In arid climates, oases are vital sources of water, and major hubs of biodiversity. All sorts of bird, animal and plant life find water and nourishment there, and many oases are home to unique ecosystems and localised species. But did you know that they are very important hubs of cultural and linguistic diversity too? Languages, dialects and unique cultural traditions tend to cluster around the oases where human beings also make their homes. In Algeria, for example, oases harbour at least 552 plant and 98 mammal species, and are also home to twelve distinctive ethnic populations, each of which has its own language.
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