Atlas of the World's Deserts (Hardcover)

A vividly illustrated work, the Atlas of the World's Deserts describes the hostile and extreme environments that cover more than a seventh of the world's surface. Yet, in spite of such harsh conditions, fauna and flora have developed and flourished, and humans have adapted to living in a seemingly inhospitable environment. The atlas examines in detail all aspects of the deserts, their geology, geography, history, culture, and biodiversity, from the Polar Regions to the Sahara and the Mojave Desert. Sidebars highlight particular aspects of the story of the deserts, such as the formation of sand dunes and the cave-dwelling quartz miners of central Australia. The numerous full color illustrations include spectacular, large-scale photographs that capture the stark beauty of the desert's color and light and original maps that illustrate the varying topography of the different regions. Each chapter concentrates on a specific characteristic of deserts including the process by which deserts are formed, the plants and animals that inhabit the desert, and the desert in modern times. Separating the chapters are unique atlas sections that contain detailed maps of the deserts of different continents along with commentary and facts particular to that specific desert. The Atlas of the World's Deserts is a vibrant and thorough portrait of the desert regions of the world and an excellent resource for exploring every feature of the desert ecosystem.