Last Updated on December 2, 2023
Deserts are awesome places that you should totally visit. They are not just boring and sandy places.
Deserts are full of cool and crazy things that will blow your mind.
You will find that these incredible places have amazing wildlife, plants, and human settlements.
They also have some of the most extreme and diverse conditions on Earth, from scorching heat to freezing cold, from dryness to ice.
Deserts are places that you can have a lot of fun, learn a lot from, and be happy in.
Here are some of the most interesting facts about deserts that you might not know:
1. The world’s largest sand dune is in the Sahara Desert
It is called the Issaouane Erg and it covers an area of 38,000 square miles, which is bigger than Switzerland.
The Sahara Desert is also the largest hot desert in the world, spanning over 3.5 million square miles.
The Sahara Desert is home to many animals, such as camels, foxes, scorpions, and snakes.
It also has some oases, which are fertile areas with water and vegetation.
The Sahara Desert is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, with temperatures reaching up to 136 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. There is a desert in Chile that has never seen rain
It is called the Atacama Desert and it is so dry that some parts of it have never recorded any rainfall in history.
It is also home to the world’s largest telescope, the ALMA Observatory, which can see the birth of stars and planets.
The Atacama Desert is also known for its stunning landscapes, such as salt flats, geysers, volcanoes, and rock formations.
The Atacama Desert is one of the best places to observe the night sky, as it has very little light pollution and cloud cover.
3. There is a town in Australia where people live underground
It is called Coober Pedy and it is located in the middle of the desert.
Most of the residents live in dugouts to escape the heat of the desert.
The town has a church, a museum, a hotel, and even a golf course, all built below the surface.
Coober Pedy is also famous for its opal mining, as it produces most of the world’s opals.
Coober Pedy is a unique and quirky place, where you can find signs like “Beware of the Noodlers” (people who search for opals in abandoned mines).
4. There is a desert in Antarctica that is covered with ice
It is called the McMurdo Dry Valleys and it is one of the driest places on Earth.
The average annual precipitation is less than 0.04 inches and the soil is frozen and sterile.
The valleys are home to some of the most extreme life forms on the planet, such as bacteria and algae.
The McMurdo Dry Valleys are also the site of some scientific research, as they offer a glimpse of what Mars might look like.
The McMurdo Dry Valleys are a stark contrast to the rest of Antarctica, which is covered with ice and snow.
5. There is a desert in China that is expanding rapidly
It is called the Gobi Desert and it is the fifth largest desert in the world, covering over 500,000 square miles.
The desert is growing by about 1,300 square miles every year due to desertification, which is the process of land becoming dry and barren.
The desert is threatening the livelihoods of millions of people and the biodiversity of the region.
The Gobi Desert is also rich in history and culture, as it was part of the ancient Silk Road and the Mongol Empire.
The Gobi Desert is a place of mystery and adventure, where you can find dinosaur fossils, sand dunes, and nomadic tribes.
6. There is a desert in the United States that has the lowest point in North America
It is called the Death Valley and it is located in California and Nevada.
The lowest point in the valley is Badwater Basin, which is 282 feet below sea level.
The Death Valley is also one of the hottest places on Earth, with a record temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Death Valley is not only a place of extremes, but also a place of beauty and diversity.
The Death Valley has colorful rocks, salt flats, wildflowers, and wildlife, such as coyotes, bighorn sheep, and roadrunners.
7. There is a desert in Iran that has the largest salt lake in the world
It is called the Dasht-e Kavir and it is located in the central plateau of Iran.
The largest salt lake in the desert is Lake Urmia, which covers an area of 2,000 square miles.
The lake is famous for its pink color, which is caused by algae and bacteria that thrive in the salty water. The lake is also a habitat for many birds, such as flamingos, pelicans, and storks.
The lake is endangered by drought, pollution, and dam construction, which have reduced its size and salinity.
8. There is a desert in Namibia that has the oldest and tallest sand dunes in the world
It is called the Namib Desert and it is located along the Atlantic coast of Africa.
The oldest and tallest sand dunes in the desert are found in the Sossusvlei area, which is a clay pan surrounded by red dunes.
The dunes are estimated to be 80 million years old and can reach up to 1,000 feet high.
The dunes are constantly shaped by the wind and the sun, creating a spectacular scenery.
The dunes are also home to some animals, such as oryx, ostriches, and beetles.
9. There is a desert in Mexico that has the largest cactus in the world
It is called the Sonoran Desert and it is located in the northwestern part of Mexico and the southwestern part of the United States.
The largest cactus in the desert is the saguaro, which can grow up to 60 feet tall and weigh up to 4,800 pounds.
The saguaro can live up to 200 years and can store up to 200 gallons of water.
The saguaro is also a symbol of the desert and a source of food and shelter for many animals, such as birds, bats, and lizards.
10. There is a desert in Mongolia that has the largest camel festival in the world
It is called the Gobi Desert and it is located in southern Mongolia and northern China.
The largest camel festival in the desert is the Thousand Camel Festival, which is held every year in February.
The festival celebrates the culture and heritage of the camel herders, who use the camels for transportation, milk, and wool.
The festival features various activities, such as camel races, camel polo, camel beauty contests, and camel dances.
The festival also attracts many tourists, who can enjoy the hospitality and traditions of the nomadic people.
11. There is a desert in Peru that hosts the sandboarding world cup
It is called the Huacachina Desert and it is located near the city of Ica.
The desert has a natural oasis surrounded by huge sand dunes that are perfect for sandboarding.
Sandboarding is a sport similar to snowboarding, but on sand instead of snow.
The desert hosts the sandboarding world cup every year, which attracts many professional and amateur sandboarders from around the world.
The sandboarding world cup is a thrilling and spectacular event, where the participants perform amazing tricks and stunts on the sand.
12. There are some strange and funny desert animals that have adapted to the harsh conditions
Deserts are home to some of the most bizarre and fascinating animals on the planet.
Some of these animals have developed special features and behaviors to survive the extreme heat, cold, and dryness of the desert.
For example, the fennec fox has large ears that help it dissipate heat and hear prey.
The jerboa has long hind legs that allow it to hop and run fast.
The sand cat has furry feet that protect it from the hot sand.
The camel spider has powerful jaws that can crush bones.
These are just some of the many weird and wonderful desert animals that show the diversity and adaptability of life.
13. There is a desert in Mongolia that has the largest collection of dinosaur eggs in the world
It is called the Gobi Desert and it is located in southern Mongolia and northern China.
The desert is one of the most important paleontological sites in the world, as it has yielded many fossils of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.
The most remarkable discovery in the desert is the large number of dinosaur eggs, some of which are still intact and preserved.
The dinosaur eggs belong to different species, such as oviraptor, protoceratops, and tyrannosaurus.
The dinosaur eggs reveal a lot about the reproduction and behavior of the ancient reptiles.
The dinosaur eggs are also a source of fascination and curiosity for many people, especially children.
14. There are penguins that live in the desert
Desert penguins are a common name for Humboldt penguins, a species of penguins that live along the coast of Peru and Chile, where the climate is arid and dry.
They are not actually living in the desert, but near the ocean, where they can find food and water.
They have some adaptations that help them cope with the heat, such as a bare patch of skin on their face that helps them regulate their body temperature.
They also use a vocalization called a bray to identify themselves and their mates.
Desert penguins are endangered due to threats such as overfishing, climate change, habitat loss, and predation.
They are amazing animals that have evolved to live in harsh environments.
15. There is a desert in India that has a temple made of salt
It is called the Thar Desert and it is located in the northwestern part of India and the eastern part of Pakistan.
The desert is the most densely populated desert in the world, with over 80 million people living in it.
The desert is also rich in culture and history, as it has been the site of many civilizations, religions, and wars. The desert has a temple made of salt, which is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Karni Mata.
The temple is also known as the rat temple, because it is inhabited by thousands of rats that are considered sacred.
The temple is a popular pilgrimage site for many devotees, who believe that the rats are the reincarnated souls of their ancestors.
Deserts are awesome places that you should totally visit. They are not just boring and sandy places.
They are full of cool and crazy things that will blow your mind, such as giant sand dunes, ancient dinosaur eggs, underground towns, salt temples, and even penguins.
Deserts have animals that can survive the most extreme conditions, like scorching heat, freezing cold, and no water.
Deserts are places that you can have a lot of fun, like sandboarding, camel riding, and rat worshipping. All in all, deserts are the best.
Your n°1 source of information on the world of sandsports and desert adventure travel. Our articles are the result of extensive research, personal experience, and knowledge-sharing within the global sandboarding community.
