Home to horned vipers and deathstalker scorpions crossword

The Sahara Desert covers most of North Africa in a single sweep from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Dry rock and sand dominate the land - yet horned vipers plus deathstalker scorpions still live here. The horned viper has small horns above its eyes and sand-coloured skin that hides it while it hunts. It tolerates the heat - digging into the ground until only its head shows. One bite injects venom strong enough to kill a person who lacks treatment. The deathstalker scorpion is no larger than a matchbox - yet its venom causes sharp pain breathing problems but also sometimes death. It hides under stones and strikes faster than the eye can follow. Even with those hazards, the Sahara draws visitors. Waves of dunes cliffs carved by wind as well as plants that survive on mist alone create a stark beauty. Travellers who cross the sand remember the silence, the scale and the stubborn life that refuses to leave.