Chronicles of Sha'Lazar

Deserts cover about a three-fifth (3/5 th) of Sha’Lazar's surface. They have extreme environments, and can get one (1) to fifteen (15) inches of precipitation per year. Desert plants and animals have special adaptations that help them survive in this extreme environment. The deserts of Sha’Lazar vary dependent upon the type of the four types of deserts of the continent and islands Kingdoms:
subtropical deserts are hot and dry year-round; coastal deserts have cool winters and warm summers; cold winter deserts have long, dry summers and low rainfall in the winter; polar deserts are cold year-round.

Subtropical Deserts
Subtropical deserts are the hottest deserts... and are very hot and dry in the summer and cooler, but still dry, in the winter. Rainfall happens in short bursts. The air is so hot and dry in these deserts that sometimes rain evaporates before it even has a chance to hit the ground! The soil in subtropical deserts is usually either sandy or coarse and rocky. Plants and animals here must be able to withstand the hot temperatures and lack of moisture. Shrubs and small trees in the subtropical desert usually have leaves adapted to retain moisture. Animals are usually active at night, when it is cooler.

Coastal Deserts
Coastal deserts occur in cool to warm areas along the coast. They have cool winters and long, warm summers. Winds off the coast blow in an easterly pattern and prevents the moisture from moving onto the land.

Cold Winter Deserts
Cold winter deserts are also known as semi-arid deserts. They have long, dry summers and cold winters with low rain or snowfall. The lack of rainfall in these cold winter deserts is often caused by the rainshadow effect. The rainshadow effect happens when a high mountain range stops moisture from reaching an area.

Polar Deserts
Polar desert also get very little precipitation and usual always cold, and found around mountains. .