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The Sahara Orb is one of 4 "micro-orbs", and the only one based on a terrestrial eco-system. But unlike "small" which the term Micro implies, the orb is actually the size of an average professional sports stadium with a diameter equal to one and a half American football fields.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FSWIo9NXuGfeyuumjFsbPGA5pdFIO97Q2_uEhyphenhyphenff4VHdcJkZhStrISWGwfMuTG6gYhpBnw6LHG2UCnHEOYJE-FD5ldCpvzCi5NbZWDmkczWx8dKYE5KTOxbpIQRy8y4-mIhm/s280/SaharaOasisOrbElev.jpg)
The actual width of the biome is 138 meters. Its height is 92 meters. There are two observation stations on opposite sides of the complex.
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The idea is to mimic an Oasis in the Saharan Desert, but the concept extends to include a Sahel Grassland and rock facing that mirrors examples from the desert regions of Chad.
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The Sahel grassland area includes acacia trees and the oasis is surrounded with natural plantings of dates among other flora.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVistgZwJ45VrDM3K2Mwc1Sr0ZD7rbw0uKc0abqmznOvcUgpYcUdNRuRYamI1Xr7BkI3pFL-rfTfZU_0RzyH_-YyqfgKKexHXf0KPRbMZLEl0lWe9pGHSRpAIAJYC0Ou512Gi/s280/SaharaOasisOrbcover.jpg)
The orb is located in the southern area of the zoo just east of the North American Prairie-Valley-Mountain binary biome.
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