The Largest desert in the world is in Antarctica. The Antarctic Desert is its name and it spans 14.2 million square kilometres.
The Antarctic Desert is the largest desert in the world, covering the entire continent of Antarctica.
It’s a cold desert with an average temperature of -20°C and gets less than 50mm of rain each year.
Vast expanses of ice and snow characterize the landscape, with very little vegetation or animal life.
The McMurdo Dry Valleys in East Antarctica lack ice and snow, yet they still qualify as a desert.
These valleys have special geological features, like the Blood Falls, a waterfall that looks like it bleeds because of iron oxide.
The Antarctic Desert is also home to the South Pole, situated at an elevation of 2,835 meters above sea level.
Because of its harsh climate and remote location, the Antarctic Desert ranks among the least explored regions on Earth.
Being a polar desert, it receives very little precipitation and experiences extremely low temperatures.
Ice sheets up to 4.7 kilometers thick blanket the continent.
Antarctic Desert, The World’s LargestPHOTO | g3
Top 10 Largest Deserts In The World:
Largest Desert In The World: 1. Antarctic Desert
Antarctica, the largest desert in the world, lies and covers an area of 14.2 million square kilometers.
Besides, it is a polar desert, which means it receives very little precipitation and has extremely low temperatures.
Ice sheets up to 4.7 kilometers thick cover the continent.
Antarctic Desert, The Wold’s LargestPHOTO | g3
2. Arctic Desert
Ranking as the second-largest desert globally, it spans an extensive 13.9 million square kilometers in the Arctic region.
This polar desert shares similarities with the Antarctic Desert.
The Arctic region distinguishes itself with its cold temperatures, permafrost, and ice caps.
The Arctic Desert, World’s second largest desert
PHOTO | images
3. Sahara Desert
The biggest hot desert, it’s in North Africa and covers 9.2 million square kilometers.
The Sahara Desert, located in North Africa, spans approximately 3.6 million square miles, making it the world’s largest hot desert.
It features endless stretches of sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and barren plains, embodying an iconic symbol of extreme environments.
This desert has many amazing things like tall sand dunes in Erg Chebbi and beautiful mountains called Tassili n’Ajjer.
Despite its harsh conditions, a variety of unique flora and fauna have adapted to this challenging environment.
The Sahara has a long history and was an important trade route. It has fascinated explorers, scientists, and adventurers for many years.
Its shifting sands and breathtaking beauty continue to captivate those who venture into this remote and awe-inspiring desert landscape.
However, The Sahara Desert is home to several species of animals such as the fennec fox, addax antelope, and dromedary camel.
The Sahara Desert, North AfricaPHOTO | suggestive
4. Great Australian Desert
The desert in Western Australia is the biggest in Australia, covering 2.7 million square kilometers.
Its red sand dunes and sparse vegetation characterize it.
The Great Australian Desert is home to several species of animals such as the bilby, thorny devil, and red kangaroo.
The Great Australian Desert: Autralia’s Largest Desert, AutraliaPHOTO | i.pinimg
5. Arabian Desert
It’s in Western Asia and is the biggest desert in Asia, covering 2.33 million square kilometers.
Its sand dunes and rocky terrain characterize it.
The Arabian Desert is home to several species of animals such as the Arabian oryx, sand cat, and Nubian ibex.
The Arabian Desert PHOTO | worldatlas
6. Gobi Desert
The Gobi Desert is the biggest desert in Asia, covering 1.3 million square kilometers in China and Mongolia.
Its landscape features rocky terrain, sand dunes, and extreme temperatures.
Nevertheless, the Gobi Desert harbors several animal species, including the Bactrian camel, snow leopard, and Gobi bear.
The Gobi Desert, China And MongoliaPHOTO | travelbuddies
7. Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is the biggest desert in Southern Africa, covering 900,000 square kilometers across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
This desert boasts distinguishing features, including its red sand dunes and limited vegetation.
Furthermore, it is home to various animal species, such as the meerkat, gemsbok, and Kalahari lion.
The Kalahari Desert, South Africa, Botswana, NamibiaPHOTO | image
8. Patagonian Desert
The largest desert in South America, located in Argentina, spans an area of 673,000 square kilometers.
It exhibits a landscape characterized by rocky terrain, sand dunes, and sparse vegetation.
Furthermore, the Patagonian Desert is home to several animal species, including the guanaco, Andean condor, and Patagonian mara.
The Patagonian Desert, Argentina
PHOTO | bestourism
9. Syrian Desert
The biggest desert in the Middle East is in Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, covering 500,000 square kilometers.
Its landscape features rocky terrain and sand dunes.
The Syrian Desert harbors several animal species, including the Arabian wolf, striped hyena, and caracal.
The Syrian Desert, Middle EastPHOTO | assets
10. Great Basin Desert
The biggest desert in North America is in the western United States and covers 492,098 square kilometers.
It features mountain ranges, sagebrush plains, and salt flats.
Furthermore, the Great Basin Desert houses various animal species, including pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and sage grouse.
The Great basin Desert, United States Of America
PHOTO | worldatlas
FAQs
1. What is the largest desert in the world?
The largest desert in the world is the Antarctic Desert.
2. Where is the Sahara Desert located?
North Africa houses the Sahara Desert.
3. What is the largest desert in Asia?
The largest desert in Asia is the Gobi Desert.
4. Which continent is home to the Atacama Desert?
South America houses the Atacama Desert.
5. What are the main features of the Kalahari Desert?
Red sand dunes and sparse vegetation characterize the Kalahari Desert.
