Where is the world's largest desert located?

The world's largest desert is indeed Antarctica, scientifically known as the Antarctic Desert. While many may associate deserts with hot, sandy environments like the Sahara or Arabian deserts, a desert is defined by its low precipitation levels rather than temperature.

Antarctica is classified as a polar desert, characterized by extreme dryness and very little moisture throughout the year, receiving less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of precipitation annually. This lack of precipitation makes it the largest desert on Earth, surpassing all the traditional hot deserts in terms of area.

In contrast, the Sahara, Arabian, and Gobi deserts are all hot or temperate deserts that, while vast, do not compare in size to Antarctica. Therefore, recognizing that deserts can be cold environments is key to understanding why Antarctica holds the title of the largest desert in the world.