What’s the World’s Only Continent Without Deserts?

Antarctica is the only continent on Earth that does not have any deserts. While many people associate deserts with extreme heat, the defining characteristic of a desert is actually its low levels of precipitation. Antarctica qualifies as a cold desert because it receives very little moisture, averaging only about 2 inches (50 mm) of precipitation per year along the coast and even less in the interior. This lack of precipitation, combined with its icy landscape, makes it a unique geographical anomaly. Despite being the windiest and driest continent, its vast ice sheets and frigid temperatures create an environment that is starkly different from the hot deserts found in other regions of the world, such as the Sahara or the Mojave. This intriguing fact highlights the complexity and diversity of Earth's climates and ecosystems, challenging common perceptions of what constitutes a desert.