Head 2 Head – Record deserts

1. (Biggest) Antarctica – Size: 7 million km2 (15.4 million mi2)

The world’s coldest continent is Earth’s biggest desert. It has less than 5cm (2in) of rain each year.

2. (Driest) Atacama – Rainfall: <1.5cm (<0.59in)

No rain falls in the Atacama some years. In some sections, one 3.4mm (0.13in) shower is six times the average yearly rainfall.

3. (Hottest) Sahara – Temperature: 58°C (136°F)

Earth’s hottest temperature was recorded at Al Aziziyah, northern Libya. Air temperatures were hot enough to pasteurise an egg!