Which desert is the largest on Earth by area, including its ice-covered regions?

The Antarctic Desert is the largest desert on Earth by area, including its ice-covered regions.

A desert is defined by very low precipitation, not by heat. Antarctica receives little snowfall overall, and the extremely cold air holds little moisture. Although the continent is covered by a vast ice sheet, its climate meets the scientific definition of a desert.

The Antarctic Desert covers the Antarctic continent, which has an area of about 14 million square kilometres. Its interior is among the driest places on the planet, while coastal areas generally receive more snow and experience stronger winds.

The Sahara is the world’s largest hot desert, but it is smaller than Antarctica. Antarctica is also the coldest, windiest, and highest continent, making its desert environment unusually severe.