Are there deserts in Canada?

Okanagan Desert – Osoyoos, British Columbia

Sometimes referred to as “Canada’s only desert”, the Okanagan Desert is really a shrub-steppe area located in the Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia. The area is also known as Nk’mip Desert or Osoyoos Desert. Parts of the area is located near the city of Kamloops and is also named Kamloops Desert. The climate is semi-arid and characterized by very hot, dry weather in the summer and mild winters. Because precipitation is not as rare is in traditional deserts, its sand dunes are filled with bushes, cacti and wildlife.

Carcross Desert – Yukon

The Carcross Desert is known for being the smallest desert in the world, although it does not qualify as a true desert: it is really what remains of an ancient glacial lake, which left sand dunes behind upon drying up. It has an area of only 2.6 square kilometers (1 square miles) with dunes that are suitable for sandboarding.

“Affectionately known as the smallest desert in the world, this area was originally covered by a large glacial lake. As the glaciers retreated, causing lower water levels, sandy lake bottom material was left behind. Strong prevailing winds from Lake Bennett have constantly worked this sand, making it difficult for vegetation to become established. Species of plants that have survived include lodgepole pine and kinnikinnick.”

Great Saskatchewan Sand Hills – Saskatchewan

The Great Saskatchewan Sand Hills are a unique set of desert-like sand dunes covering an area of 1,900 square kilometers in southwestern Saskatchewan near the remote village of Sceptre. As with the Carcross desert, the Great Sandhills are leftovers from ancient glaciers that existed more than 12,000 years ago.

Canadian Arctic Tundra

There actually is one true desert in Canada, although it is not a hot desert. The polar desert of the Arctic in fact comprises a large part of northern Canada where temperatures rarely go above freezing. The Canadian Arctic Tundra is located across the country’s northern mainland and the islands of the Arctic Archipelago such as Baffin Island.