Difference between revisions of "Find Water in the Desert"
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Deserts are areas that receive less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation a year. They are hot and dry during the day and cold at night. The most important thing you need in a desert is water. The dry, hot temperatures will dehydrate you quickly, especially if you can't escape the sun and physical exertion. | Deserts are areas that receive less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation a year. They are hot and dry during the day and cold at night. The most important thing you need in a desert is water. The dry, hot temperatures will dehydrate you quickly, especially if you can't escape the sun and physical exertion. | ||
| − | [[Category:Survival Kits]] | + | [[Category: Survival Kits]] |
| − | [[Category:Water Conservation Solutions]] | + | [[Category: Water Conservation Solutions]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
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#Wait for water to collect. Return to your hole after a few hours, or at the end of the day. If there was water in the soil, it should collect at the base of your hole. | #Wait for water to collect. Return to your hole after a few hours, or at the end of the day. If there was water in the soil, it should collect at the base of your hole. | ||
#Gather the water. If the water is difficult to reach, soak it up with a cloth and squeeze it into a container. Collect all the water right away, using makeshift containers if necessary. Water holes can empty fast in the desert. | #Gather the water. If the water is difficult to reach, soak it up with a cloth and squeeze it into a container. Collect all the water right away, using makeshift containers if necessary. Water holes can empty fast in the desert. | ||
| − | #[[Purify | + | #[[Purify Water|Disinfect the water (recommended)]]. Whenever possible, purify the water before drinking it. Boiling the water, using iodine tablets, or pouring it through an anti-microbial filter will remove almost all biological contaminants. |
#*Infections from contaminated water may cause vomiting or diarrhea, which dehydrate you rapidly. However, these infections often take a few days or weeks to cause serious symptoms. Drink the water now if you're in an emergency situation, and visit the doctor when you're back in civilization. | #*Infections from contaminated water may cause vomiting or diarrhea, which dehydrate you rapidly. However, these infections often take a few days or weeks to cause serious symptoms. Drink the water now if you're in an emergency situation, and visit the doctor when you're back in civilization. | ||
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#Look for water around and under rocks. Rocks slow evaporation, so dew or rainwater may linger around them a little longer. Turn over half-buried stones in the desert just before dawn and dew may form on their surface. (This works because the base of the stone is cooler than the surrounding air.) | #Look for water around and under rocks. Rocks slow evaporation, so dew or rainwater may linger around them a little longer. Turn over half-buried stones in the desert just before dawn and dew may form on their surface. (This works because the base of the stone is cooler than the surrounding air.) | ||
#*Check for scorpions and other animals before reaching underneath rocks. | #*Check for scorpions and other animals before reaching underneath rocks. | ||
| − | #Eat cactus fruit. These juicy fruits are safe to eat and contain enough moisture to supplement other sources. Collect the fruit carefully to avoid injury, then roast them in a [[Build | + | #Eat cactus fruit. These juicy fruits are safe to eat and contain enough moisture to supplement other sources. Collect the fruit carefully to avoid injury, then roast them in a [[Build a Fire|fire]] for 30–60 seconds to burn off the spines and hairs.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*You can [[Eat Prickly Pear Cactus|eat prickly pear cactus]] pads as well. They are best when gathered young in the spring, then cooked. During other seasons they may be tough and hard to eat.<ref name="rf9">https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2013/06/05/cactus-water-will-make-you-sick/</ref> | #*You can [[Eat Prickly Pear Cactus|eat prickly pear cactus]] pads as well. They are best when gathered young in the spring, then cooked. During other seasons they may be tough and hard to eat.<ref name="rf9">https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2013/06/05/cactus-water-will-make-you-sick/</ref> | ||
#Collect water from eucalyptus roots (Australia). In Australian deserts, the mallee eucalyptus is a traditional source of water, though it can be difficult to access for an untrained person. Each eucalyptus looks like a grove of small to medium trees, growing outward from a single underground plant. If you see a eucalyptus that matches this description, try to get its water as follows:<ref name="rf5" /> | #Collect water from eucalyptus roots (Australia). In Australian deserts, the mallee eucalyptus is a traditional source of water, though it can be difficult to access for an untrained person. Each eucalyptus looks like a grove of small to medium trees, growing outward from a single underground plant. If you see a eucalyptus that matches this description, try to get its water as follows:<ref name="rf5" /> | ||
