The world's largest desert spans approximately 5.37 million square miles, but it's probably not the one you're picturing. While many people may think of the Sahara when they hear the word "desert," the true largest desert in the world is actually the Antarctic Desert. Encompassing an area of approximately 14.2 million square kilometers, the Antarctic Desert is a vast and remote expanse of icy wilderness that few have had the opportunity to explore.
However, at 3.6 million square miles, the Sahara absolutely is the biggest hot desert in the world, by a wide margin: It's more than three times the size of the Antarctic Desert. The Sahara is known for its sweeping sand dunes, extreme temperatures, and sparse vegetation, making it a harsh and unforgiving environment for any living creatures that call it home.
Parts of the world's largest desert have not seen rain for 14 million years - and it's larger than the Gobi Desert, the Arabian Desert, and the Kalahari Desert combined. This incredible lack of precipitation has resulted in a landscape that is barren and inhospitable, with little to no plant or animal life able to survive in such harsh conditions.
Antarctica qualifies as Earth's largest cold desert, and the Sahara is the largest hot desert. At 14.2 million square kilometers, the Antarctic Desert is a vast and frozen wilderness that is unlike any other desert on Earth. It is a place of extremes, with temperatures that can plummet to -80 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and barely rise above freezing in the summer.
Star dunes, which look like stars when viewed from above, are believed to be the tallest sand dunes on Earth, with one in the Badain Jaran Desert reaching a staggering height of 1,640 feet. These massive dunes are constantly shifting and changing shape, sculpted by the relentless winds that sweep across the desert landscape.
China has covered its largest desert and the world is on edge: could this be a new source of energy or the supreme AI? With advancements in technology and a growing need for sustainable energy sources, the idea of harnessing the power of the desert has become an intriguing possibility. China's ambitious project to cover its largest desert with solar panels has sparked debate and speculation about the future of renewable energy and the potential impact on the environment.
The largest countries by area are Russia, Canada, the U.S., China, Brazil, Australia, India, and Argentina, each with unique landscapes and geographical features that make them truly remarkable. From the icy expanses of Antarctica to the sweeping deserts of the Sahara, the world is home to a diverse range of environments that are both beautiful and awe-inspiring.
