Hasira

The Hasira is a desert located on the Yupin continent. It is the largest desert of any kind in the world, making up the vast majority of the landmass that it resides excluding the two fertile coastal regions on the East and West sides.

Climate
Cloud formation is incredibly rare in the Hasira, meaning light and thermal radiation is unhindered. Rainfall is nearly non-existent. The weather is thus sunny and stable year-round. Most of the desert boasts over 4,000 hours of bright sunshine per year, close to the theoretical maximum value.

The Hasiran is among the hottest regions in the world. The average high temperature exceeds 45 Celsius. Sand and ground temperatures are even more extreme. Sand temperature can get over 80 Celsius during the day.

People and Culture
Main article: Hasiran Peoples

There are very few people located in Hasira, especially given its incredible size. There are infrequent desert towns built around the oases that dot the landscape. Water is so significant and rare that it is worshiped in the Hasiran religion.

People in the oasis towns carefully cultivate crops likes apricots, dates, figs, and olives. Larger oases with more available moisture can sometimes engage in wheat, millet, and barley farming. Palm trees are important as they provide shade from the desert sun for people and smaller plants. Camels are also common, with their milk and meat being a staple. Camel hair is used whenever possible, such as in tents, clothing, and bedding.

Towns, being the only signs of society in the desert, hold major significance. The governance of the region functions as a collection of city-states. Laws vary from town to town, and they are only enforced within the town walls.

Irrigation systems composed of small canals and tunnels are used to efficiently distribute water throughout the town from boreholes or sources of surface water. Qanats are underground channels used as underground aqueducts to transport water from aquifers into the towns. These qanats are build by a specific group of skilled laborers known as muqannis. This is a well paid and respected profession handed down from father to son. Used in conjunction with a windcatcher, they can also provide a natural cooling airflow to buildings.

Oasis towns and the Hasiran caravans maintain a critical symbiotic relationship. The towns provide sources of shelter and resources for the caravans journeys, while the caravans provide needed resources and luxuries from the coastal civilizations.