Top 10 Largest Deserts in the World: Explore Vast Landscapes

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deserts are often seen as barren wastelands. These vast landscapes are characterized by their arid climates and extreme conditions.

People in general may know the Saharan desert. However, there are still a lot of other deserts lying on Earth. Some don’t even have sandy features.

Through this article, we will explore the top 10 largest deserts in the world, cited from science.howstuffworks.com.

1. Antarctic Desert (14.2 million km²)

The largest desert in the world goes to the Antarctic Desert. It may be a shock to most people, but one needs to know that deserts are not necessarily associated with a land full of sand.

In fact, desert relates to dryness, despite being icy or sandy. To be precise, a desert is a land with scarce precipitation.

Despite its frozen terrain, the Antarctic Desert meets the criteria of a desert due to its minimal precipitation, often less than 20 mm annually. The harsh environment supports only the most resilient of life forms.

2. Arctic Desert (13.9 million km²)

The Arctic Desert, covering approximately 13.9 million km², ranks as the second-largest desert globally. This polar desert encompasses the Arctic Ocean and the surrounding land masses, characterized by permafrost, ice fields, and extreme cold.

Like its Antarctic counterpart, the Arctic Desert receives very little precipitation, especially in the form of snow. This place is home to diverse wildlife, including polar bears, arctic foxes, and migratory birds.

3. Sahara Desert (9.2 million km²)

Covering much of North Africa, the name Sahara derives from the Arabic word for desert, sahra. Not only regarded as one of the biggest deserts in the world, it is actually one of the hottest places in the globe.

The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth reaches up to 58°C. Mind you that during the day, temperatures can soar above 50°C in the Sahara. However, it can drop to near freezing at night.

4. Arabian Desert (2.33 million km²)

When talking about the Middle East, the Arabian Desert definitely pops in mind. Occupying 2.33 million km², this desert lies on the Arabian Peninsula. It is known for its extreme temperatures, vast sand dunes, and occasional salt flats.

Its heart, the Rub' al Khali, which translates to Empty Quarter, is the largest continuous sand desert in the world. Its dunes reach heights of over 250 m.

This place is home for Arabian oryx, sand gazelles, and Arabian wolf, as well as various types of grasses and acacia trees.

5. Gobi Desert (1.29 million km²)

This so-called Asia’s largest desert spans nearly 1.3 million km² in northern China and southern Mongolia. Different from the Sahara's sand dunes, the Gobi is characterized by bare rock, gravel plains, and occasional sand.

This particular desert portrayed an important role during the Silk Road era. It enabled the exchange of goods and even cultures. Not to mention, the Gobi has supported the life of the Mongolian nomads, primarily for their livestocks.

6. Kalahari Desert (900,000 km²)

The Kalahari Desert stretches across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. While often classified as a semi-desert due to its seasonal rainfall, the Kalahari's arid environment still earns it a place among the largest deserts in the world.

One unique feature that this desert has is its so-called “Deception Valley”. As the name suggests, it deceives people into thinking that the valley is full of water, while in fact, it is merely a dry riverbed. 

7. Patagonian Desert (673,000 km²)

The Patagonian Desert, also known as the Patagonian Steppe, is located across Argentina. This cold desert is characterized by the mixture of rocky areas and shrubs.

Several animals can be found in this desert, including the guanaco, Patagonian mara, and Andean condor.

8. Syrian Desert (520,000 km²)

Following this list of top 10 biggest deserts in the world is the Syrian Desert. It is a vast arid region stretching across parts of Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

The Syrian Desert is a mix of steppe and true desert, with a landscape of rocky plateaus and gravel plains. Days can be so hot during summer, with temperatures can rise up to 40°C. In contrast, one should wear a thick piece of clothing as temperature can drop to near freezing in winter. 

9. Great Basin Desert (492,000 km²)

Not only the Grand Canyon, the US also has the Great Basin Desert, which is the largest desert in the country. It is a cold desert which features a series of mountain ranges and valleys.

10. Great Victoria Desert (around 348,000 km²)

Australia is usually associated as the home of some of the most dangerous creatures. But, did you know that the continent is also the place where one of the largest deserts in the world lies?

There are a number of deserts that can be found in Australia, one of which is the Great Victoria Desert. It is actually the biggest one in this continent.

Named after Queen Victoria, this desert features grasslands, salt lakes, and sand dunes. Certain parties actually mine in the Great Victoria, as it is rich in minerals, such as iron ore and even gold.

FRIA SUMITRO

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