Which desert is considered the oldest in the world?

The Namib Desert is considered the oldest desert in the world. Scientists estimate that parts of the Namib have remained arid or semi-arid for roughly 55 to 80 million years, far longer than most modern deserts.

The Namib stretches along the Atlantic coast of southern Africa, mainly across Namibia, with extensions into Angola and South Africa. Its age is linked to long-term atmospheric and geological conditions, including the cold Benguela Current, which limits moisture reaching the coast. The desert contains enormous sand seas, gravel plains, rocky outcrops, and some of the driest places on Earth.

The Namib is often confused with the nearby Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari lies farther inland and receives more seasonal rainfall, while the Namib is a coastal desert shaped strongly by the Atlantic Ocean. The Namib is also famous for Sossusvlei's red dunes and for Welwitschia plants, some of which live for centuries.