When you think of deserts, you might picture vast swathes of sand as far as the eye can see. However, deserts come in all sizes.
But what was thought to be the smallest desert in the world, isn’t a desert at all.
What is the Carcross Desert?
The Carcross Desert is sometimes considered to be the smallest desert in the world. It measures just 600 metres wide and covers 1 square mile (2.59 square kilometres).
Where is it?
The Carcross Desert is in Yukon, Canada.
Why isn’t Carcross Desert a desert?
It technically isn’t a desert because it receives too much rainfall to be classed as an arid desert. Scientists generally agree that deserts that receive less than 250mm of annual precipitation are classified as arid, and between 250-500mm to be classified as semi-arid.
The Carcross Desert falls into the latter category and is often blanketed by snow in the winter. Instead, it can be best described as a large series of sand dunes.
How did it form?
The Carcross Desert formed around 11,000-24,000 years ago, after glaciers retreated from the valleys. Huge lakes formed around this ice then shrank, leaving behind beaches. Sand was then picked up and blown north-west by strong winds – something that still happens today.
What species are found there?
Mammals such as mountain goats and the horned Dall sheep live in the area. Many moth species can also be found there, such as Gnorimoschema moths and coast dart moths.
Plants such as Yukon lupine and Baikal sedge (which have very limited ranges) grow in the Carcross Desert, as well as spruce trees.
Top image: the Carcross Desert. Credit: Kimberly Brotherman/Getty Images
