Saturn has eight major moons and many
small ones. Altogether more than 40
moons orbit the planet. Its largest moon
is Titan. Titan’s atmosphere, or the layer
of gases surrounding it, is very thick.
Titan is the only moon in the solar system
known to have a thick atmosphere
and clouds. Other major moons include
Dione, Tethys, Rhea, Hyperion, and
Mimas.
Observation and Exploration
People have observed Saturn since
ancient times because it can be seen
from Earth without a telescope. In the
1970s the United States sent three
unmanned spacecraft—named Pioneer
11, Voyager 1, and Voyager 2—to Saturn.
They were the first spacecraft to fly
by the planet.
An unmanned U.S. spacecraft named
Cassini began orbiting Saturn in 2004.
It dropped a European spacecraft called
Huygens onto Titan. Huygens was the
first spacecraft to land on a moon other
than Earth’s moon.
#More to explore
Planets • Solar System • Space
Exploration
Two of Saturn’s moons can be seen as small
dots to the left of the planet.
42 Saturn BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the
Middle East. It is also the largest producer
of oil in the world. Saudi Arabia
contains the two holiest cities in the
religion of Islam. Its capital is Riyadh.
Geography
Saudi Arabia covers four fifths of the
Arabian Peninsula, a large triangle of
land between Africa and Asia. Saudi
Arabia shares borders with Jordan, Iraq,
Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates,
Oman, and Yemen. The Red Sea
runs along the western border. The Persian
Gulf lies to the east.
Almost all of Saudi Arabia’s land is flat
desert. The Rub! al-Khali desert in the
southeast is the longest stretch of sand in
the world. Its name means “empty quarter.”
A steep wall of mountains rises in
the west.
Most of Saudi Arabia has little rainfall,
very hot summers, and mild winters.
There are no lakes or rivers that flow
year-round. The country depends on
underground water supplies.
Plants and Animals
Small shrubs and herbs are the main
plants in Saudi Arabia. Some grasses and
trees grow in the southwest, near the
Red Sea. Date trees grow in oases, which
are rare fertile spots in the desert.
Animals include foxes, wolves, hyenas,
mongooses, porcupines, and baboons.
Smaller numbers of gazelles, leopards,
and mountain goats also live in the
country. A type of white antelope called
an oryx is also found in Saudi Arabia,
though it is very rare. The country’s
birds include falcons, eagles, ravens, and
flamingos.
People
Saudis, or Arabs born in Saudi Arabia,
make up most of the population. The
rest of the people are mainly Arabs from
other countries and South Asians. Some
black Africans live along the Red Sea
coast. Arabic is the main language.
Most Saudi Arabians live in cities and
towns. The largest cities are Riyadh and
Jiddah. Saudi Arabia’s other major cities
include Mecca and Medina, the two
holiest cities in Islam. Every year millions
of Muslims from around the world
visit Mecca.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Saudi Arabia 43
Almost all Saudi Arabians practice
Islam. Following Islamic law, women
and men are separated in public areas.
Women also cover themselves with a
black veil in public. Men traditionally
wear head coverings and flowing white
robes.
Economy
Saudi Arabia’s economy depends on the
production and sale of petroleum, or oil.
The country also uses its oil to make
fuels, chemicals, and other products.
Other factories make cement, metal
products, and processed food.
Services—including tourism, banking,
and communications—are also important
to Saudi Arabia’s economy.
Agriculture is limited in Saudi Arabia.
Crops can be grown only in oases or by
using artificial watering systems called
irrigation. The crops include wheat,
alfalfa, dates, tomatoes, and melons.
Sheep, goats, and camels are the main
livestock.
History
Humans have lived near the coasts of
the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of
years. In ancient times kingdoms on the
peninsula controlled trade routes
between Africa and Asia.
Birth of Islam
Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was
born in Mecca in about AD 570. In 622
he moved from Mecca to Medina. This
is said to mark the start of Islam. Before
Muhammad died in 632, he brought
most of the Arabian Peninsula under
Islamic rule. In the following centuries
Islam spread far beyond the peninsula.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
In 1517 the Ottoman Turks made the
Arabian Peninsula part of the Ottoman
Empire. The Ottomans held only loose
control, however. Saudi ruling families
held most of the real power.
In the 1700s the Sa!ud family joined
with religious leaders to take control of
the peninsula. By the end of the 1920s
the leader Ibn Sa!ud had conquered all
of what is now Saudi Arabia. In 1932 he
Camel racers compete in the King’s Camel
Race, an annual event in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia.
Saudi men use computers at an Internet
cafe in Saudi Arabia.
Facts About
SAUDI ARABIA
Population
(2008 estimate)
24,780,000
Area
830,000 sq mi
(2,149,690 sq
km)
Capital
Riyadh
Form of
government
Monarchy
Major urban
areas
Riyadh, Jiddah,
Mecca, Medina,
Ad-Dammam
44 Saudi Arabia BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
formed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
