Did you know the world’s largest desert, the Sahara, was once green and full of life?

About 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, the Sahara wasn’t a sea of sand — it was covered in grasslands, lakes, and rivers, teeming with animals like hippos, giraffes, and crocodiles.

Scientists call it the African Humid Period — when changes in Earth’s orbit brought more rain to the region. The desert bloomed, and ancient people even farmed and fished there.

But over thousands of years, the climate shifted again. The rains stopped, and the Sahara slowly turned back into the desert we know today.

And here’s the fascinating part — experts say the Sahara could turn green again in the distant future, when Earth’s orbit tilts just right once more.

Fun fact: Satellite images show traces of old riverbeds and lake basins still hidden under the sand.