漠

desert; vague

Kanji 1700

One-third of Earth’s surface is desert, and 1,900 square meters of the planet turn to desert every second. Learn about the desert that may one day be your home! Also find out how, contrary to what one would expect, rainy Japan has connections to deserts. It has two ties to the massive Gobi Desert, one historical, the other environmental. And Japan has little-known deserts of its own!

Revision history:

Jan. 13, 2020:

• p. 2: Etymology Box: Replaced the old Henshall etymology with the new one. 
• p. 14: Changed a vocabulary term from 関する to に関する (にかんする: to be related to).
• p. 17: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Jan. 16, 2016: Originally published.