Australia The Pinnacles Desert (also just known as The Pinnacles) is a a region of Australia’s western desert region which features a veritable forest of limestone pillars. The remnants of ancient dunes, the immense fields of pinnacles are more or less unique in nature, and one of the distinctive landmarks of Australia’s West Coast. The fields of pinnacles are now protected … [Read more...]
GOBI DESERT
Mongolia/China The Gobi Desert marks the ancient frontier between China and Central Asia. For thousands of years it was part of the great Silk Road, where huge camel caravans hauled exotic goods from the Orient to the Middle East and beyond. Because of this the Gobi has always loomed large in the imaginations of westerners, as well as looming large in the culture and history … [Read more...]
THAR DESERT
India/Pakistan The Thar Desert is a realm of ancient beauty, history and legend. Spreading out along much of the border of modern day India and Pakistan, the Thar Desert has served as the frontier between the western world (Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East) and the eastern world (India, China and the Far East) since ancient times. Unlike most of the world’s … [Read more...]
WHITE DESERT
Egypt The White Desert, a region of the Sahara Desert located within Egypt, is also one of its most beautiful regions and one of its most visited. So named the White Desert because of its white chalky outcroppings, the area is also the site of many springs and oases, as well as spectacular and odd geological formations. Much of the White Desert is now protected within White … [Read more...]
SAHARA DESERT
Morocco/etc. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert (exluding the polar deserts) and one of the largest ecological zones on Earth. Sprawing across the entirety of North Africa, it covers approximately one third of the world’s second largest continent (it would completely engulf Europe). Almost any visitor to North Africa will almost by default see the Sahara Desert. But … [Read more...]
NAMIB DESERT
Namibia The Namib Desert is believed to be the oldest desert on Earth. It is also one of the lease densely populated places in Africa outside of certain regions of the Sahara. Because of this it is one of the least visited and most pristine places on the continent. Much of it is protected as part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The strip of land along Africa’s … [Read more...]
ATACAMA DESERT
Peru/Chile The Atacama Desert is one of the highest, oldest and driest deserts on Earth. It averages barely half an inch of rainfall every year, and there are some regions where no rainfall is recorded for years at a time. Because of its altitude and especially dry conditions, the Atacama is a favorite destination for athletes, astronomers, filmmakers and (around Nazca) … [Read more...]
SALAR DE UYUNI
Bolivia Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt desert (or salt flat). A four thousand square mile patch of salt that spraws across southwestern Bolivia, the pure white surface is nearly perfectly level over almost its entire area, and is one of the most easily identifiable natural landmarks that can be seen from space. The great salt flats of Bolivia are among the most … [Read more...]
MOJAVE DESERT/DEATH VALLEY
*Nevada The Mojave Desert is the definitive desert of the American southwest, and known for its amazingly diverse and beautiful regions. Among these are Red Rock Canyon, the Devil’s Playground and the world famous Death Valley, the lowest and hottest location in the United States. Collectively there are few (if any) deserts in the world that draw as many visitors as the … [Read more...]
