Largest Desert in the World, Check Name, Location, Type, Area

Deserts, often associated with arid landscapes and extreme temperatures, play a crucial role in the world’s geography and climate. Understanding deserts is vital for various competitive exams, including those for government positions. This article provides an in-depth look at the largest deserts globally, offering essential information for exam preparation.

What Are Deserts?

Deserts are barren land areas characterized by minimal precipitation. Specifically, a region is classified as a desert if it receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of rainfall annually. This scarcity of water leads to unique ecological and climatic conditions that influence both the environment and the species that inhabit these regions.

Types of deserts

There are four main types of deserts:

1. Hot & dry deserts
2. Cold deserts
3. Coastal deserts
4. Semi-arid deserts

Largest Desert in the World

Antarctica is the largest desert in the world in terms of size covering 14.2 million square kilometres (5.5 million square miles). The coldest desert on the Earth has temperatures as low as -89°C (-128.2°F). It is mainly covered by ice flats and ice sheets, with an ice thickness of an average of 2.45 kilometres (1.5 miles). It is considered a desert because it receives less than 50 mm (1.9 in) of precipitation annually on average. Animals that live there are primarily carnivores, such as penguins, albatrosses, whales, and seals, but there’s almost no vegetation.

Also, Check Largest Volcanoes in World

List of Largest Deserts in the World

Deserts cover roughly one-third of the Earth’s land surface. Deserts are classified into four types based on their geographic location: polar deserts, subtropical deserts, cold winter deserts, and cool coastal deserts. The table below lists the 25 Largest Deserts in the World along with their dimensions, types, and locations.

Also, Check Deserts of India

Major Largest Desert in the World

The world has many deserts, ranging from small and isolated to vast and sprawling. The major Deserts of the World are the Antarctica Desert, Arctic Desert, Sahara and so on. Here are some of the world’s major deserts:

Antarctica

Antarctica is the largest desert in the world, which is around 14 million square kilometres (5,500,000 square miles) in size. It is a desert, which is defined as a region with little or no precipitation, despite being coated in ice and snow. The Antarctic Desert is found on the continent of Antarctica in the southern hemisphere.

Arctic Desert

With over 13.7 million square kilometres, the Arctic Desert is the second-largest desert in the world. It is mostly in Canada, Greenland, and Russia, which make up the northernmost region on the planet.

Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is the Largest Hot desert in the world. With a surface area of approximately 9 million square kilometres, the Sahara is the third-biggest desert overall and the largest hot desert in the world. From the Atlantic to the Red Sea, it is situated in northern Africa.

Arabian Desert

With over 2.3 million square kilometres, the Arabian Desert is the fourth-largest desert in the world. It is mostly in Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula.

Gobi Desert

With a surface area of over 1.3 million square kilometres, the Gobi Desert is the fifth-largest desert in the world. It can be found in southern Mongolia, as well as northern and western China.

Also, Check Mountain of India

Largest Desert in India

The Thar Desert is the Largest Desert in India, also known as the Great Indian Desert. It accounts for approximately 4.56% of India’s total land area. It is located on the border between Pakistan and India and covers an area of approximately 200,000 km2 and, with the remaining 15% in Pakistan. The Desert is a Large and dry region in the northwest of the Indian Subcontinent. The Great Indian Desert is comprised of the Rann of Kutch on the western coast, the alluvial plains of the Indus River in the northwest, Punjab and Haryana to the north, and the Aravali Hills in the northeast.

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