From the Sahara to Antarctica, via the deserts of Sonora, Atacama, and Gobi, the National Museum of Natural History invites us on an informative journey of (re)discovery of these extreme environments.

Sand, rock, salt, and ice: the Parisian institution immerses us in a variety of deserts found on every continent. As the museum's multidisciplinary team in charge of this exhibition points out: "Today, they occupy one-third of our planet's land surface and all share the common characteristics of being open environments, exposed to aridity and extreme temperatures." The cross-disciplinary approach of this exhibition focuses on the adaptation of living organisms, whether morphological, physiological, or behavioral.   

The museum transports us to different landscapes: the sandy landscapes of the Sahara (Africa), Sonora (Mexico), Atacama (Chile), and Gobi (Mongolia); the polar regions (Arctic, Antarctic, Iceland); salty regions (Makgadikgadi Pan in Botswana, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Great Rann of Kutch in India) and rocky lands (Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in Utah, etc.).  

Areas of exploration

As the organizers point out, for millions of years, species (animals and plants) have been adapting to their respective environments, which are seemingly "hostile to life," in order to evolve and live in symbiosis. "We discover the strategy of the horned lizard or the cactus to make the most of every drop of water, the secret of the silver ant to endure intense heat, and the art of camouflage in the polar fox." 

The museum space is a profound exploration of landscapes, colors, materials, and light. The curation also focuses on humans living in these environments between "environmental transformation" (creation of oases) and "mobility." 

This scientific expertise gives researchers a voice to share their experiences in the field. While the dry climate is favorable for "preserving meteorites, fossils, and archaeological artifacts" and the open landscapes "facilitate discoveries," these desert environments are above all ideal observatories and witnesses to the climate crisis. 

Fragility of spaces

Unfortunately, as magnificent as they are, all are increasingly threatened by human activity. "Most hot deserts are gaining ground, while polar deserts are tending to disappear. This is due to climate change, the slow degradation of land linked to intensive exploitation, the gradual depletion of groundwater, large-scale extraction of mineral resources, etc.," the museum sadly points out and reiterates . 

In this overview, the exhibition provides scientific, entertaining, and aesthetic insights, with the threats to these fragile ecosystems forming the common thread throughout the exhibition. Nearly 200 specimens and various objects are on display in the cultural space, accompanied by projections and mechanical and multimedia devices. There are also maps, tactile models of dunes, a collection of sands from deserts around the world, and mineralogical samples sculpted by the elements. 

"By offering this reflection on the long term," explains Gilles Bloch, president of the institution, "the Museum is fulfilling its public service mission: to inspire wonder and curiosity about these complex ecosystems, but also to convey reliable knowledge in order to defend a true ethic for the planet."

"Deserts"
National Museum of Natural History
Grande Galerie de l'Évolution – Jardin des Plantes
36, rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, Paris^{5th arrondissement}
From April 2 to November 30, 2025 

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