> Deserts have a reputation for being hot, but which of the following deserts isrelatively cold, with an average temperature close to freezing?Considering the Mojave, Arabian, Sonoran, and Patagonian, the answer is: thePatagonian Desert. Located in southern Argentina and part of Chile, the Patagonian Desert has anannual average temperature of around 3 degrees Celsius. It's bounded by theAndes Mountains to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.Unlike the typically-associated image of a sandy, hot desert, the PatagonianDesert's cold temperatures create a distinctly different type of barrenenvironment. The Andes from the west inhibit moisture in the area which createsa phenomenon called a "rain shadow", whereas the mass from the mountains blocksweather and wind to leave the surrounding area dry. This is why, despiteapproximately half of the desert being only about 200 miles from the ocean, sucha large desert is found in the region. The land is generally too hostile for animal life, so aside from small birds andmammals the life found in this region comes primarily in the form of shortshrubs and bushes that span across the plains. However, despite the low humanpopulation, the delicate balance of life on the desert has been threatened inrecent years. The fragile ecosystem has been faced with erosion and otherenvironmental factors, as sheep have been introduced to graze in surroundingregions. As a popular spot for ecologists and other scientific researchers,conservation efforts have become paramount for the years to come.