Edited by: David S. G.Thomas
Deserts and drylands account for more than 40 percent of land on our planet.
Characterized by a lack of water and extreme temperatures, they are the result of atmospheric stability, large landmass characteristics, rain shadows, and cold ocean currents.
They appear harsh and hostile, but deserts and drylands are also exceptionally beautiful environments.
Desert ecosystems often team with diverse forms of life that exhibit astonishing ingenuity in the face of such forbidding conditions.
