Where is the largest desert in the world?

The largest desert in the world is the Antarctic Desert.

At 14.2 million square kilometers (5.5 million square miles), Antarctica is the world's largest desert. In addition, it is the coldest desert on the planet—colder even than the Arctic, the other polar desert.

1 Answer

The Antarctic Desert, which covers the continent of Antarctica and is situated in the southernmost region of the planet, is the biggest desert in the world. The Antarctic Desert is categorized as a cold desert, in contrast to the common perception of deserts as scorching, sandy regions, because of its exceptionally low precipitation levels, which average only around 50 mm (2 inches) of water equivalent annually along the coast and significantly less inland. With a vast surface area of almost 14 million square kilometers (5.4 million square miles), it is larger than any other desert, including the famous Sahara Desert in Africa.

With windswept plains, tall ice sheets, and remote mountain ranges buried beneath ice, the Antarctic Desert is a huge region covered in snow and ice. The driest and coldest region on Earth is this desert, where temperatures can fall below -80°C (-112°F). Some life survives here in spite of the harsh conditions, such as animals like penguins and seals that reside close to the coast, resilient mosses and lichens, and microorganisms that have evolved specifically for this environment

The Antarctic Desert, which stores most of the planet's fresh water in its enormous ice sheets and reflects sunlight thanks to its icy surface, is an important part of the Earth's climate system. Despite not fitting the conventional idea of a desert, its severe climate and lack of precipitation make it a desert in all scientific senses.

We use cookies to enhance your experience, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. By continuing to browse, you agree to our Privacy Policy.