Desert or desert is an area that gets less than 250 mm of rainfall in a year. This area is hot and dry during the day and cold at night. The most important thing needed in the desert is water. Hot and dry temperatures make you dehydrated more quickly, especially if you can't protect yourself from the sun and continue to be physically active. Get water immediately, but don't move when it's very hot to prevent dehydration.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Finding Wet Areas
Step 1. Slow down the rate of water loss in the body
Sun exposure and physical activity accelerate dehydration so you should be careful when looking for water. If possible, spend time in a shady, windless place when the weather is very hot. Cover skin to reduce fluid loss due to evaporating sweat.
Step 2. Follow the wildlife
Animals in groups are usually near water sources. Look for the signs below:
- Listen to the birds chirping and look up at the sky for flocks of birds flying in circles.
- If you find swarms of mosquitoes or flies, look for water around them.
- Bees usually fly in a straight line between the water source and the nest.
- Watch for animal tracks or trails, especially those that lead downwards.
Step 3. Look for vegetation (plant life)
The dense vegetation and most of the trees cannot survive without a stable source of water.
- If you are not very familiar with local vegetation, look for the greenest plants. Deciduous and broadleaf trees are usually a better sign than pine trees because they require more water. If you can identify local plants, check the list below for what types of plants to look for.
- If you're in North America, look for cottonwood, willow, hackberry, sycamore, salt cedar, arrow weed and cattail trees.
- In Australia, look for desert plants such as kurrajong, desert oak, coniferous or water shrub. Look for eucalyptus mallee, or multi-stemmed eucalyptus that grows from the same tuber underground.
Step 4. Look for canyons and valleys
Look for canyons that remain shaded when the weather is hot, with the headwaters at their mouths. This means canyons facing north if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, or canyons facing south in the Southern Hemisphere. Look for this using a topographic map if you have one, or pay attention to the surrounding landscape.
Snow or rain is likely to be retained in this cool gorge, sometimes for months after a thunderstorm
Step 5. Look for drains or drains that have dried up
Sometimes you can find water beneath the surface. The best location to check it out is at the bend of the river, on the outer bank. The flow of water may have eroded the area until it was dragged down, which formed a basin and accommodated the remaining water.
Step 6. Identify rocks that may contain water
Groundwater tends to collect at landscape dividing lines, at the foot of mountains or large rocks that rise to the surface. Ideally, you should dig a slope under hard, impenetrable rock.
Soft rock like sandstone can form a temporary water retention bag after it rains. If it's been raining recently, walk along flat rocks, or over the tops of boulders and exposed rocks to form an isolated dome
Step 7. Look for a sandbar near the beach
If you are near the sea, the sand dunes along the coast may catch and filter the seawater. By digging above the tide mark, you may be able to find a thin layer of fresh water, which is above the heavier salt water.
Step 8. Look for high ground if there is no other option
By climbing to high ground, you will have a better vantage point for the signs described above. Do this as a last resort as it can leave you dehydrated, and there may not be any water at the top of the hill.
- As the sun begins to set, look for light reflections on the ground. This is likely a body of water. If you are in an area for livestock, there may be an artificial build-up of water at the bottom of the sloping ground.
- Always carry binoculars when you are in the desert. This is useful for recognizing areas that may have water from a great distance.
Part 2 of 3: Digging for Water
Step 1. Choose a location that may contain water
When you come to a place that looks promising, search the surface of the body of water. In general, these are not easy to find so you will have to do some digging. Some of the best places to dig for water include:
- At the base of the sloping rock.
- Near pockets of dense vegetation, especially where cracks and ridges are created by tree roots.
- Anywhere with a damp surface, or at least a texture like clay instead of sand.
- At the lowest point in the area.
Step 2. Wait for the air temperature to cool down (recommended)
Digging during the day is very risky because you will sweat from the sun. If you can wait, don't leave the shade until the temperature begins to drop.
Groundwater will generally rise to near ground level in the morning, especially in areas where there are a lot of plants
Step 3. Look for moist soil about 30 cm below the surface
Make a small hole about 30 cm deep. If the soil is still dry, move to another location. If you find soil that is damp, follow the next steps.
Step 4. Enlarge the hole
Expand the hole you made until it reaches about 30 cm in diameter. There may be water seeping from the sides, but continue to work through the holes even if no water is seeping.
Step 5. Wait for the water to collect
Check the hole a few hours later, or at the end of the day. If there is groundwater, the water will stagnate at the bottom of the hole.
Step 6. Take the water
If you find it difficult to pick up, dip the cloth in water, then transfer the water to the container by squeezing it. Collect all the water quickly, and use the emergency container if necessary. The water in the hole can be lost quickly in the desert.
Step 7. Disinfect the water (recommended)
If possible, purify the water before you drink it. You can remove biological contaminants by boiling water, adding iodine tablets, or filtering them with an antimicrobial filter.
Infections from contaminated water can cause diarrhea or vomiting, which dehydrates you quickly. However, this infection can take several days/weeks for serious symptoms to appear. If you really need it, drink the water right away, and go to the doctor when you make it out of the desert
Part 3 of 3: Looking For Water Elsewhere
Step 1. Collect the dew
Look for dew that clings to the plant before dawn. How to do this, put a cloth on the dew, then transfer the dew water into the container by squeezing it out.
If there is no cloth to absorb the dew, roll the grass into a ball and use it to pick up the dew
Step 2. Find water in the hollow tree
Dead or rotting trees may retain water in their trunks. If the hole in the tree is small, wrap a cloth around the end of the stick and insert it into the hole to absorb the water.
If an insect gets into a tree hole, it may be a sign of water
Step 3. Look for water around and under the rock
The rocks will slow down evaporation which makes rainwater or dew stay there longer. Turn a pile of rocks in the desert just before dawn to get the dew on the surface. (This happens because the bottom of the rock is cooler than the air around it.)
Check for scorpions or other animals before you dismantle the rock
Step 4. Eat cactus fruit
This juicy fruit can be consumed safely and contains fluids that can complement other sources. Collect the fruit carefully so you don't get hurt. Roast the cactus over the heat for about 30-60 seconds to remove the thorns and feathers.
You can also eat the pads (wide plates) of prickly pear cactus. Ideally, these pads are taken young in the spring, then cooked. In other seasons, cactus pads will be tough and tough when eaten
Step 5. Get water from the eucalyptus roots (if you are in Australia)
In the Australian desert, the eucalyptus mallee is a common water source, although it is difficult to spot if you are not used to it. All eucalypts look like clumps of small to medium sized trees, growing from a single tuber of plants underground. If you come across a eucalyptus that fits this description, you can get water by doing the following:
- Get the roots by digging until you can see bulges or cracks in the soil, or look for the roots about 2-3 meters from the tree. Roots that contain lots of water are the same size as a man's wrist.
- Pull along the roots, and break them near the stem of the plant.
- Cut the roots into pieces about 50 to 100 cm long.
- Take the water from the roots by putting it in a container with the tip down.
- Find another root. Usually there are 4 to 8 root tubers near the surface around each eucalyptus mallee tree.
Step 6. Drink barrel cactus water only as a last resort (if in North America)
Most barrel cacti are poisonous. If you drink the liquid, you may vomit, feel pain, or even be temporarily paralyzed. There is only one drinkable bareel cactus, and this is the last option. How to access it:
- The only barrel cactus that is safe to eat is the barrel hook cactus, which grows in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. This cactus is usually about 50 cm in diameter, which has long spines with curved or hook-like ends. This plant has yellow or red flowers at the top, or even yellow fruit. This cactus usually grows in streams and gravel slopes.
- Cut the top of the cactus tree with a knife, tire opener crank, or other object.
- Mash the white watermelon-like inside of the cactus until smooth, then squeeze to extract the liquid.
- Drink only small amounts of fluids. Even though they are small and quite safe, they are still bitter in taste and contain oxalic acid, which can cause kidney problems or bone pain.
Step 7. Wrap the plant in a plastic bag
Shake the plant to drop any contaminants that might stick, then wrap it in a plastic bag and tie it firmly to the stem of the plant. Place the rock in the bottom of the sealed plastic bag to allow the water to flow towards it. Come back in the afternoon to check for water collected (from the steam released by the plants).
Step 8. Perform careful testing on unknown plants
If you have no other choice, you may have to look for a liquid from an unknown plant. If possible, take the following precautions:
- Only test one part of the plant at a time. Leaves, roots, stems, buds, and flowers can have different effects. Choose a part of the plant that will ooze fluid when cracked.
- Remove plants that emit a strong or sour odor if there are other options.
- Do not eat for 8 hours before you test the plant.
- Touch the plant on the inside of your wrist or elbow to test the reaction.
Tips
- The more you save water, the less water you will need. Try to always stay in the shade when the weather is very hot.
- If the water is contaminated or too risky, just use the water to soak clothes to keep your body cool.
- Deserts at high altitudes may have temperatures cold enough to support snow or ice. If you find one, put snow or ice in a container and thaw it by wrapping it in clothing, or place it near a fire (not over it). Don't eat ice or snow right away without melting it first.
- Maps are very useful, but don't rely on them too much. The rivers and streams on the map usually dry up for most of the year.
Warning
- Don't accidentally put yourself in a desert environment that forces you to search for water. Even experienced desert travelers can't always find water.
- If you are not in an emergency situation to survive, treat the environment well. Some plants may be protected by law. Do not contaminate water sources by washing cutlery or bathing.
- Digging can sometimes cause you to lose more sweat than you gain (if you find it). Only dig in places that do promise. Don't try to use a "solar still" to get water from dry soil. In the desert, the process takes days, which cannot match the water obtained from excavation.
- Don't drink urine. Urine contains a lot of salt and minerals, which actually increase thirst.
