We have already seen the largest Subtropical deserts and now it is time to see the worlds biggest deserts. These are cold winter deserts and not only are they the largest in the world, they are also fairly familiar names that most people would have heard of…

The Worlds Largest Cold Winter Deserts and Where to Find Them

10 – Carcross Desert in Canada – Area in Square Miles: 77,000 (km²: 124,000)

Considered to be the smallest desert in the world, let alone the smallest cold winter desert it is not very big at all and almost a peddle on the ocean when compared to our top size deserts.

9 – Taklamakan Desert in China – Area in Square Miles: 105,000 (km²: 270,00)

This place has been called so many names over the years and none of them are very nice. The place or ruins” or the “sea of death” the “waterless death trap” to name but a few. You get the idea by now, it’s a pretty harsh place to survive.

8 – Kyzylkum Desert in Central Asia – Area in Square Miles: 115,000 (km²: 300,00)

This deserts name means “Red Sand” and it divides Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenista over its vast distance. While it is a dry barren land it is home to several amazing oases that stand out like a sore thumb in the space landscape.

7 – Colorado Plateau in United States – Area in Square Miles: 130,000 (km²: 337,000)

Scientists have long been confused with the Colorado Plateau because some parts of its crusts rise even when other parts are falling, but yet the whole area is classed as tectonically stable which is deeply confusing given the rapid crust movements.

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6 – Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan – Area in Square Miles: 135,000 (km²: 350,000)

Located just East of the Caspian Sea, its name means ‘Black Sand’ which is because of the dark soil that lies just underneath the sand.

5 – Great Basin Desert in United States – Area in Square Miles: 190,000 (km²: 492,000)

This is the largest desert in the U.S and to be honest it only really exists because of what is around it! With the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains creating rain it then cools creating an all-year-round light cloud cover.

4 – Patagonian Desert in South America – Area in Square Miles: 200,000 (km²: 620,000)

It might be a super-size cold winter desert, but still, that doesn’t stop 5%of the countries people living inside its boundaries! Now that is what I call a cold hard life.

3 – Gobi Desert in Central Asia – Area in Square Miles: 500,000 (km²: 1,000,000)

This desert is so large that it sits in both China and Mongolia, but most of it (only just) is in China. While some of it is indeed snow and ice it also has areas of mountains, rock and even sand dunes!

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2 – Arctic in Arctic – Area in Square Miles: 5,400,500 (km²: 13,985,000)

This is, of course, the northmost part of the planet and this desert exists in not just one country, but 8 of them! Russia, USA, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland.

1 – Antarctica in Antarctica – Area in Square Miles: 5,500,500 (km²: 14,000,000)

Not only home to the largest desert on Earth (of any kind) but it is also home to the worlds lowest recorded temperature! Have you ever hear anyone tell you it is too cold to snow? Well, here that is the truth!