Scientists Reveal Saudi Arabia Desert Is NOT What We Thought

With a geographical area of 2.14 million square kilometers, Saudi Arabia is the 14th biggest nation in the world and is more than one-fifth the size of America. This makes it nearly as big as Western Europe. The nation is well-known for its harsh climate and little rainfall. The region has been far from green due to its composition of largely desert and somewhat dry lands. An astonishing phenomenon, however, is now taking place in the desert. Surprisingly, the desert is fast transforming into rich farmlands, a phenomenon that even experts find perplexing.

#LostKnowledge

[nml]

I'm not a geologist, but don't aquifers eventually dry up if keep pumping out the water. My understanding is that they get replenished with water from above, usually rain, a lot of it.

[Globodyne]

I spent the whole video wondering where they got this water to grow crops from, and it just turns out "oh we took it from an aquifer that will never replenish itself because its a desert where it doesn't rain". Yes that is really sustainable.

[AGhostRiderR]

Mean time in us farmers are being forced to give up their farm or being bought out by tech giant bg, and most of the industry and resources that would make us a self sufficient is being run out.

[gauravnmathur]

The aquifers are drying up. The video omits that part and many of those farms have closed down. Also desalination is not energy efficient, even for an oil rich country. There just isn't enough water for all this agriculture. That is why Saudi Arabia is buying arable land in other countries to support farming and maintain its food security.

[joshuagenes]

The plants themselves attract water out of the air by cooling the air and acting as a moisture net. If this continues the river will once again flow in Saudi Arabia.

[stevenm]

It's so good to hear about some leaders who actually care enough to help themselves and the people living in the country. Blessings to all.

[timmenard]

Amazing Achievement by the Saudi Govt for their Citizens. Truly Exceptional

[seancoyote]

The problem with aquifers is that it isn't limitless, and they take a very long time to refill, so basically when they drain them, its gone, and it basically saps many springs as well, and it causes earthquakes when done a massive scale.

[shawnoberem]

What this documentary fails to mention is that the aquifers are emptying out at an astonishing rate, so much so that the agriculture is being reversed. As for the desalination of water, this is an environmental nightmare and the brine (the super salty runoff) is pumped back into the ocean - removing something else used for food - fish.

[edwardovaleriano]

When I'm was in Saudi Arabia in 1981 it was totally a desert and now times change and it became a greeny land, Saudi Arabia is blessed and hope that too many Pilipino will be hire especially in agriculture job.

[JackPitmanNica]

To give you some perspective of how dry Saudi Arabia is; I lived there for 4 years in Jeddah... I was there when it rained for the first time in 15 years... It rained for an hour or so... Everything turned into rivers... the streets flooded and everything shut down! There is no irrigation in Saudi Arabia usually

[Shimulahmed]

“The Final Hour will not come before wealth becomes abundant and overflowing so much so that a person takes Zakat out of his property and will not be able to find anyone to accept it from him and till the land of Arabia reverts into meadows and rivers.” (Sahih Muslim-157c)

[kevinhime-knowles]

Thank you so much for that video .
It is heartwarming to see that the house of Saud are investing in their own people

[samlair]

The water for crops comes from aquifers, a finite resource.

[johnfritz]

This is a beautiful success story. So positive.

[AA-zmow]

That's great we can learn from failure of oil & wealth & to invest in the proper investments like nature survival food, un like Mexico Venezuela, Cuba Soviet union & many more, wise decision a very great one

[brucespanner]

As a kid I used to think that we could build pipe line from the wets countries to the driest . And turn them into huge farm lands . Bit of a dream

[christianlee]

My Opinion, Is That The People Of Saudi Arabia, Are An Amazing People...And Are Very Intelligent Indeed...I Hold A Great Deal Of Respect For Them Indeed

[birgitmitchell]

I lived and taught in Saudi2016, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22. It has transformed itself and will be and is an upcoming country force to be admired. They're seeding the clouds and have rainfall frequently now as well as the reality that they've planted thousands of trees in and around Riyadh during these years ( i watched daily with my own eyes!!)
Saudi is one of the loveliest, kindest, most crime free places in the world. They are smart as is their Governing Royalty.

[shawnstangeland]

Loved exploring the Tabuk region and the wadis around Riyadh. Sadly this place is getting hotter and approaching the human limit in Riyadh. Most of the farming has shut down since it relies on desalinisation plants.. the water is still very salty and contaminates the land