The world's largest desert is the Antarctic Desert. Covering an area of about 5.5 million square miles, it is classified as a cold desert due to its extreme dryness and low precipitation levels. Despite being covered in ice and snow, Antarctica fulfills the criteria for a desert because it receives very little moisture, averaging less than 2 inches annually. The harsh environment hosts unique ecosystems adapted to the cold, including specially adapted animals and resilient plant life. The Antarctic Desert plays a critical role in Earth's climate system and influences global weather patterns, making it crucial for scientific study.