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FOX Weather·3 min read·medium

The world’s biggest desert has zero sand and it is not where you think

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Olivia Stephens
The world’s biggest desert has zero sand and it is not where you think
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Antarctica is technically the world's largest desert because it receives very little annual precipitation. Despite being covered in ice, its extreme dryness and sub-zero temperatures lead scientists to compare its environment to that of Mars.

Why it matters

Understanding the geological definition of deserts helps clarify climate patterns and environmental conditions on Earth and other planets.

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When we hear the word \"desert,\" most of us picture the blistering heat of the Sahara, Death Valley or a dusty stretch of Arizona highway. But the largest desert on Earth looks nothing like that. SEE IT: NASA SATELLITE REVEALS HUMMINGBIRD-SHAPED SECRET BENEATH ANTARCTICA'S ICE It is a frozen continent covered in miles of ice, battered by lashing winds, and defined by one of the harshest environments on the planet: Antarctica. This frozen landscape completely turns our traditional understanding of a desert inside out, highlighting that the ultimate record-breaker isn't defined by heat at all, but by thirst. Geologically, deserts are classified by precipitation, not temperature. According to NASA, they are primarily defined by an extreme lack of moisture caused by low annual precipitation, typically receiving roughly 10 inches or fewer per year.

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