A sandstorm is a phenomenon that is common in arid regions of the world. Sandstorms occur when strong winds whip up the sand and dirt from dry surfaces and carry them away to the atmosphere. Sandstorms can be so large that they are visible from space, and the dust travels across the world. The Sahara Desert and drylands around the Arabian peninsula are the main source of airborne dust. Every year millions of tons of dust are carried from the Sahara Desert to the Amazon basin. Sandstorms have been a danger to the inhabitants of North Africa and Arabia for centuries.