The landmass on our planet is made up of different grounds that possess different properties. The earth’s landmass comprises plains, plateaus, mountains, and deserts. Unlike any other type of land, the desert is often considered as a hot and dry place with a dearth of water, vegetation, and plantation. That’s why deserts are not widely considered as holiday destinations until someone desires to go on an adventurous trip.
However, several such deserts across the world can completely transform your perception of them. Deserts have very diverse characteristics and the perception that all deserts are the same in appearance and properties is not entirely true. On the contrary, some deserts are very cold and contradict the perception that all deserts are extremely hot. There’s a lot more to deserts than dry sand, oasis, and cactus plants. We’ve compiled a list of 5 such deserts that you must visit
1. The Atacama Desert in South America: Once you visit this magnificent desert located along the Pacific Coast in Peru and Chile, you’ll be compelled to change your opinion about the deserts. The desert has not witnessed even a single drop of rain since the records have been kept. Despite this, the desert is home to over a million people. The desert is cooler than most deserts in the world and is often covered with fog. The view of stars throwing their light on the desert during the night time steals the thunder. Spread over an area of over 105,000 km sq, the desert witnesses the maximum temperature of 50 degrees celsius.
2.The Sahara Desert in Africa: It is the famous Sahara desert that most people use to generalise the properties of all other deserts in the world. Spread over an area of over 8,600,000 sq km, the vast desert covers nearly all of northern Africa and is the largest desert in the world. The vast Sahara desert is not only made up of sand dunes but also rocky hamada, or barren land with rocky plateaus. Apart from this, you can also spot mountains and salt flats over some patches. A diverse range of flora and fauna including several species of foxes, flourish on the mighty Thar.
3. The Thar Desert in India: How can we not add the Thar desert to the list? Located in northwestern Indian and part of eastern Pakistan, Thar, or the Great Indian Desert as it is known, has become an identity of the state of Rajasthan. The Thar desert is spread over an area of 200,000 sq km and acts as a natural boundary between India and Pakistan. The sparsely populated region homes just 83 people per square kilometer who mainly belong to traditional Rajasthani tribes. The landscape of Thar keeps changing due to the continuous sandstorms that lead to the shifting of the sand dunes. Over 25 species of lizards, 25 snake species, and the famous chinkara or Indian gazelle are found here. You can also spot over 23 bird species while at the Thar.
4. Pinnacles Desert in Australia: Australia is an interesting continent as far as biodiversity and landscapes are concerned and Pinnacles Desert adds another star on Australia’s tourist-friendly landmass. The Pinnacles is home to ancient sculptures that are believed to have been created naturally. The desert is located in Nambung National park and was unknown to the general public before being gazetted as a reserve in late 1967. Wild emus and galahs are primarily found in the region. Nearby the Pinnacles Desert is whit sand beaches that enhance the beauty of the entire region.
5. Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia: Do yourself a favor and start saving for this breathtaking place that will leave you amazed. Arguably the most beautiful and adventurous desert in the world, Salar de Uyuni covers an area of over 10,500 sq km. It was once a prehistoric lake known as Lago Minchin. Located at an altitude of 11,985 feet, the gorgeous region is the largest salt flat in the world that was formed as a result of the drying of the ancient Lago Minchin. It is also known as Earth’s biggest mirror due to its crystal clear salt flat and is undoubtedly a natural wonder that doesn’t require to be featured on any list to justify its beauty. You can enjoy cycling over this dried up lake, a once in a lifetime experience. Tourists from all over the world come to witness the beauty of Salar de Uyuni. You can explore the beauty in the best possible way by taking a guided tour.
