Antarctica | McMurdo Dry Valleys

Antarctica is believed to be the largest desert in the world with an annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 inches) along the coast. And the most extreme desert region in this even less Island is the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Though the Valleys are nestled in an ice-covered continent, once these were ice-free for thousands of years. The unusual and harsh katabatic winds blow through the desert at speeds of up to 320 km (200 miles) per hour. The wind force is truly capable of evaporating all moisture from the region. The McMurdo Dry Valleys are considered to be the earth’s closest equivalent to the surface of Mars.