An Nafud

The Nefud (also Nafud; Arab صحراء النفود Sahara ' on - Nefud, DMG Sahra ʾ at - Nafud ) is a desert in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia. It is about 300 km long and 250 km wide, thus achieving an extension of 78,000 km ². Thanks to the trade winds caused it is a typical tropic desert.

The desert that is covered with red sand, is enclosed by sandstone deposits that have eroded into bizarre shapes. The Nefud is known for its strong, sudden winds, which cause severe dune formation. These dunes reach heights of up to 180 meters. For precipitation occurs once or twice a year. In some lowland basin near the Hejaz Mountains there are oases where cereals, fruits or vegetables. Otherwise, there is no surface water, as rainfall from winter storms immediately seep into the sand. The Nefud is connected to the south with the Rub al Khali desert by Dhana in the region of Najd, a 1290 km long and 80 km wide corridor of sand and pebbles. Due to the pelvic structure, the segments is relatively unique.

Became famous for this desert mainly by Lawrence of Arabia and the eponymous film version of his life. Lawrence had 1917 crossed with some Bedouin fighters in a forced march this wilderness, to take the port city of Aqaba ( southern Jordan ) from the north in a surprise attack by the Ottomans.

28.541Koordinaten: 28 ° 30 '0 "N, 41 ° 0' 0" E

• Geography (Saudi Arabia)
• Desert in Asia