Deserts That Were Once Oceans: Unveiling Earth's Ancient Maritime Past

• The Sahara Desert, now the world's largest hot desert, was submerged under the Tethys Sea 100 million years ago, with marine fossils found in Wadi al-Hitan.
• The Arabian Desert, spanning Saudi Arabia, Oman, and UAE, was once covered by shallow seas connected to the Indian Ocean, evidenced by salt flats and marine rocks.
• California's Mojave Desert, including Death Valley, was part of a vast inland sea, with remnants of ancient lakes and aquatic fossils.
• The Kalahari Desert in southern Africa was once a large ancient lake, with the Makgadikgadi Pan being a significant remnant.
• Australia's Great Victoria Desert was a shallow sea, indicated by marine fossils and sedimentary rocks in South Australia.

Why It Matters: Many of the world's largest deserts were once vast oceans or seas, transformed by geological and climate changes.