World Deserts Map
A global map of 85 currently mapped deserts and desert regions, including hot deserts, cold deserts, coastal deserts, polar deserts, sand seas, stony plains, and semi-arid landscapes.
🏜️ Deserts of the World
Every Desert.
Every Continent.
Explore 103 desert profiles, with 85 currently available on the interactive map.
Browse by Category
Deserts by Region
Explore deserts continent by continent — Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Australia and the Poles.
Desert Types
Hot, cold, polar, coastal, sandy, salt, rocky and rain shadow — discover every desert type on Earth.
Deserts by Region
Browse All Regions →Desert Types
See All Types →Hot Deserts
Subtropical extremes — soaring heat, near-zero rainfall, iconic dune seas.
Cold Deserts
Bitter winters, scorching summers — the Gobi, Patagonia and the Great Basin.
Polar Deserts
Earth’s coldest and largest deserts — the Arctic and Antarctic frozen wastes.
Coastal Deserts
Cold ocean currents create the driest coastlines — Namib, Atacama, Baja.
Sandy Deserts
Great ergs and sand seas — the Empty Quarter, Taklamakan, Badain Jaran.
Salt Deserts
Blinding white salt flats and saline basins — Dasht-e Kavir, Death Valley.
Rocky Deserts
Gravel plains and stone plateaus — the Gobi, Syrian Desert, Karoo.
Rain Shadow
Mountains steal the rain — Patagonia, Karakum, the Great Basin.
Featured Deserts
Desert Encyclopedia
Browse All Topics →Desert Science
How deserts form, why temperatures are extreme, soil types, sand dunes, and the science behind arid ecosystems.
Desert Wildlife
Animals and plants that survive Earth’s harshest environments — from Sahara foxes to Sonoran cacti.
Desert Phenomena
Mirages, sandstorms, flash floods, superblooms — extraordinary natural events that happen in desert environments.
Desert Comparisons
Side-by-side guides to the world’s greatest deserts — size, climate, wildlife, and geography compared.
Desert Rankings
Data-backed rankings of the world’s deserts — largest, hottest, coldest, driest, and most beautiful.
Desert Travel
Safety guides, best times to visit, packing lists, survival tips, and the world’s greatest desert drives.