Key Points
- Several countries offer both desert and snow environments in one location.
- The USA, China, and Chile are examples of countries with deserts and snowy mountains.
- Iran's Alborz Mountains near Tehran receive heavy snowfall, offering excellent skiing.
Did you know that all the land on Earth used to be one large mass? Millions of years ago, there was only one supercontinent; However, over time, this huge landmass broke apart. The pieces moved away to create the seven continents we have today.
Because the land has moved, every country now has different weather. Some places experience freezing cold winters. Others experience the hottest summers on Earth. Every nation is also unique in what it lacks. For instance, some countries have no green forests. Others lack dry deserts or tall, rocky mountains.
However, a few rare countries have both. Can you imagine a place with all the blazing sand of hot and cold snow? In this article, we'll take a look at these beautiful countries, which have given us the opportunity to see two worlds in one place. Can you guess which countries they are?
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Which Country Has Both Desert and Snow in the World?
Some countries offer completely different environments in one location. You can feel the heat of burning sand dunes and the chill of snowy peaks without leaving the country. Let's look at the top 10 countries with both large deserts and high, snow-covered mountains.
| S.No | Country | Desert Name | Mountain Range | In a Nutshell |
| 1 | USA | Mojave, Sonoran, Great Basin | Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada | The American West has hot deserts like Death Valley. Nearby, high mountain ranges such as the Rockies in Colorado get a lot of snow in winter, making them great for skiing. |
| 2 | China | Gobi, Taklamakan | Himalayas, Tian Shan | China has large deserts in the north. The southwest features the Himalayas, the tallest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest. |
| 3 | Chile | Atacama Desert | Andes Mountains | The northern Atacama is the driest place on Earth. Just east of it, the towering Andes range has snow-capped peaks and ski resorts. |
| 4 | Argentina | Patagonian Desert, Monte Desert | Andes Mountains | Argentina shares the snowy Andes with Chile to the west. The south features Patagonia, a vast, cold, and windy desert steppe. |
| 5 | Iran | Dasht-e Kavir, Dasht-e Lut | Alborz, Zagros Mountains | Central Iran is famous for hot, salty deserts. However, the northern Alborz Mountains near Tehran receive heavy snowfall and offer excellent skiing. |
| 6 | Morocco | Sahara Desert | Atlas Mountains | Southern Morocco meets the vast Sahara sands. The central High Atlas mountains get enough snow in winter for winter sports. |
| 7 | Pakistan | Thar, Cholistan, Cold Desert (Skardu) | Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush | Southern Pakistan is a hot desert. In contrast, the north has some of the world's highest snowy peaks, including K2. |
| 8 | Afghanistan | Registan, Dasht-i-Margo | Hindu Kush | Much of the South is dry desert land. The central and northeastern Hindu Kush mountains are tall and covered in snow. |
| 9 | India | Thar Desert, Cold Desert (Ladakh) | Himalayas | Northwest India has the hot Thar Desert. In the far north, you can find the high, snowy Himalayas and the cold, high-altitude desert of Ladakh. |
| 10 | Australia | Great Victoria, Simpson Desert | Snowy Mountains (Australian Alps) | Australia is mostly a dry outback desert. The southeast corner, however, is home to the "Snowy Mountains", which get snowfall in the winter. |
i) USA
The United States has an amazing range of climates. You can visit hot deserts like Death Valley in California. Then, you can go to states like Colorado or Utah to ski in the Rocky Mountains. The difference between the dry Southwest and the snowy northern peaks is significant.
ii) China
China is huge and has a varied geography. The north has large, dry areas like the Taklamakan Desert. At the same time, the southwest region is home to the Himalayas. These towering peaks are always covered in snow and ice, showing just how diverse China's landscape really is.
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iii) Chile
Chile is a long and narrow country. The Atacama Desert is in the north. It is known as the driest non-polar place on Earth. The high Andes Mountains form the entire eastern border. These peaks receive a lot of snow during winter.
iv) Argentina
Argentina shares the Andes mountains with Chile in the west. This region offers excellent snow sports. In the south, it features the vast Patagonian Desert. This area is a cold, windy, and dry steppe, which is very different from the usual hot, sandy deserts.
v) Iran
Many people wrongly believe that Iran is just a hot desert. While central Iran has large, dry salt deserts, the north presents a different landscape. The Alborz mountains, located near the capital city of Tehran, receive heavy snowfall each winter. This area is actually popular for skiing.
What Country Is 90% Desert?
In Libya, 90% of the land is covered by the Sahara Desert. Only 2% get enough rainfall for farming. Likewise, Egypt is almost 95% desert. In these countries, most people live in small green areas or along the coast to escape the intense heat of the desert.
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