In physical geography, which one of the following is the largest desert of Asia by total area?

Introduction / Context:
Deserts are one of the most important physical features studied in world and Indian geography. Many competitive examinations ask about the location and relative size of major deserts. This question specifically tests whether you know which desert is the largest in Asia, a fact that also helps in understanding climate, vegetation, and human settlement patterns in the continent.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is restricted to deserts located in Asia.
• Four options are given: Thar Desert, Gobi Desert, Takla Makan Desert, and Karakum Desert.
• Largest means largest in area, not in population or economic output.
• We assume the standard geographical definitions and commonly accepted desert areas.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is simple factual recall from physical geography. We need to know which Asian desert covers the maximum area. Among the options, the Gobi Desert is spread over large parts of northern China and southern Mongolia and is widely known as the largest desert in Asia. The other deserts listed are important but smaller in comparison. So the task is to compare approximate areas and pick the biggest one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Gobi Desert extends across northern and northwestern China and southern Mongolia. Step 2: Remember that the Gobi Desert covers roughly around 1.3 million square kilometres, making it extremely vast. Step 3: Compare this with the Thar Desert, which is much smaller and mainly shared by India and Pakistan. Step 4: Compare it with the Takla Makan Desert and the Karakum Desert, which are also large but still smaller than the Gobi in total area. Step 5: Conclude that the Gobi Desert is the largest desert in Asia among the given options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard geography textbooks and competitive exam guides consistently list the Gobi Desert as the largest desert in Asia. The Arabian Desert is larger but is often treated as part of West Asia and the broader Afro Asian region and is not among the options here. Among the four alternatives given, the Gobi clearly has the greatest area, so the answer stands verified by comparative size data.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thar Desert: Although very important for India and Pakistan, its area is significantly smaller than that of the Gobi Desert, so it cannot be the largest in Asia.
Takla Makan Desert: This desert in China is also large but still smaller in total area than the Gobi, so it is not the correct choice.
Karakum Desert: Located mainly in Turkmenistan, it is smaller than both the Gobi and Takla Makan deserts, so it also cannot be the largest in Asia.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students confuse the Thar Desert as the largest because they study it in detail in Indian geography, or they think of the Takla Makan due to its fame as a difficult desert. Another common confusion arises with the Arabian Desert, but that option is not present here. It is important to focus only on the deserts listed in the question and to remember that Gobi Desert is the correct fact for most objective exams.

Final Answer:
The largest desert of Asia among the given options is Gobi Desert.