What desert is often referred to as "the world's smallest desert"?

Carcross, originally known as Caribou Crossing, is an unincorporated community in Yukon, Canada, on Bennett Lake and Nares Lake. It is home to the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. At the 2016 census, it had a population of 301.

It is 74 km (46 mi) south-southeast by the Alaska Highway and the Klondike Highway from Whitehorse. The south end of the Tagish Road is in Carcross. Carcross is also on the White Pass and Yukon Route railway.

Carcross is mainly known for its world-class mountain biking on the near-by Montana Mountain, and for the nearby Carcross Desert, often referred to as the "world's smallest desert."

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

7 Comments

William Laughlin

A question about the world's smallest desert, yet no mention of its size! Amazing! FYI, the Carcross Desert measures approximately 2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi), or 259 ha (640 acres). Even more important, according to Atlas Obscura, though it measures just one square mile, and is located north of the 60th parallel, the Carcross Desert is neither the smallest nor the northernmost desert in the world, because IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A DESERT AT ALL! It’s a series of sand dunes that are kept dry by the rain shadow effects of the mountains in Yukon’s southern lakes region. However, the Carcross receives too much rainfall to meet the scientific definition of an arid desert.

lls

William Laughlin, Thank you--that is a very good explanation!

William Laughlin

Richard D. Boyle, It was the only one I've never heard of, so I figured it had to be the one. Obscurity often wins out. BTW, see my comment on this thread. As it turns out, it isn't really even a desert! We have David Wilkes to thank for this one!