The desert is a barren, dry and often hot place. The most well-known deserts are in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, but they can be found in other parts of the world too. Despite their reputation as being inhospitable places, deserts actually support a surprisingly diverse range of plants and animals.
Some common plants that grow in deserts include cacti, acacia trees and grasses. Animals that make their home in deserts include lizards, snakes, rats, jackrabbits and bats. Because water is so scarce in deserts, these plants and animals have adapted to be able to survive on very little water.
One of the most iconic features of the desert is sand dunes. These are formed when wind blows sand into ridges. Sand dunes can be huge – some are over 100 metres tall! – and they can move around over time as the wind continues to blow.