28th July 2025
Fun Facts About the Desert for Kids
Discover fun desert facts for kids! Learn how deserts form, what animals live there, and why some deserts are cold, sandy, or even used to be green.
DIY Team
What Is a Desert and What Makes It Unique?
Most people picture a hot, dry place with sand dunes. But did you know a desert isn’t always hot or sandy?
A desert is any place that gets very little rain, less than 10 inches per year. That’s what makes it dry enough to be called a desert. Some deserts are covered in rocks or ice instead of sand. The biggest thing that makes a desert unique is how dry it is.
If you mix up "desert" and "dessert," remember this: “Dessert has two S’s because you always want seconds!”
How Many Deserts Are There in the World?
There are more than 30 major deserts across the globe. You’ll find deserts on every continent, even Antarctica! Deserts come in different types:
Hot deserts like the Sahara
Cold deserts like Antarctica
Coastal deserts like the Atacama in South America
Rain shadow deserts caused by mountains
In fact, over one-third of the Earth’s land is desert!
How Old Is the Oldest Desert?
The Namib Desert in southern Africa is believed to be the oldest desert in the world, more than 55 million years old! It’s had dry conditions longer than any other place on Earth.
Want to know the youngest desert? That’s a trickier question but some deserts are still forming today due to drought and deforestation.
What’s the Coldest Desert?
It might surprise you, but the coldest desert is actually Antarctica! While it’s covered in ice, it gets very little precipitation making it a true desert.
The Gobi Desert in Asia is also a cold desert. It snows there in the winter!
What’s the Smallest Desert in the World?
Meet the Carcross Desert in Yukon, Canada. It’s only about 1 square mile wide, but it has real sand dunes! It’s sometimes called the world’s smallest desert.
What Is the Hottest Desert?
The Lut Desert in Iran holds the record for the highest land surface temperature ever recorded at a blistering 159.3°F (70.7°C)!
The Sahara Desert, however, is more famous. It’s the largest hot desert in the world and has shaped life and history in northern Africa for thousands of years.
Was the Sahara Always a Desert?
Nope! Around 5,000–10,000 years ago, the Sahara was lush and green with lakes and animals. Over time, climate changes turned it into the vast desert we know today.
Can Humans and Animals Live in the Desert?
Yes! People have been living in deserts for thousands of years like the Tuareg nomads of the Sahara. They adapt with special clothing, shelters, and water-saving habits.
Desert animals are amazing survivors, too:
Camels store fat in their humps and can go days without water
Kangaroo rats get moisture from seeds and don’t need to drink water
Fennec foxes stay cool with big ears that release heat
What Is Desert Sand Made Of?
Desert sand comes from eroded rocks and minerals. Wind shapes it into fine grains. Unlike beach sand (which is usually made of broken seashells), desert sand is shaped by time, wind, and dryness.
Some dunes even sing or boom when you walk on them. How cool is that?
Are Deserts Growing or Shrinking?
Some deserts are growing due to desertification, where land turns dry from overfarming, deforestation, or climate change.
But good news: places like the Sahel region in Africa are using tree planting to stop desert growth!
Fun Desert Activities to Try at Home
Want to bring the desert to your art table? Try these kid-friendly crafts:
Make a salt dough desert diorama with mini cacti and dunes
Create a paper plate sun and camel silhouette
Draw 10 animals that live in deserts
Learn about how cactus stores water with a sponge science experiment
You can find even more creative nature projects at DIY!
FAQs about Quick Desert Facts for Curious Kids
What’s the hottest desert in the world? – The Lut Desert, Iran
What’s the largest desert? – Antarctica (yes, it’s a desert!)
What’s the oldest desert? – The Namib Desert
Can deserts be cold? – Absolutely. Some deserts even get snow.
How do animals survive in deserts? – By storing water, being active at night, and staying cool!
Final Thoughts on the Wild World of Deserts
Deserts aren’t just dry, empty places; they're full of surprises, ancient secrets, and living things that have mastered the art of survival. From singing sand dunes to camels that don’t drink water, deserts show how incredible nature can be.
Want to explore more about animals, geography, and science? Join DIY and unlock fun projects made just for curious kids like you!
