A few months ago, the boboli team went on an expedition in the Bardenas Reales desert in Navarre to produce our incredible spring–summer catalog. The pictures are amazing, aren’t they? That’s the magic of the desert!
Today we’ll be showing you the most spectacular deserts in the world. They are special places, with a lot of history and a flora and fauna all their own, that will take your breath away.
Sahara Desert
No doubt, the Sahara is one of the first deserts that comes to mind. That’s no surprise since this desert, located in northern Africa, is the largest hot desert in the world and spreads across eleven countries, dividing the continent in two. Its impressive dunes can reach 180 meters in height. Incredible!
Arabian Desert.
This is another vast desert and with a lot of history behind it. It occupies nearly the entire Arabian peninsula and it is the fourth-largest arid land mass in the world. Scarcely populated, its few inhabitants can be found near underground wells and springs. This desert is a great source of natural resources, including oil, natural gas, phosphates and sulfur. In ancient times, Egyptians harnessed its mineral deposits for use in their constructions.
Gobi Desert.
This is one of the most peculiar deserts on the planet; it extends across the south of Mongolia and the north of China. It is inhabited by nomads and has unique native fauna, including snow leopards, brown bears and wolves. But it also holds historical treasures, such as one of the world’s most interesting dig sites for fossils and dinosaur eggs.
Deserts of Australia.
Imagine how big these deserts must be, if all of Australia is called a semi-arid country. They are comprised of ten expanses of desert, including the Gibson Desert. They are home to the largest population of Aboriginal people in the country as well as delightful animals like the red kangaroo and the emu. The intense heat in the area has prevented humans from modifying the sandy territory, which is covered with dunes and dry grass.
Antarctic Desert.
Oddly enough, the world’s largest desert is frozen. Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest place on the planet. There is very scarce precipitation and 98% of the surface area is covered in ice. As a result, life in this region is limited to bacteria, moss and lichen. The fauna, which includes penguins, seals, sea lions and seagulls, is concentrated in coastal areas.
Kalahari Desert.
The literal translation of this desert’s name is “great thirst”. Dry riverbeds cross the central zones of this desert, creating pools and ponds throughout the rainy season. Populated by indigenous tribes, its few inhabitants are the Khoisan, an ethnic group that emerged from the union between the Khoi shepherds and the San people, or bushmen, who are hunter-gatherers.
Patagonian Desert.
This is the largest desert in South America, known as Eastern Patagonia. It extends across the south of Argentina and some parts of Chile. The natural barrier formed by the Andean peaks prevents moisture from the Pacific Ocean from reaching this territory. The arid conditions make it the perfect setting for the Dakar Rally.
Syrian Desert.
Although it may seem like an extension of the Arabian desert, this territory has an entity of its own, covering the north of Jordan and Iraq, Syria and southeastern Turkey. Did you know that at one point it was almost entirely bathed in rivers of lava? They formed a virtually impenetrable barrier between the eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. Today, the area is crossed by roads and pipelines.
Chihuahuan Desert.
This is the largest desert in North America. The name comes from the state of Chihuahua, where the studies on this ecosystem began. Unlike other deserts where cacti grow in abundance, this area is dominated by scrubland and grassland. Aloe vera – a plant you may have at home – is a characteristic species of this desert.
Arctic Desert.
The Arctic region is the second largest desert on the planet, after the Antarctic. It is made up of great polar deserts and its scarce rain is frozen by low temperatures, forming a continuous blanket of frozen snow.
Deserts of Spain.
If you’re looking for incredible deserts, you don’t have to go far. There are amazing and extraordinary landscapes right here in Spain. Las Tabernas (Almería), Los Monegros (Aragon), the Bardenas Reales (Navarra) or the Jandía Natural Park (Fuerteventura) will leave the whole family speechless.
