๐ What is a Desert?
A desert is a landform that receives very little precipitation (rain, snow, etc.). This means they are very dry! Because of the lack of water, deserts often have very few plants.
- โ๏ธ Little Rainfall: Deserts get less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain per year. That's way less than most other places!
- ๐ต Dry Climate: The dryness causes the soil to be very dry too, which makes it hard for plants to grow.
- ๐ก๏ธ Extreme Temperatures: Deserts can be very hot during the day, but they can also get very cold at night. This is because there are few clouds to block the sun's rays during the day or trap the heat at night.
๐ Types of Deserts
Not all deserts are sandy! There are different types of deserts around the world.
- ๐๏ธ Hot Deserts: These are the deserts most people think of, like the Sahara Desert in Africa. They are very hot and sandy.
- ๐ง Cold Deserts: These deserts are cold and snowy, like the Gobi Desert in Asia.
- โฐ๏ธ Coastal Deserts: These deserts are found near the coast and are often foggy.
๐ฑ Plants and Animals in the Desert
Even though deserts are dry, some plants and animals have adapted to live there!
- ๐ต Cacti: These plants store water in their stems.
- ๐ช Camels: These animals can go for long periods without water.
- ๐ Snakes: Many snakes live in the desert and are adapted to the dry conditions.
โ Fun Facts About Deserts
- ๐ Deserts cover about one-fifth of the Earth's land surface!
- ๐ก๏ธ The highest temperature ever recorded was in a desert!
- ๐ Deserts can be very cold at night because there are no clouds to trap heat!
โ๏ธ Desert Landform Quiz
- What is the defining characteristic of a desert landform?
- Name two types of deserts.
- Give an example of a plant adapted to desert life.
- How much rainfall does a desert typically receive per year?
- Why do deserts experience extreme temperature changes?