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If we're talking "deserts" in the sense that there is a bunch of sand and some dunes, then I'd hazard that the Desert of Maine[0] wins this contest at 600 acres smaller (.16km^2 in total) than the Carcross desert (2.6km^2 in total). [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_of_Maine
If we're talking "deserts" in the sense that there is a bunch of sand and some dunes, then I'd hazard that the Desert of Maine[0] wins this contest at 600 acres smaller (.16km^2 in total) than the Carcross desert (2.6km^2 in total). [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_of_Maine
Unlike the Carcross, this one receives too much rain to be classified as a semi-arid desert.
I knew its general location because I operate a website containing over 2000 points of interest in Canada, https://rinkatlas.com. But why not give more of a hint to people who don't know where the Yukon Territory is?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Same situation with most of our "high desert" here in Oregon, which is probably best described as "steppe" outside of a few small areas like the Alvord desert. There are some dunes here, too, though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Valley_Sand_Dunes
If you haven't been to the Alvord desert you should. It's amazing. Looking up at steens from the playa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Mountain_(Nevada) is fun to visit, but scary to walk around because of all the ATV's flying around.
Pink Coral sand dunes are interesting (worth a stop).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Pink_Sand_Dunes_State_Pa...
There's also Osoyos "desert" of a similar nature (that is, more of a sandy dry patch). It's 400 km to the East from Vancouver, in the Okanagan valley with its vineyards, wineries and whatnots. Wineries are quite nice; the desert - not so much :) https://www.google.com/search?q=osoyos+desert
Carcross is cute, it's an hour from the capital city, Whitehorse Yukon. Carcross recently built about 6 or so small buildings, mostly occupied by art shops and one cozy cafe. The new plaza is across from the semi-restored frame of the SS Tutshi, but if steam boats are your thing you'll want to check out the SS Klondike. It has a historic general store, complete with old trapping equipment. Trapping is still practiced…
I did the Klondike relay a few times in the mid 2000s, and I really miss getting up that way. I hope to do that race again in the next few years, and to spend more time in the Yukon.
Carcross is cute, it's an hour from the capital city, Whitehorse Yukon. Carcross recently built about 6 or so small buildings, mostly occupied by art shops and one cozy cafe. The new plaza is across from the semi-restored frame of the SS Tutshi, but if steam boats are your thing you'll want to check out the SS Klondike. It has a historic general store, complete with old trapping equipment. Trapping is still practiced…
It's an old gold mining boomtown with dirt streets, saloons with swinging doors and dancing girls, and brothels converted into bed & breakfasts. Super cute and feels like the set of a movie, only it's "the real deal" (albeit now mining tourists). Dawson is also where Robert Service wrote much of his work, including The Cremation of Sam McGee.
My wife and I rode through on a motorcycle trip some years back. We immediately altered our itinerary to stay a few days, and I wish we could have stayed longer!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lhoriman/3747251310/in/album-7... https://www.flickr.com/photos/lhoriman/3747272684/in/album-7...
They call it a "desert" because there are sand dunes, not because it is actually a desert[1]. Receives more rain than the Silicon Valley. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcross_Desert
Huh. Mere presence of sand dunes isn't an indication of any sort of "desertness", at least at this scale. Michigan has several sand dunes, and it isn't even remotely a desert: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Lake_State_Park_(Michig... That one is according to Wikipedia over 2000 acres of sand dunes, which is over 3 square miles, which is quite a bit bigger than the Carcross "Desert". There are places in that par…
Carcross‘s notability is in being the smallest, not largest.
> or there's something else to it.
Anyway, yes—whether something is a desert is determined by amount of yearly precipitation.