Dear Grandkids,
Camels are very unique creatures. Not the most attractive of God’s creatures but certainly very unique. I have had a few up close and personal encounters with camels. The picture on the left is when Nona and I were in Egypt in 1995. We went for a camel ride across the Sahara desert. Well, at least across about 100 yards of the Sahara desert. The picture on the right is when we were in Egypt in 2009. We were hiking up “Mt Sinai” when I had some face-time with my good friend Melvin. Melvin had some great advice for me. He encouraged me to persevere all the way to the top of the mountain where I would be rewarded with a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains.
So what is it that makes camels so unique. Here are 10 fun facts that you may or may not already know:
- There are two types of camels: One-humped or “dromedary” camels and two-humped Bactrian camels.
- Camels have three sets of eyelids and two rows of eyelashes to keep sand out of their eyes.
- Camels have thick lips which let them forage for thorny plants other animals can’t eat.
- Camels can completely shut their nostrils during sandstorms.
- Thanks to thick pads of skin on their chest and knees, camels can comfortably sit in very hot sand.
- Their humps let them store up to 80 pounds of fat which they can live off for weeks and even months!
- When a camel finally does find water, he can drink up to 40 gallons in one go.
- Camels are very strong and can carry up to 900 pounds for 25 miles a day.
- Camels can travel at up to 40 miles per hour – the same as a racehorse!
- Don’t make a camel angry – they can spit as a way to distract whatever they think is a threat
Never forget that you are very loved!
Pop Pop
