GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

What is the largest desert on Earth?

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Antarctica is the largest desert on Earth, covering about 5.5 million square miles. It is classified as a desert because it receives very little precipitation, mostly in the form of snow.

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Size5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square kilometers)
LocationSouthern Hemisphere, surrounding the South Pole
TypeCold or polar desert
Average Temperature-49°C to -60°C (-57°F to -76°F)
Annual PrecipitationLess than 2 inches (50 millimeters)
Percentage of Earth's DesertsAbout 26% of all desert area on Earth

What Makes Antarctica a Desert

Antarctica is considered a desert not because of temperature, but because of its extreme lack of moisture. A desert is defined as any place that receives less than 10 inches of precipitation per year. Antarctica receives most of its precipitation as snow, with an average of less than 2 inches annually. This makes it one of the driest places on Earth despite being covered in ice and snow.

Climate and Environment

Antarctica is a cold desert with temperatures that can drop below -60°C in winter. The continent experiences very strong winds and long periods of darkness during winter months. Despite the frozen appearance, the land receives minimal new snow each year. The ice sheets that cover Antarctica have accumulated over hundreds of thousands of years from the small amounts of precipitation that fall there.

Comparison to Other Large Deserts

The Sahara Desert in Africa is the largest hot desert, covering about 3.6 million square miles. The Arctic is also classified as a cold desert. Antarctica is larger than both in terms of total area, making it the largest desert on Earth by size.

Wildlife and Life

Despite being a harsh desert environment, Antarctica is home to unique wildlife adapted to extreme cold, including penguins, seals, whales, and various seabirds. No trees or large plants grow on the continent. The only plants that survive are small mosses, lichens, and algae.

Sources

  1. usgs.gov (usgs.gov)
  2. nasa.gov (nasa.gov)
  3. britannica.com (britannica.com)