About The Arctic Desert: The Arctic is the second-largest desert on Earth, spanning the frozen Arctic Ocean and the icy northern edges of several countries. Unlike Antarctica, much of the Arctic is frozen sea rather than land, and it is home to Indigenous peoples who have thrived there for thousands of years. A Desert Made of Ocean — Unlike every other desert on this list, much of the Arctic Desert is frozen sea, not land.

Location: Around the North Pole · Area: ~13.9 million km² (5.4 million mi²) · Desert Type: A polar desert · Countries: Russia, Canada, Greenland & more · Sea Ice: Largely frozen ocean · Wildlife: Polar bears, foxes & walruses · Indigenous Peoples: Inuit, Sami & other Arctic peoples · Climate Change: One of the fastest-warming regions · Continent Rank: 2nd-largest desert on Earth Only the Antarctic Desert is larger.