Thom Owens's Album: Wall Photos

Photo 13 of 76 in Wall Photos

When you think of deserts, what comes to mind? Chances are, you're thinking of sun, sand, and perhaps camels or cacti. The truth is, to technically qualify as a desert, an area only needs to receive less than 25 centimeters of precipitation per year. The majority of Antarctica is too cold to allow for precipitation in the form of rain or snow, so approximately 5.5 million square miles of Antartica is a desert. How’s that for a curveball? It’s even theorized that some parts of the Antarctic desert haven’t had any form of precipitation for two million years.


Fact of the Day
Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand to avoid danger.

Today in History
January 21, 1977
President Jimmy Carter pardoned almost all Vietnam War draft evaders.

Today's Birthdays
January 21
1950 - Bill Switzer
1956 - Geena Davis
1953 - Paul Allen
1940 - Jack Nicklaus