The Arabian Peninsula includes on its territory the state of Saudi Arabia and several other Arab states (Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates), as well as a small part of the territory of Iraq and Jordan. It is the largest peninsula in the world.
Almost all of its territory was filled with deserts (more than 80%), so the lands of the Arabian Peninsula are often compared with the landscapes of East Africa. The most extensive is the Rub al-Khali desert. It is on the list of the largest deserts in the world (its territory occupies more than 650 sq. km). The local climate is one of the hottest and driest in the world. The air temperature in summer reaches 50 degrees, and in winter it fluctuates from 8 to 20 degrees.
The desert is filled with shifting sands that form sand dunes.
Within the Arabian Peninsula is also the Nefud Desert. Rather, Nefud is several deserts united into one: Big Nefud, Small Nefud and Nefud-Dakhi. The beds of dried up rivers have been preserved in the desert lands as evidence that this area used to have a completely different climate - more humid and not so hot.
An unusual and interesting place in Nefud is the city of Riyadh. Thereyou can visit museums, see fortresses, get acquainted with the ancient culture of Islam. Also worth noting is the unusual red sand covering the lands of Great Nefud.
The Arabian Peninsula is washed in the west by the Red Sea, in the east by the Persian and Gulf of Oman. The Arabian Sea, as well as the Gulf of Aden, border the peninsula to the south. The sea is part of the Indian Ocean and washes the shores of India. The sea in India splashes along the coast of the most popular resort areas: Goa, Kerala, Karnataka.
The Arabian Peninsula has a fairly diverse and rich fauna, which is not typical for desert areas. Ungulates run along the sands of the peninsula: antelopes, gazelles. You can also meet other herbivorous animals, such as hares or wild donkeys. The predatory world is represented by such animals as wolves, foxes, jackals, hyenas. The avifauna of the peninsula is quite rich. Main representatives: eagles, kites, larks, bustards, quails, vultures, falcons, pigeons. A large number of rodents and reptiles live in the desert sands: ground squirrels, snakes, gerbils, lizards, turtles, jerboas. It is worth noting the rich water world. Coastal waters are home to many types of corals, including rare ones (black coral). There are 10 protected areas organized on the peninsula. In the tourism sector, the Asir National Park, which is located in Saudi Arabia, is especially popular.
The Arabian Peninsula is inhabited mainly by Arabs. Although there are also a small number of foreigners. Mostly Indians, Filipinos,Egyptians, Pakistanis and only a few Europeans. When people talk about the population of the Arabian Peninsula, they often mean the population of Saudi Arabia, since the country occupies the main part of its territory. Saudi Arabia has a population of over 28 million.
