indicate that this area, now one of the driest regions in the world, was once filled with water and teeming with life.
4. Kalahari Desert (South Africa)
The Kalahari Desert in southern Africa was once the bottom of a vast ancient lake. The Makgadikgadi Pan, one of the world’s largest salt flats, is the remnant of that ancient lake. When the lake existed, it supported a large number of aquatic life. Over time, the water dried up, transforming the area into sandy savanna and desert.
5. Great Victoria Desert (Australia)
Australia’s Great Victoria Desert was once part of a shallow sea. Marine fossils and sedimentary rocks in northern South Australia indicate that a sea once existed here. As sea levels receded and the climate changed, the region transformed into a desert with red sand dunes and salt lakes.
