The world's largest desert is the Sahara Desert, which covers an area of over 9 million square kilometers (3.5 million square miles) and stretches across northern Africa. Other major deserts include the Atacama Desert in South America, the Gobi Desert in Central Asia, and the Arabian Desert in the Middle East.
Deserts are home to a variety of plants and animals that are adapted to the harsh conditions. Desert plants often have thick, waxy leaves and deep roots that allow them to store water. Desert animals are often nocturnal, meaning that they are active at night when the temperatures are cooler.