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There are a number of different definitions
to describe a desert but they are typically areas that receive extremely low
amounts of rain.
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Around one third of the Earth's surface is
covered in deserts.
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The original meaning of the word desert is
'an abandoned place'.
·
Only around 20% of the deserts on Earth are
covered in sand.
·
The Arabian Desert in the Middle East is
the second largest hot desert on Earth.
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Hot deserts usually feature high
temperatures in the daytime and cold temperatures at night.
·
Deserts have very low humidity.
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Despite the extreme conditions, deserts are
home to a range of well suited plant life including various shrubs and cacti.
They are also home to animals such as lizards and coyote.
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With lack of water, high daytime
temperatures and sometimes freezing conditions at night, deserts can be
extremely dangerous places for humans.
·
Deserts often contain large mineral
deposits.
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Deserts can be good locations to farm solar
energy.
