Is There a Desert in Antarctica? Traveling to the Polar Desert

The term desert conjures up images of endless yellow dunes stretching into the horizon in our minds. But inhospitable parched landscapes need not be hot to be counted as a desert.

Imagine an equally arid landscape, but replace the windswept yellow sand with white ice. Instead of the deadly desert heat, you have the equally deadly cold that can be lethal for the unprepared. Welcome to the desert landscape of Antarctica.

While the harsh conditions can sound intimidating, a closer look will reveal the breathtaking beauty of ice, glaciers, and exotic wildlife in this white desert. For eco-conscious travellers looking for profound experiences, these polar deserts of Antarctica and the Arctic regions are stellar destinations

What is a polar desert?

Back in 1953, geographer Peveril Meigs divided desert regions on Earth into three categories based on the amount of precipitation they receive. Arid lands receiving less than 250 millimetres of rainfall in a year come under the second class. Both the Antarctic and Arctic regions will come under this category.

The primary reason for this desert climate is due to the location of these regions in the North and South Poles of the planet. The geographical location results in these areas receiving very little solar energy during winter, leading to extreme cold. Beyond that, there is the complex interplay of ice, wind, and humidity.

Consider this: the reflective capacity of ice is much higher, and a glacier can reflect almost 60 percent of the solar energy it receives. This reduces the thermal energy stored in the ground, which, in turn, keeps the air layers above the land colder. Combined with extremely low humidity, this cold climate forms a polar desert.

Where is the polar desert in Antarctica?

Turning back the pages and looking back at the planet’s tectonic history can provide some fascinating insights. Believe it or not, Antarctica was not always an ice desert!

Around 200 million years ago, it was part of the large landmass known as Gondwana and was covered with greenery. The journey from green forests to ice began 180 million years ago as Antarctica separated from the large landmass and moved to the South Pole.

In the rest of the world, deserts constitute a part of a country or a continent. Not so in  Antarctica. Here’s one fact about Antarctica that you should know - the entire continent is a desert. The precipitation is slightly more in the coastal belts, but that hardly makes a difference.

Note, that not everything is buried under ice and snow in Antarctica. The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica remain ice-free - for some travellers, the region looks like a landscape from Mars. These valleys are one of the driest places on the planet and last held liquid water millions of years ago.

Arctic polar deserts vs Antarctic polar deserts

Spread over an area of 13.8 million square kilometres, Antarctica is the largest polar desert on the planet. The Arctic polar desert is not continuous and is spread across multiple countries like Canada, The United States of America (Alaska), Denmark (Greenland), Russia, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.

The Arctic Tundra is covered by large stretches of permafrost - a combination of frozen soil, gravel, and sand. In the Arctic belt, permafrost covers around 14 million square kilometres. Permafrost also occurs in the ice-free areas of Antarctica.

While both the Arctic and Antarctica are polar deserts, the South Pole is colder. One reason for that is land elevation. While the average elevation of Antarctica is 2,200 metres, the North Pole is at sea level.

Also, water takes more time to warm and cool down. Since the Arctic belt is an ocean surrounded by landmasses it experiences less extreme temperatures. For example, the lowest temperature recorded in Antarctica is -89.6°C, whereas the same in the North Pole is −69.6 °C.

Another big difference between these two polar deserts is the influence of clouds on the weather. Even in summer, it can get cloudy and foggy in the Arctic belt. In Antarctica, cloud formation is limited to the coastal region. The extremely low water vapour content in central Antarctica does not support the formation of clouds.

Arctic Polar Desert

Greenland and the Svalbard archipelago are the perfect destinations to witness the rugged terrains and the breathtaking glaciers of the Arctic Polar desert. In summer, you can experience the surreal phenomenon of 24 hours of daylight and encounter Arctic wildlife. 

The seasonal variations in the Arctic are extreme and in winter, you can experience the gorgeous views of the Northern lights during the long polar nights. The Arctic polar desert is also dotted with historical sites, a remnant of human life in extreme conditions in abandoned whaling stations.

Antarctic Polar Desert

The Antarctic polar desert is a fascinating land of glaciers extending beyond the coast as massive ice shelves. The ice shapes the coastline of the continent and floating ice floes and the iceberg citadels decorate the cold ocean water surrounding it.

The extreme cold in the Antarctic desert often leads to the direct condensation of the water vapour in the atmosphere. These ice crystals, floating in the air, reflect the sunlight like a sprinkling of diamond dust in the sky. In essence, you can term the Antarctic air as “freeze dried”.

Climate in the Antarctic Polar Desert

The average annual rainfall in the inner regions of the frozen land is a scanty 50 mm. If you think that it snows frequently in Antarctica, you are mistaken. While the precipitation is more on the coastal belts, the average annual snowfall over the region is close to 150 mm of water. 

The thickness of sand in a hot desert varies and some dunes can be above 300 meters in height. However, the mean thickness of the ice sheet spread over Antarctica’s ground is a staggering 2.16 kilometres.

The climate and lack of soil do not allow vegetation to grow in Antarctica. So, the animals living on this land survive on fish, krill, and squids found in the surrounding seas.

Due to the unforgiving cold desert conditions, there are no permanent human population on the continent. The small civilian population is centred around research stations like the  McMurdo Station, Esperanza Base and Villa Las Estrellas.

Is there wildlife in a polar desert?

Even with the harsh climate, the polar deserts exhibit a rich diversity of wildlife. The Antarctica wildlife includes a large variety of seals like the Antarctica fur, Leopard, Weddell, Ross, Southern Elephant, and Crabeater seals. Commonly found bird species are albatrosses, petrels, and most importantly, penguins.

In the Arctic, the area around Svalbard is inhabited by walruses and polar bears. In Greenland, you will find wild reindeer, Arctic foxes, and musk oxen are also present. Photographers also get the chance to capture some exotic birds like the  Atlantic puffin, Arctic tern, Little auk and Snow bunting.

The waters around the Arctic and Antarctic offer excellent whale-watching opportunities as well. The orca, mink, humpback, and sperm are some whale species that you can observe.

How to prepare to visit the Antarctic Polar Desert 

The environment of Antarctica is unlike any other destination across the globe. The cold can be deceptive, so the guests need to keep in mind the threat of dehydration in this desert. Ask any resident scientist in Antarctica and they will tell you how potato chips and popcorn never go stale in the extremely dry climate. 

This also means your skin gets dry, and your nasal cavities get parched. Extreme weather and the harsh sun reflecting off the ice demand protective clothing and eye protection. Since the weather is unpredictable, layering up is the best option.

Crossing the rough seas at Drake Passage can be an abrasive experience. So make sure to include medications for controlling seasickness in your packing list. Choosing a modern vessel with stabilisers for an Antarctic cruise is a better option.

Plant life in the Antarctic Polar Desert

Trees and shrubs do not grow in the polar desert conditions. Only two forms of flowering plants grow in some areas of Antarctica - the  Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort. Other than that, tussock grass is found on the subantarctic islands.

However, some species like mosses, fungi, liverworts, and lichens can survive the extreme conditions. Around 100 species of mosses and over 300 species of lichens are found growing across the continent. 

Planning your trip to Antarctica

Keep in mind that independent travel to Antarctica is not possible. An expedition on a ship is the best option for exploring this polar desert. Buying travel insurance to cover any medical emergencies and evacuations is a good idea. 

While Antarctica is a haven for photographers, there are a few special challenges to overcome. Carry your photography equipment in dry bags to protect them from snow and water spray. Keep spare batteries and store them close to your body when ashore - the cold weather drains batteries quickly.

In Antarctica, all travellers need to follow strict rules to safeguard the environment and wildlife. For that, it is best to join a wildlife and photography expedition led by experienced guides. Most importantly, know your capabilities and follow the instructions of the guide when ashore.

Visit the Antarctica Polar Desert with Secret Atlas

The Secret Atlas Expedition Micro Cruise takes a small group of max 48 guests to ensure an intimate experience of Antarctica’s cold desert landscape for every traveller. During the journey, our zodiacs will take you to remote beaches from where the photography guides will lead you to the best locations. 

From marvelling at otherworldly-shaped icebergs to photographing massive penguin colonies, our voyage is curated to provide the best experience in this frontier of silence.

We are committed to sustainable travel and each step of this voyage is carefully planned to minimise environmental impact.

To learn more about this fascinating adventure, contact our team.