Are you a fan of the wild and natural landscapes? Deserts, mountains, and all other natural landscapes have distinctive beauty elements. One cannot compare them and decide the best among the best views and natural sceneries. The best travel destinations and choices vary at large.
If you are a fan of the barren desert lands, you have landed on the correct page. Read on and explore the best deserts in the world based on their size and geographical features.
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Deserts – A brief overview
Before delving into the details of the Biggest desert in the world, let’s explore critical information related to the landscape. Desert is a barren land area with scanty vegetation. Deserts get created naturally. It is a barren area with little precipitation occurrence. On average, a barren land gets termed a desert if it receives less than 10 inches or 250 millimeters of precipitation.
Types of desert – The desert lands across the globe differ based on the natural elements and vegetation type. The geographical location plays a significant role. Based on the diverse natural elements the deserts could be divided into four types –
- Hot and dry deserts – These are the conventional deserts with a warm and dry climate. The temperatures are always high throughout the year.
- Semi-arid deserts – The semi-arid desert lands have long, hot, and dry summers. It receives less rain in the winter. However, these semi-arid deserts are cool compared to the hot and dry deserts.
- Coastal deserts – These types of deserts have maximum humidity. It is not dry, but the temperature is high. Even though the land is humid, rainfall is rare in such landscapes.
- Cold deserts – Not many are aware of the cold desert variation. These are the coldest places on the earth with dry and cold temperatures. Such deserts receive heavy snow and rain throughout the winter.
Is Sahara the biggest desert? – Busting the myth!
What is the first name that comes to mind when you hear the biggest desert in the world? Most people answer Sahara. But it is an incorrect answer. If you adhere to the classic definition of desert, Antarctica ranks first. It is covered with snow, and the image of this cold desert differs from the conventional image in the mind. A desert is not always a sand-filled land.
- The barren region of the Antarctica landmass covers 5,500,000 sq. miles. With an overall land coverage of 14,000,000 kilometers, Antarctica is the biggest no man’s land.
- Antarctica is a cold desert, and the type is distinct from the usual barren lands. The desert is covered with Tundra vegetation and polar ice.
Other deserts with an expansive landmass
- Arctic desert – Arctic desert ranks right after the Antarctic desert, and the natural features of the barren land are similar. It is also a cold desert with low temperatures. The expansive land stretches across 5,400,000 sq. miles. The land is filled with tundra vegetation and covered with polar ice layers. It covers more than one continent – Northern America, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and North Asia.
- Sahara Desert – The largest hot desert, the Sahara Desert is a known place for all. Sahara is the conventional name that comes to everyone’s mind. It is the hottest spot, with scanty vegetation and excruciating temperatures. The subtropical desert spreads across 3,300,000 sq. miles. and covers multiple continents, including – North Africa, West Africa, Middle Africa, and East Africa.
- Arabian desert – The subtropical hot desert in the Arabian region spreads over 900,000 sq. miles. It covers extensive regions of western Asia. The countries in which the hot desert is spread include – Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc.
Traveling from deserts to water bodies
The water scarcity in the lands transforms a place into a hot or cold desert. The geographical influences in an area make an incredible impact on the entire climate and natural water bodies. One can find the Biggest waterfall in the world in the Venezuelan jungle. The Angel Falls, with a height of 979 mt., hits the rocky edges of the Churun River in Canaima National Park. The beauty of the waterfall is unique from the rest. If you are a fan of waterfalls, it is a must-visit place.
The biggest desert or water body – Which is your next destination?
With so much to explore around the globe, do not limit your travel expedition to a few options! Visit deserts, mountains, and all beautiful places and dive deep into the water bodies to unleash the adventurous soul inside you!
