A desert is commonly defined as a region that receives less than 25cm of rain a year on average.

When people think of deserts, the following image comes to their minds : hot and arid land, vast expanses of sand, soil of reddish brown color, a sky of brilliant blue, no or very few plants, cacti, spiny leaves and camel is the only animal that they can think of.

The truth is not like that. It is not very common to find sand in a desert, but small rocks, pebbles and loose gravel on the surface layer instead. Only 15% of the world' s desert surface is pure sand.

Deserts are one of my favourite landscapes, and although is impossible to share the incredible sensations that somebody can feel while being there there, I would like to share with all of you some images from some deserts that I had the opportunity to visit.

Although it is not a desert according to the definition, I've added in this gallery some pictures of the Lençois Maranhenses, in Brazil. The average rain there is 175 cm a year, but when you're there you feel like being in a desert, with the difference that you can see lakes located between the dunes...