Think deserts are all sand and heat? Think again. Antarctica is actually the largest desert on Earth—not because of temperature, but because it gets so little precipitation. Some parts haven’t seen rain or snow in millions of years.

Despite being covered in ice, Antarctica qualifies as a desert because that ice rarely melts or moves. It’s dry, frozen, and nearly lifeless—except for mosses, lichens, seals, and, of course, penguins. With record lows of –128.6°F, it’s the driest and coldest place on the planet.