Desert↕ | Type↕ | Area (km2)↕ | Location↕ | Temperature Range↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antarctic Desert | Polar | 14,200,000 | Antarctica | -89 to 10 C | Largest desert on Earth; contains 70% of the world's fresh water as ice |
Arctic Desert | Polar | 13,900,000 | Arctic (multiple countries) | -40 to 20 C | Second largest desert; spans parts of 8 countries around the North Pole |
Sahara | Subtropical | 9,200,000 | Northern Africa | -5 to 58 C | Largest hot desert; roughly the size of the United States |
Arabian Desert | Subtropical | 2,330,000 | Arabian Peninsula | 5 to 54 C | Contains the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), the largest sand desert on Earth |
Gobi Desert | Cold winter | 1,295,000 | China, Mongolia | -40 to 45 C | Major dinosaur fossil site; rapidly expanding due to desertification |
Kalahari Desert | Subtropical | 900,000 | Botswana, Namibia, South Africa | -10 to 45 C | Home to the San people (Bushmen); major diamond deposits |
Great Victoria Desert | Subtropical | 647,000 | Australia | 5 to 40 C | Australia's largest desert; named after Queen Victoria |
Patagonian Desert | Cold winter | 620,000 | Argentina | -20 to 12 C | Largest desert in the Americas; rain shadow of the Andes |
Syrian Desert | Subtropical | 500,000 | Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia | -7 to 45 C | Ancient trade routes; Palmyra ruins located on its edge |
Great Basin Desert | Cold winter | 492,000 | United States | -20 to 38 C | Largest desert in the US; contains Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Salt Lake |
Chihuahuan Desert | Subtropical | 453,000 | Mexico, United States | -10 to 40 C | Most biologically diverse desert in the Western Hemisphere |
Karakum Desert | Cold winter | 350,000 | Turkmenistan | -20 to 50 C | Contains the 'Door to Hell' - a natural gas crater burning since 1971 |
Colorado Plateau | Cold winter | 337,000 | United States | -18 to 38 C | Home to Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Arches National Park |
Sonoran Desert | Subtropical | 310,000 | United States, Mexico | -5 to 48 C | Only place on Earth where the giant saguaro cactus grows naturally |
Thar Desert | Subtropical | 200,000 | India, Pakistan | 5 to 52 C | Most densely populated desert in the world; hosts the Pushkar Camel Fair |
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Frequently asked questions
How is the Largest Deserts In The World list ranked?
The Largest Deserts in the World list is ranked by community votes. Every visitor can pick one option over another in head-to-head matchups, and the running totals determine the order you see. No editors or algorithms — just real people voting.
How many entries are in this Largest Deserts In The World dataset?
This dataset contains 15 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
Can I download the Largest Deserts In The World data?
Yes. The download buttons at the top of the page give you the full 15-row dataset as CSV, JSON, or Excel. Use of the data is permitted under a Creative Commons Attribution license — credit dtbse.com when you republish.
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