Threats to the Sahara
Human impact to the Sahara is growing all the time. The Sahara desert faces large mining and temperature threats. Gold mining has become more common in certain areas releasing potassium cyanide. Potassium cyanide releases hydrogen cyanide gas, a highly toxic chemical that interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen. Exposure to potassium cyanide can be rapidly fatal. This is contaminated into the soil and can be dangerous for animals around. Along with gold mining oil and gas drilling is disrupting the sensitive environment. Each time more trees, shrubs and vegetation are cut its less rain for the desert. For most land grazing animals like the gazelle, Barary sheep, Oryx and some birds, this means it is a struggle for them to find food and survive. It also increases airborne dust, which makes more heat in the air, making it more difficult and uneven for rain clouds to form. Increasing temperatures from global warming also affect the few water holes which dry up leaving surrounding animal groups to be relocated or die. If humans would not do mining or hunting the Sahara its inhabitants would have a much clearer future.