The name of the desert located in northern Africa is the Sahara Desert. This vast desert is the largest hot desert in the world, spanning approximately 9.2 million square kilometers (3.6 million square miles). It stretches across several countries, including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, and Tunisia. The Sahara is characterized by its extreme temperatures, arid climate, sand dunes, and rocky plateaus. It plays a crucial role in the climate and ecology of the region and has a rich history of human habitation and trade routes.