Did you know that the world’s largest desert is not hot? It’s cold! Surprised? A desert doesn’t need to be sandy – it just needs to be very dry. Antarctica is the largest desert on Earth. This continent is located at the bottom of the world and covers an area of 14.2 million square kilometers.
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It’s so dry and icy that only a few hardy creatures can survive there, making it the largest desert in the world.
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The world’s second largest desert is the Arctic Desert, covering approximately 13.9 million square kilometers (5.4 million square miles).
Spanning parts of Eastern Europe, North America, northern Asia and northern Europe, this polar desert is characterized by vast expanses of ice, tundra and permafrost.
Speaking of the third largest desert, the Sahara, it is located in North Africa. It stretches over 9.2 million square kilometers and is famous for its golden sand dunes and scorching heat.
What is so special about these deserts? Antarctica’s millions-year-old ice provides scientists with clues about Earth’s past.
On the other hand, the Sahara Desert hides oases and ancient ruins that tell the story of early human life. These deserts may be extreme, but they are full of wonders and surprises!
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What is a desert?
A desert is a dry, barren area with very little rainfall—usually less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) per year. Deserts can be hot, like the Sahara, or cold, like Antarctica.
They often experience extreme temperature swings, with sweltering days and cold nights. A desert is defined not by temperature but by dryness.
Despite the harsh conditions, the desert is home to a variety of plants and animals that have adapted to survive with a minimum of water.
Which is the largest desert in the world?
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The largest desert in the world is the Antarctic Desert, covering an area of approximately 14.2 million square kilometers (5.482 million square miles).
Despite being a snow-covered region, it contains nearly 70% of the Earth’s fresh water in the form of ice.
The Antarctic desert is home to unique wildlife such as penguins and seals, and holds valuable climate records within its deep ice, which can reach depths of more than two miles.
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Where is the world’s largest desert located?
The Antarctic Desert is located in Antarctica and its surrounding waters. It is classified as a polar desert due to very little precipitation and extremely low temperatures.
What is the difference between polar deserts and non-polar deserts?
Deserts are classified based on their climate, vegetation, and geographical features. Among them, polar deserts and non-polar deserts (often called hot deserts or cold deserts) show distinctive characteristics.
1) Polar desert
Polar deserts are located in the polar regions of the Earth, specifically the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
They are characterized by extremely cold temperatures, with average temperatures in the hottest months typically being -10°C (50°F).
Annual precipitation is very low, usually less than 250 mm (about 10 inches), falling mainly as snow.
1. Geography and vegetation:
These deserts are often covered by ice caps or glaciers, resulting in barren land with little vegetation.
The vegetation that does exist consists mainly of lichens and mosses, which are adapted to survive in the harsh conditions.
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Due to freeze-thaw cycles, the ground takes on patterned textures that create unique geological formations.
2. Fauna:
Animals in polar deserts include species specially adapted to extreme cold, such as polar bears in the Arctic and various penguins in Antarctica. These animals have thick layers of fat and fur for insulation.
2) Non-polar deserts
Nonpolar deserts can be divided into hot deserts (such as the Sahara) and cold deserts (such as the Great Basin).
Hot deserts have high temperatures, often exceeding 40°C (104°F), while cold deserts have lower temperatures but are still warmer than polar deserts.
Non-polar deserts also receive little precipitation, but precipitation may be irregular throughout the year.
Hot deserts typically receive less than 250 millimeters of rainfall per year, while cold deserts may receive slightly more but are still arid.
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1. Geography and vegetation:
Nonpolar deserts feature a variety of landscapes, including sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and gravel plains. Vegetation is sparse but includes species such as cacti and shrubs that have adapted to conserve water.
2. Fauna:
The fauna of nonpolar deserts includes a range of species adapted to heat or cold. For example, animals such as camels thrive in hot deserts, while species such as jackrabbits may inhabit cold deserts.
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Which is bigger, the Sahara Desert or the Antarctic Desert?
The Antarctic Desert is the largest desert in the world, covering an area of approximately 14.2 million square kilometers.
On the other hand, the Sahara Desert covers an area of approximately 9.2 million square kilometers and is the third largest desert in the world after the Arctic Desert.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion