Largest Deserts in North America
North America is home to four major desert systems, primarily concentrated in the western United States and northern Mexico. These regions are defined by their low precipitation—often caused by the rain shadow effect of massive mountain ranges—and vary significantly from the high-altitude “cold” deserts of the Great Basin to the low, subtropical “hot” deserts of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan regions.
| Rank | Desert Name | Area (sq miles) | Area (sq km) | Primary Location | Notable Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Basin Desert | 190,000 | 492,000 | NV, UT, CA, OR, ID | The largest desert in North America and a “cold” desert due to its northern latitude. |
| 2 | Chihuahuan Desert | 140,000 | 362,000 | TX, NM, AZ, Mexico | The most biologically diverse desert in the Western Hemisphere. |
| 3 | Sonoran Desert | 100,000 | 260,000 | AZ, CA, Mexico | The only place in the world where the iconic Saguaro cactus grows in the wild. |
| 4 | Mojave Desert | 47,000 | 122,000 | CA, NV, UT, AZ | Home to Death Valley, the hottest and lowest point in North America. |