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Shrinking ancient sea may have spawned Sahara Desert

North Africa could have dried out 7 million years ago, much earlier than thought

Sahara Desert

DRIED OUT  The Sahara Desert formed 7 million years ago as the ancient Tethys Sea dried out, a new climate simulation suggests.

Scott Presly/FLICKR (CC BY 2.0)

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

The Sahara Desert may be millions of years older than scientists thought, researchers report in the Sept.