Saudi Deserts Once Lush with Lakes and Rivers, New Study Reveals

• New scientific studies reveal Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter, now a vast desert, was once home to extensive lakes, rivers, and grasslands.
• Researchers used ancient landforms, sediments, and satellite data to find evidence of large freshwater bodies and rich ecosystems across the Arabian Peninsula.
• A massive ancient lake, over a thousand square kilometers and 40 meters deep, was discovered beneath the Empty Quarter, part of a wider river system.
• During wetter climates, monsoon rains transformed Arabia into grasslands, wetlands, and shallow lakes, supporting animals like hippos and crocodiles, and early humans.
• Arabia experienced repeated wet and dry phases over millions of years, with the last major green period ending thousands of years ago, leading to the current desert landscape.

Why It Matters: Saudi Arabia's deserts were once green and hospitable, highlighting climate's dramatic impact on landscapes.