The Sahara Desert

Do you believe that the Sahara desert can be industrialized with enough resources? Do you think it is possible that the Sahara desert can have railroads and cities? Do you also think that the Sahara has more oil and more resources than first thought? Why or why not?

Not realistically, especially without major investment from the west and/or China. Unless there is a strong centralized push similar to that which built Abu Dhabi there is little to no chance of industrialization. As to oil, we know it's there especially around Algeria and Libya and Morocco, but it's notably harder to maintain an oil field the farther into the desert you go due to issues ranging from logistics to desert raiders/militant groups.

Hashem wrote:Do you believe that the Sahara desert can be industrialized with enough resources? Do you think it is possible that the Sahara desert can have railroads and cities? Do you also think that the Sahara has more oil and more resources than first thought? Why or why not?

Maybe if it has huge oil reserve.

Yamamoto wrote:Not realistically, especially without major investment from the west and/or China. Unless there is a strong centralized push similar to that which built Abu Dhabi there is little to no chance of industrialization. As to oil, we know it's there especially around Algeria and Libya and Morocco, but it's notably harder to maintain an oil field the farther into the desert you go due to issues ranging from logistics to desert raiders/militant groups.

Railroads may help in that issue

Interesting thought. I never really imagined it before. Of course if you can terra-form Mars, why not the Sahara?

I think the main obstacle is the "why". There's currently no economic reason compelling enough to entice major investment in the region. Otherwise, sure... just like Barrow Alaska, or Nome before that, there could be oil or gold or some other resource that could generate a boom in a relatively localized area. And there have been, historically. But they all seem to decline after the boom runs its course. Even Timbuktu collapsed after Henry the Navigator found a way to circumvent their trade routes.

Railroads are problematic in a land of ever-shifting sand dunes. How do you keep the lines clear? I'm from North Dakota originally, and it was challenging enough dealing with snow drifts in the pioneer days. Sand is heavier, more abrasive, and never melts.