About DesertDB

DesertDB is a reference to 107 deserts and drylands around the world, from the polar deserts of Antarctica and the Arctic to the Sahara, the Gobi, the Atacama and the small named deserts of individual countries. Each entry lists the desert location, approximate area where one is meaningful, continent and type, along with a short natural history note covering climate, landforms, wildlife and human history.

Deserts are defined by low precipitation rather than heat, so the collection includes cold winter deserts, coastal fog deserts, volcanic fields and salt flats as well as hot sand seas. Main types: Subtropical (35), Sand (18), Semi-arid (13), Cold winter (10), Arid (10), Coastal (8), Volcanic (4), Polar (3). By continent: Asia (36), Africa (25), North America (16), Australia (13), South America (8), Europe (6), Antarctica (2), Arctic (1).

Browse the featured deserts and type sections on the home page, or use the search box to find a desert by name, country or feature such as dunes, salt or fog.