Deserts of the World

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Deserts of the World

I have been presented with the task of researching deserts, hot &

cold, where they are, what type they are and so on. I have therefore

created the following graphs containing the information needed.

Cold Deserts of the World

The main form of precipitation in a cold desert is snow -- but only

ten inches or less per year.

Cold Deserts of the World

Name

Location

Size

Physical

Features

Some Plants & Animals

Special Facts

Atacama

Coasts of Peruand Chile

54,000 mi2

140,000 km2

Covered by sand dunes and pebbles. One of the driest areas on earth.

bunchgrass, cardon cactus, tamaruga trees

lizards, llama, Peruvian fox, nesting area for many seabirds

Only a few thousand people (mostly farmers) live in the inland desert

areas.

Large deposits of sodium nitrate are found in the desert. Sodium

nitrate is used to make gunpowder.

Gobi

Northern Chinaand Southern Mongolia

450,000 mi2

1,200,000 km2

Covered by sandy soil and areas of small stones called "gobi."

camel's thorn, grasses

bactrian bamel, gazelle, gerbil, jerboa, lizards, onager, wolf

Crossed by Genghis Khan in the early 13th century. Many nomads now

settling on government-run farms.

Great Basin

Western United States(Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah)

158,000 mi2

411,000 km2

Covered by sand, gravel, and clay.

Many moutains ranges, basins, and large expanses of salt flats.

greasewood, sagebrush, shadscale

bighorn sheep, jackrabbit, pocket mouse, poor-will, pronghorn

antelope, sage thrasher, side-blotched lizard

Great Salt Lake located here.

Iranian

Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan

150,000 mi2

390,000 km2

Covered by coarse gray soil, stony pavement, and salt flats.

grasses, pistachio trees, shrubs

monitor lizard, onager, oryx, scorpion

World's largest salt flat located here.

Namib

Coasts of Southwestern Africa

52,000 mi2

135,000 km2

Covered by sand dunes along the coast and gravel farther inland.

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