Geography

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Geography Summaries

World's Largest Deserts

The following list summarizes the world's twenty biggest deserts. Sub-tropical deserts are aligned left, and Cold-winter deserts are aligned right.

The Twenty Biggest Deserts on Earth
Deserts, Ten Largest
Area in Square Miles
World Almanac
Info Please
.
Wiki

1

Sahara (Africa)

3,320,000

3,500,000

3,500,000

2

Arabian (Arabia)

900,000

1,000,000

???

3

Gobi (China)

500,000

500,000

500,000

4

Patagonian (Argentina)

260,000
260,000
???

5

Rub'al Khali (south Arabia)

250,000
250,000
250,000

6

Great Victoria (Australia)

250,000
250,000
163,900

7

Kalahari (Africa)

225,000
220,000
347,500

8

Great Basin (Nevada)

190,000

190,000

200,000

9

Chihuahuan (Mexico)

175,000

175,000

???

10

Thar (India/ Pakistan)

175,000

175,000

92,000

11

Great Sandy (Australia)

150,000

150,000

223,700

12

Kara-Kum (W. Asia)

135,000

135,000

135,000

13

Colorado (USA)

130,000

130,000

???

14

Gibson (Australia)

120,000

120,000

60,000

15

Sonoran (USA)

120,000

120,000

120,000

16

Kyzyl-Kum

115,000

115,000

115,000

17

Taklamakan (China)

105,000

105,000

140,000

18

Iranian (Iran)

100,000

100,000

???

19

Simpson/ Sturt (Australia)

56,000
56,000
66,000

20

Atacama (Chili)

?
54,000
???

Mojave (USA)

15,000
54,000
22,000

(Subtropical deserts) (cold winter deserts)

-

-

-

50

250

100

100

100


World's Biggest Geographic Features

10 Largest Cities

10 Largest Countries

7 Largest Continents

20 Highest Mountains

20 Largest Deserts

20 Largest Islands

20 Largest Lakes

20 Longest Rivers


Disclaimer:
There are substantial differences between different sources of information. Various authors disagree about desert boundaries, and desert areas.

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This Vaughns 1-Pagers World's Twenty Largest Deserts web page was updated on 2007-03-15.