Hamada

/həˈmɑːdə/ noun

Definition

A type of desert landscape characterized by rocky plateaus with little sand, typically found in the Sahara.

Etymology

From Arabic 'ḥammāda' meaning 'bare rocky plateau'. The term entered English through geographical and geological literature in the 19th century as European explorers and scientists encountered and described different types of desert terrain.

Kelly Says

Hamada represents one of nature's most minimalist sculptures - vast rocky platforms swept clean by wind, revealing the Earth's underlying bone structure. These landscapes challenge our stereotypical image of deserts as endless sand dunes, showing instead how deserts can be studies in stone and space.

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