Deserts of the World

Desert

Location

Area - sq miles

Africa

Sahara

Northern Africa

3,320,000

Libyan

Libya, Egypt, and Sudan (part of Sahara)

-

Kalahari

Southwestern Africa

360,000

Namib

Southwestern Africa

52,000

Asia

Arabia

Southwestern Asia

900,000

Rub'al Khali

southern Arabian Peninsula

250,000

Gobi

Mongolia and northeastern China

500,000

Kara-Kum

Turkmenistan

135,000

Kyzyl-Kum

Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan

115,000

Takla Makan

northern China

105,000

Kavir

central Iran

100,000

Syrian

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq

100,000

Thar

India and Pakistan

77,000

Dasht-e-Lut

eastern Iran

20,000

Australia

Great Victoria

Western and South Australia

250,000

Great Sandy

northern Western Australia

150,000

Gibson

Western Australia

-

Simpson

Northern Territory

56,000

North America

Great Basin

southwestern United States

190,000

Chihuahuan

northern Mexico

175,000

Sonoran

southwestern U.S. and Baja California

120,000

Colorado

California and northern Mexico

-

Yuma

Arizona and Sonora, Mexico

-

Mojave

southwestern United States

25,000

South America

Patagonian

southern Argentina

260,000

Atacama

northern Chile

54,000