4. The Living Desert Phenomenon
The Namib Desert, with its hostile environment, supports an amazing variety of adaptive living forms that together create what scientists refer to as the "Living Desert" phenomenon. From the fog-harvesting Namib Desert beetle to the web-footed gecko able to bury itself in the sand within seconds, several species have developed unusual survival strategies. Crucially for these species, the morning fog of the desert comes from the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the most amazing adaptations in the natural world have evolved from this phenomena: insects that dance complexly to gather water droplets from the fog and plants able to endure years without rain.
