Top 10 Deserts That Span Across Multiple Countries

Some of the most interesting and harsh environments on Earth are deserts. You might think of sand dunes when you think of a desert, but deserts can also be rocky plains, gravel-covered areas, and even cold. Some of the largest deserts on earth are so large that they are spread across many countries and affect the geography, climate and cultures of entire regions. These deserts cross borders, and have been a centre of trade, migration and history for centuries, with unique ecosystems.

Top 10 Deserts That Span Across Multiple Countries

1. Sahara Desert

The Sahara is the world’s largest hot desert, covering approximately 9.2 million square kilometres. It runs across North Africa and comprises Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia and parts of Western Sahara. The desert, the size of the United States, is famous for its huge sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and extreme temperatures. The Sahara is tough but people live there in their millions, mainly around oases and desert towns.

2. Arabian Desert

The Arabian Desert stretches over most of the Arabian Peninsula, covering Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait. It is one of the largest deserts in Asia, covering some 2.3 million square kilometres. The world’s largest continuous sand dunes are in the famous Rub’ al Khali, or Empty Quarter, in the Arabian Desert. In the past the desert was populated by Bedouin tribes and old trade routes.

3. Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is a desert in northern China and southern Mongolia, covering approximately 1.3 million square kilometres. Unlike many deserts, the Gobi is a cold desert, with cold winters and occasional snow. It is famous for dinosaur fossil discoveries, rugged mountains and unique wildlife such as the snow leopard and Bactrian camel. The Gobi is growing through desertification and is an important area of environmental study.

4. Kalahari Desert

The Kalahari Desert is approximately 900,000 square kilometres and spreads over Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Technically a semi-desert, receiving more rain than true deserts, it is nevertheless one of the more distinctive dry areas of Africa. The Kalahari is home to wildlife such as lions, cheetahs, meerkats and antelope. The region has been the home of the indigenous San communities for thousands of years.

5. Patagonian Desert

The Patagonian Desert is in southern Argentina and parts of Chile. It covers about 670,000 square kilometres. The largest desert in South America . Characterised by strong winds , low rainfall , and rugged terrain . The rain shadow effect of the Andes Mountains helps to keep the desert dry. Spectacular landscapes, endemic species and paleontological finds are famous in the area.

6. Karakum and Kyzylkum Desert Area

The deserts of Central Asia are a vast arid region across Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and parts of Afghanistan. The Karakum Desert covers most of Turkmenistan . The Kyzylkum covers Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan . Together they make up one of the world’s largest desert systems and are characterised for their extreme temperatures, sparse vegetation and large natural gas reserves.

7. Thar Desert

The Thar Desert or Great Indian Desert extends over northwestern India and southeastern Pakistan. It spans some 200,000 square kilometres and is one of the most densely populated deserts in the world. Rajasthan claims the largest share of the desert and its western parts extend into the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan. Despite its arid climate, the Thar supports agriculture, livestock rearing and a rich cultural heritage.

8. Namib Desert

The Namib Desert stretches along the Atlantic coast of Namibia and extends into Angola and South Africa. It is often considered the world’s oldest desert, with arid conditions that may have existed for over 55 million years. The Namib is famous for its towering red sand dunes, dramatic coastal scenery, and unique desert-adapted wildlife such as oryx and desert elephants.

9. Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert Located in northern Chile and southern Peru. Some parts of the Atacama, the driest non-polar desert on Earth, go for decades without almost any rain. Its landscape is often compared to conditions on Mars and it is an important site for space research. The desert is harsh but it is abundant in mineral deposits and has specialised plant and animal life .

10. Sonoran Desert

The Sonoran Desert extends through the southwestern United States into northwestern Mexico. It covers an area of about 260,000 square kilometres and is famous for the giant saguaro cactus, which can grow more than 12 metres tall. The desert gets rain in two different seasons each year, which makes it biologically more diverse than many other deserts. Hundreds of plant and animal species are found there and it remains one of the most important ecosystems in North America.

Which Is the Largest Desert Spanning Multiple Countries?

The Sahara Desert is the biggest desert in the world that covers many countries. It covers an area of around 9.2 million square kilometres and includes 11 countries in North Africa, representing almost a third of the African continent.