Photo: Carcross Desert Yukon

The sign at Carcross Desert in the Yukon Territory explains the mysteries of this extraordinary place that is not at all well known.

The Carcross Desert in the Yukon Territory in Canada covers an area of approximately 260 hectares and is the smallest desert throughout the world. Across this desert you will find a unique mixture of vegetation and sand dunes that appeared because of the dry climate and extremely strong winds that sweep across the Carcross Desert.The sandy bottom of a glacial lake that was the remains of the last ice age has created the Carcross Desert in the Yukon Territory.A good portion of the village of Carcross is built on the southern ends of the dunes, some of the beach is used often and the motorcycles and ATVS's ride the desert dunes which in turn could eventually create destruction. Due to this activity and horrific summer storms, the dunes become mobile, the sand loosens and small areas start to become buried.The Carcross Desert in the Yukon Territory is on the list to be formally protected because of the activity across the dunes and the rarity of some plants that grow here, but as of today the matter is still outstanding.Carcross Desert, the smallest desert in the world,Yukon Terr.,Canada, North America.