The Sahara desert is the largest hot desert in the world, covering an area of approximately 9.2 million square miles in northern Africa. With its vast expanse of sandy dunes and barren landscapes, it might seem unlikely that any ancient cities could be hidden beneath its sands. However, there are several theories and stories about buried cities in the Sahara desert that have captured the imagination of historians and archaeologists.
One of the most well-known of these stories is the legend of the lost city of Ubar, also known as the "Atlantis of the Sands." According to legend, Ubar was a wealthy and sophisticated trading city that flourished in the region of what is now Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The city was said to be rich in resources and protected by a network of underground tunnels, but it eventually fell into decline and was abandoned. Some people believe that Ubar was eventually buried beneath the sands of the Sahara desert, and that its remains are waiting to be discovered.
In reality, the story of Ubar is shrouded in mystery and there is no concrete evidence that such a city ever existed. However, there have been a number of archaeological expeditions to the region in search of Ubar, and some researchers have claimed to have found evidence of ancient settlements in the area.
Another legend of a buried city in the Sahara desert is the story of Zerzura, a city said to be hidden in the Libyan Desert. According to legend, Zerzura was a beautiful city with white walls, lush gardens, and abundant water sources, and it was said to be the home of a powerful ruler known as the "White King." Some people believe that Zerzura was destroyed in a great sandstorm and buried beneath the desert sands, and that its remains are waiting to be discovered.
Like the legend of Ubar, the story of Zerzura is shrouded in mystery and there is no concrete evidence that such a city ever existed. However, some archaeologists have suggested that there may be some basis in fact for the legend, and that Zerzura could be an ancient city that has yet to be discovered in the Libyan Desert.
Overall, the possibility of buried cities in the Sahara desert is an intriguing subject that has captured the imagination of many people. While there is no concrete evidence to support the existence of these cities, the possibility of discovering lost civilizations in the desert adds to the allure and mystery of the region.