Overview

A small state in the Persian Gulf, sitting on significant natural gas deposits and bordered by the hottest sea on the planet, Qatar is one of the driest countries in the world. Its seemingly hostile landscapes, devoid of shade and water, are nevertheless home to many champions of adaptation, such as the sandfish, a small lizard, and the desert jerboa, with its disproportionately long legs. The underwater world is also attracting the attention of scientists: it is home to species of coral that are particularly resistant to heat, as well as pearl mussels. After contributing to the emirate's prosperity, these mussels could now improve the water quality of the Persian Gulf thanks to their extraordinary filtration capacity.