Why does it seem like desert cultures tend to cover most of their body, while tropical cultures tend to wear very little clothing? - eviltoast

Like, I know that desert dwellers do it to protect their bodies from the sun, but isn’t that also an issue in the tropics?

  • roo@lemmy.one
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    1 year ago

    In the tropics your problem is heat and rain. Any material in the tropics will be taking in water, and when it rains it rains so hard your eyes will hurt from all the rain rubbing against them. Thin clothes dry fast, and no clothes is twice as good. If the sun is too hot just take a siesta.

    In the desert, wind is your enemy because it sprays loose matter everywhere. Hence tents and flowing clothes for protection.

    If you’re farming in the tropics you want long sleeve thin clothing to limit Sun damage. Broad hats are also ideal.

    • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’m guessing that the fact that deserts can get very cold at night also has something to do with it. Due to high humidity, the tropics are warm around the clock, while deserts can have huge temperature variations.