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Encapsulated within the secrets of desert living are some fallacies that trail and entail. As such, the desert has always been a subject of enigma and allure that continues to fascinate many dwellers. However, because people are so enticed by the vastness of deserts and desert living, they have filled their own imaginations, which has been pervasive. What comprises this has risen into some myths of desert life.

While there’s nothing wrong with stimulating your imagination and fabricating an expansive window of possibilities, it’s important to know which sides are fact or fiction. Thus, debunking the myths of desert life illuminates a better understanding for many people, especially the ones who plan on partaking in a desert life.

At the end of the day, we seek to know the truth and stray away from the falsities of life.

In this article, we will dwell on the truth and fathom valuable insights and information about the desert, particularly touching on the challenges and beauty of desert life.

But before that, June A. Reynolds, an author of magnificent passion and dexterity, crafted masterworks that greatly exude the realities of desert life, overall debunking the myths that come with it.

Along with her many other books, the Desert Series stands out as a noteworthy masterwork that showcases stories and life from the Desert Southwest. This series includes the following books:

• Desert Stones
• Desert Trails
• Desert Report

To further lean you on the truths and realities of desert life, June A. Reynolds’s Desert Series is something valuable to look out for. You may obtain your own copies through the author’s website or directly on Amazon.

Debunking the Myths of Desert Life

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Myth #1: It is Safe to Drink Water From Cacti

If you are stranded in the desert and have no other options, you would consider drinking water from a cactus, which seems reasonable but is actually a wrong move.

The majority of cacti contain alkaloids, which are very much acidic and can only make the situation even worse. The water drained from the pulp can be harmful and may lead to stomach upset and diarrhea. Drinking cactus water is not a win-win situation but a lose streak because, apparently, it can exacerbate dehydration.

Myth #2: Deserts Are Wastelands With No Purpose

Among the prevailing misconceptions about deserts is that they are mere wastelands. Hence, existing with no value nor purpose. In actuality, when it comes down to its general role and significance, deserts are immensely crucial as valuable resources of oil and minerals.

Overall, they drive civilizations and economies, making them economically significant. Plus, they provide a habitat for many unique species and hold great vitality in regulating the Earth’s climate.

Myth #3: It Never Rains in the Desert

Another common myth surrounding deserts and desert life is the notion that deserts never receive rainfall. The truth is, it does, and it doesn’t. Even with the enduring dryness of the Atacama Desert, the driest place on the planet, the average rainfall is as low as 5 millimeters per year. Thus, it still catches intermittent rainfall.

Myth #4: Deserts Are Devoid of Life

As one of the most common myths of desert life, it’s best to address this. According to this fallacy, there is no life in the desert. As surprising as it sounds, deserts are actually home to an abundance of biodiversity since many plants and animals have thrived in the harsh conditions of desert environments. Even humans have survived in the desert.

For thousands of years, people such as the Bedouin people of the Arabian Peninsula have inhabited and adapted to desert environments. Hence, deserts are not uninhabited. The fact is more than 1 billion people reside in and around the world’s desert places.

Myth #5: Deserts Are Always Hot

The truth is, not all deserts are hot and dry. We tend to have this firm conception of deserts being scorching hot and arid, but actually, there are cold deserts as well. Cold deserts include the Gobi Desert and the Great Basin.

Myth #6: The Sahara Desert is the Largest Desert in the World

Last on our list of the myths of desert life is the misconception that the largest desert on the planet is the Sahara Desert. This is actually false because the Antarctic Desert is the one that fits this title the most. It covers much of Antarctica’s continent, making it the world’s largest desert.

Finally, if you are interested in another tantalizing read, you may want to immerse in a related article about overcoming desert living challenges.