Deserts are landscapes that receive very little precipitation. The land can be very inhospitable, and very unforgiving. They take up one third of the Earth's land surface. Deserts can reach more than 130 F during the day, and reach less than 32 F at night. Some can be very dry, receiving only ten inches of precipitation a year. And when it does rain in some of these places, it pours. Some can even hit below freezing during the winter, thus being classified as a “cold” desert. It can be dangerous, but the beauty abounds. Welcome to a few of the formidable desert wonders.
The Gobi Desert
It is the largest desert region in all of Asia. It covers parts of China, and Mongolia. It was once part of the Mongol Empire, and the location of many cities along the Silk Road. It is more than a 1,000 miles long, and nearly 500 miles wide. It is the fourth largest desert in the world. It is classified as a cold desert, occasionally being capped with snow on its dunes.
On average, it receives only 7 inches of rain a year. The weather is so extreme here, that snow blown in from the Siberian Steppes can cause the Gobi Desert to get down to a brisk -40 F. Brrrr! It is now expanding throughout China at a rate of 1,390 sq mi a year due to deforestation and overgrazing of farm animals. Dust storms, once uncommon in China, are now seen popping up everywhere.
Atacama Desert
Who knew South America had a desert? Located in Chile, Atacama is the driest desert in the world. It covers 600 miles of land on the Pacific coast, and receives less than 1 cm of rainfall a year.
The region is so diverse, that NASA actually tests their lunar Mars equipment here. The desert is over 20 million-years-old, and is composed of salt basins, sand, and lava flows.
McMurdo Dry Valleys
They are the coldest desert system in the world. They represent 2% of the Antarctic continent that is free from ice. High winds can reach -32 F. There can be seasons of complete darkness or light, which makes a difficult environment for life. When first discovered, they valley was referred to as the Valley of the Dead. Winds can reach an excess of 200 mph, which can evaporate water, ice, and snow.
Sahara
It is the world's largest hot desert, running through 11 countries. It covers most of Northern Africa. It is larger than Australia, and nearly as large as the United States. It is nearly 3 million years old. Some of the dunes here can reach a height of 600 feet. It has one of the harshest climates in the world, receiving less than 2 inches of rain a year in some parts. The hottest temperature recorded here was 136 F, yet the temperature can drop below freezing at night.
Thar Desert
It is the seventh largest desert in the world. It is very inhospitable, but about 4,000 years ago, it contained one of the oldest civilizations, the Mohenjo Dara and Harappa. Located in India, temperatures can reach as high as 122 F, and drop to below freezing. About 10% of the land is comprised of dunes, while the rest is rock, salt-lake bottoms, and interdunal and fixed dune areas.
Dasht-e Lut
Located in Iran is this large salt desert. It is 300 miles long, and 200 miles wide. It is one of the hottest and driest deserts, with NASA having recorded a satellite surface temperature of 159 F.
Death Valley
They call it Death Valley for a reason. You wouldn't want to be caught out here unprepared. The highest temperature recorded here was 136 F in 1913 at Furnace Creek. Features here are named Funeral Mountain, Starvation Canyon, Hell's Gate, and Dead Man's Pass. It's comprised of dunes, rocks and canyons, and salt features.
Libyan Desert
The hottest temperature recorded here, was in the town of Al Azizia at 135.9 F. It is one of the most arid places on earth, seeing very little rain. In fact rain may not see this desert for decades. Over 90% of Libya is desert.
