Which desert covers most of Antarctica and is the largest desert on Earth?

The Antarctic Desert covers most of Antarctica and is the largest desert on Earth.

A desert is defined primarily by very low precipitation, not by heat or the presence of sand. Antarctica receives little snowfall or rainfall over much of its interior, so its ice-covered landscape qualifies as a polar desert. The continent's extreme cold also prevents most moisture from remaining available as precipitation.

The Antarctic Desert is often confused with hot deserts such as the Sahara. The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert, but Antarctica is larger overall. Antarctica's vast ice sheet can make the landscape look unlike the stereotypical image of a desert, yet its dryness is scientifically decisive.

Some coastal and ice-free areas have different local climates, including the McMurdo Dry Valleys, among the driest places on Earth. Even there, wind, cold, and limited liquid water restrict life. Most Antarctic organisms are concentrated around the coast and in the surrounding Southern Ocean.