- 9.2 million km²
- Spans 11 countries
- Largest "hot" desert in the world
- Arid, scorching heat, large diurnal temperature range
- Sand dunes cover 25% of the area
2. Antarctic Desert (Antarctica)
- 14.2 million km²
- Contains around 70% of the world’s fresh water in ice sheets
- Extremely cold, polar desert with a unique ecosystem
- Snowfall is low (usually blown away by the wind)
- Highest wind speeds recorded on Earth (near the summit of Mount Erebus)
