A desert is like a super dry place on Earth where it hardly ever rains!
What Makes a Desert a Desert?
The most important thing about a desert is that it doesn't get much rain. Scientists say a place is a desert if it gets less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain in a whole year. To put that in perspective, that's way less rain than most other places!
- Little Rain: Deserts are very dry because they don't get much precipitation (rain, snow, etc.).
- Big Differences: Some deserts might get a whole bunch of rain at once, but then nothing for a very, very long time! Sometimes years!
Are all Deserts Hot?
Nope! While many deserts are super hot, like the Sahara Desert, there are also cold deserts, like the Gobi Desert. Cold deserts get snow in the winter. The main thing that makes them deserts is still the lack of rain!
Plants and Animals in the Desert
Even though deserts are dry, they're still home to some amazing plants and animals! They've adapted to survive in these tough conditions.
- Cactus: These plants store water in their stems.
- Camels: These animals can go a long time without water.
- Scorpions: These creatures can survive the heat.
Why are Deserts Important?
Deserts are important parts of our planet! They are home to unique plants and animals. They also teach us a lot about how living things can survive in extreme conditions.
