One shocking #fact is that the largest desert in the world isn't the Sahara, but #Antarctica. While we typically associate deserts with hot, sandy environments, a desert is defined by its low precipitation, and Antarctica is the driest and windiest continent on Earth. It receives only about 2 inches (50 millimeters) of precipitation per year, making it even drier than some of the world's arid, sandy deserts. Despite its icy appearance, Antarctica meets the scientific criteria for being a desert.