The world’s biggest deserts all have different features, but they share some things in common.
They are often dry, cold, or snowy. Some are full of sand, while others have rocks. Even though the weather is harsh, some plants and animals still survive in these deserts. Let’s learn more about them:
1. Antarctica Desert
- Size: 5.5 million square miles (largest in the world)
- Weather: Very cold, icy, and windy
- Special: It looks like a frozen land but is important for science and very beautiful.
2. Arctic Desert
- Size: 5.4 million square miles
- Weather: Cold, snowy, with glaciers and rocks
- Animals: Polar bears, Ivory gulls, and walruses live here
- Plants: Very few, because of the cold
3. Sahara Desert
- Size: 3.6 million square miles
- Location: North Africa
- Type: Hot desert, third largest in the world
- Famous for: Big sand dunes and stunning sunsets
4. Arabian Desert
- Size: 900,000 square miles
- Location: Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Yemen)
- Weather: Very hot and sandy
- Fun fact: It covers almost the whole Arabian Peninsula
5. Great Australian Desert
- Size: 529,000 square miles
- Location: Australia
- Features: Sandstone, grass, rivers, salt lakes
- Interesting fact: Home to the largest group of wild camels
6. Gobi Desert
- Size: 500,000 square miles
- Location: Northern China and Southern Mongolia
- Weather: Cold and dry
- Name meaning: “Waterless place” in Mongolian
- Land: Rocky with snow and gravel
7. Kalahari Desert
- Size: 350,000 square miles
- Location: South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia
- Type: Sandy savanna
- Wildlife: Meerkats and oryx live here, even with little water
8. Patagonian Desert
- Size: 260,000 square miles
- Location: Argentina
- Animals: Eagles, hawks, foxes, snakes, and iguanas
- Fun fact: Some animals stay where there’s more food, even in tough conditions
9. Syrian Desert
- Size: 200,000 square miles
- Location: Parts of Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia
- Type: Dry and rocky
- Special: Known for ancient history and old ruins
10. Great Basin Desert
- Size: 190,000 square miles
- Location: USA (Nevada, Utah, and eastern California)
- Features: Hot, dry, and snowy with big valleys
- Why it’s special: Its land shape makes it one of the most interesting deserts in America
These deserts may seem empty, but they are full of beauty, history, and life.